Mr. SUMNER. Very well, it is an increase; and why is it made? It is because the existing compensation is not enough. Look at the bill before us. On page 28, the committee which the Senator from Ohio represents brings forward a proposition for adding to the sal ary of an asst cashier in a certain place 50 dollars; from $1,000 it is made $1,050; the salary of teller from $1, 300 is made $1, 400; the salary of book keeper, instead of $1,500 is made $1, 800; they add $300 there. The salary of 2 clerks, which originally was 2, 500, is made 82, 600. Now, I propose. just in conformity with the report of the committee which the Senator represents, an increase in the compensation of the clerks of the State Dept. I do not ask so large an increase as that Senator or the committee which he represents asks us to give to certain other clerks. But the Senator replies that the State Dept is the least important Dept of the Government. That raises an immense political question which I do not think it would be very advantageous for us to discuss in this warm weather. It would be a very good discussion, perhaps, for students at college; for boys at school; it would be a very good theme, which Dept of this Government is upon the whole the most important; is the State Dept, or is it not, the most insignificant Dept of the Government? I admit that would be a very good theme for college youths to discuss, on which, perhaps, something might be aid on both sides. I doubtwhether it can be discussed very profitably in this Chamber. I know the extravagant theories on certain sides that we had better dispense with our whole diplomatic service. I do not go into that, be! cause when a person has made up his mind to dispense with all that service, I can imagine that it would be very easy for him to say he would not pay the clerks here at home that copy the dispatches. But, sir, in making this motion I proceed on the ground that the State Dept is an existing dept of this Government. I will not dwel on its merits or its importance, whether it is performing its functions in the Government, employing these clerks. All I insist is, that emp oyed as they are and rendering faithful service to the government, they shall have a compensation which shall be to a certain extent commensurate with the labor that they give. Sir, the “ laborer is worthy of his hire, ” and I know not why he is not worthy of his hire when he serves in the Dept of State as well as if he served in one of those banks which seem to have found the patronage of the Senfrom Ohio. I insist, therefore, that the Senfrom Ohio shall go hack to his own bill.