Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-22
CONGRESS.

TUESDAY,, Jan. ~,
SENArE.-Mr. Clay Cof Ala.) introduced a
bill repeating all laws OF parts of laws, allow
ing bounties to vessels employed on the Banks
or other Cod Fisheries Mr.. CLAW said that,
during the last sixty years, about $40. 600, 900
had been drawn from the treasury, in pay
ment of such bounties, and cod fishermen of
two or three New England States were now
receiving something like $500 600, annually.
This sum is divided between ship owners and
captains OF twelve hundred a twenty-eight
vessels engaged in cod fishing and was drawn
from the treasury in violation of almost every
provision of law by which this privileged class
was created. 1t was the intention of this act
to divide this bounty among the fishermen,
yet it is monopolized by the owners and cap
tains of these vessels. twenty-five States are
made to pay tribute to the Goldfish ar.stocracy
OF the SIX States. In consequence of the ha-
bitual violation of the laws, collectors of Gus
toms, as he was advised at the Treasury De-
partment, were asking for an increase in the
number of revenue cutters, involving cor
responding increase of expenditures tor re-
pairs, ETC., in order to watch fishermen, and
prevent them from perpetrating the frauds on
the Treasury. This was a question, not mere
ly of political economy, but political morality
1t was question whether Congress shall long
er continue to offer premium for fraud and
perjury.
Mr.. Seward said the object of these boun-
ties must have been to promote commerce,
and tortity the navigating interests of the
United States, so as to enable successful com
petition with the navigating interests of Great
Britain and other European countries.
He would say to the Senator from Alabama,
that it was no aristocracy that was engaged
in taking fish. If either class was especially
interested in this measure, it was probably the
democracy of New England, and it was,
therefore, Goldfish democracy, instead of cod
fish arstocracy. 1t was not the aristocracy Of
society that were chiefly concerned in the
cheapness Of this article, but it enters like tea,
coffee, sugar, and salt, into the consumption
of the poor, rather than the rich. He regard
the attempts to raise prejudice against the
fishing bounties, on such grounds. as unjust.
Mr.. Fessenden referred to the yituperative
strain of remark, not only against The laws
granting bounties, but to the operation of
those laws, in which Mr.. Clay had seen prop
err to indulge. He CFessendenl was OF opinion
that there must be some good reason why
these laws passed in the first place, and con-
tinued OIL the statute book more than sixty
years. He believed that when the subject was
again discussed, there would be found two
sides to the question. There might be wrong
in the matter. but he believed the good coun-
terbalanced the evil.
Mr. Clay said if he had used harsh lam
guage it was fully justified by the constitu-
ents of fine Senator from Maine. When the
law of 1892 was brought forward, it was con-
demned by Mr.. Jefferson in report as uncon-
stitutional, and he CMr. Clay) would, at
future period, show how the passage of the
law was effected.
The bill was then referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
The bill TO establish naval depot at Bruins
wick, Ga, was discussed for two hours, but
without coming to any conclusion upon it,
the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-The House took up the adverse
report on the petition of the inhabitants of
Arizona, praying for the establishment of a
territorial government; and other business,
in accordance with the special order, relative
to Territories.
Bills were passed, appropriating $50 900 for
penitentiary in Nebraska, establishing three
additional land districts in that Territory, and
for completing and opening roads in Oregon,
Washington, and Minnesota Territories.
Adjourned.