The New York herald., 1871-01-18
WASHING
h ~~-.~~.~~r,ar~~>~~-
Proposed Abolition Of the
IrOn-Clad Oath.
Transportation Of Bonded Merchandise
Baltimore the First In the Field.
WHAT the FRANKINe PRIVILEGE COSTS,
Projects for the Revival of
American Commerce.
Fashionable Intelligenoe----Mrs.
Grants Second Reception.

Grants Second Reception.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1871.
Reviving American Commerce-A Mammoth
Steamship Company in Prospect.
Of the numerous steamship bills now before Con-
gress the introduced in the Senate Yesterday by
Mr.. Conkling to aid IN the construction OF twenty
more first class iron steamships together with ship
yards, machine shops, rolling mills, wharves, docks,
&C.. for the building and maintenance or them and
to the government in the OF the same for
postal, naval and other purposes, Is likely to COM
mand the strongest support. Those who have 1t m
charge are well known and responsible shipbuild-
and capitalists. The leading of both houses
who have been consulted about the provisions Of the
bill regard it as entirely practicable, and it
is the intention OF Senator Conkling to have
1t reported from the Committee on Commerce,
to which 1t was referred, as soon as possible.
The bill Is drawn upon the principle that
the decline OF American commerce is not so much
owing to the depredatOns Of the Alabama and other
rebel cruisers to the revolution which has taken
place In shipbullding during the last ten years.
The idea is not only to construct line OF ships that
can compete with anything on the ocean in point OF
speed, capacity and convenience, but to cheaper
the construction of the ships. The company is first
with machine shops, foundry and rolling mills. with
power and facilities to construct the largest class OF
iron ships. One million dollars OF the capital OF the
company actually paid In Is TO be invested in pur
chasing and equipping these shipyarGs. The COM
pany is to construct and maintain twenty first class
iron steamships. Eight Of them are to be
OF not less than 1000 tons six Of not
less than $500 tons, and six Of not
less than 5000 tons. Four Of the ships are to be
constructed and ready for sea within eighteen
months after the passage OF the b four within two
years and the whole twenty ships within three
years from the date Of the passage of the bill. While
their own shipyard is being equipped the company
may build four of the ships in any private shipyard
OF the United States The ships OF the company are
to carry every voyage for thirty years the United
States mails government specie, bull1on currency,
O1lcers Of the diplomatic corps and special mail
agent on eacn trip free Of charge to the government
III case Of war the government may take any or all
Of the ships u fhs Company and aas them as vessels
Ql:war, the government to pay INC co.Hraay ssla
actual value Of the ships. Bonds to the
amount Of $2o,0o0,0oo may be issued by
the company at the rate OF six per cent interest,
and the interest to be paid by the government for
period Of thirty years, but the government will
NOT be held responsible for the payment Of the
principal. AS security and In consideration Of
paying tne interest the government b 10 have q
nrst mortcc "a an the real estate and ships OF the
company. In case OF the failure Of the company 70
perform all the duties to the government required
by the provisions of the bill, the Secretary Of the
Navy is to take possession OF the property Of the
company to indemnify the government for any
bonds 1t may have endorsed at the time OF such
failure. The endorsement Of the government is
simply the promise OF the government to pay the
interest the bonds for thirty years. No bonds are
TO be endorsed unrll the company has actually in
vested in land, works or material, for the purpose
mentioned in the bill o sum not less than one million
OF dollars. II
Steamship Subsidy Bills-The New Orleans
and Mexican Gulf Limo.
Several Of the steamship subsidy bills were under
consideration by the Committee on Commerce OF the
House to-day. representative Of the American
and European Steamship Company, whihc asks an
act of incorporation from Congress, offered to the
committee several amendments, which were sug-
9ested by the Secretary Of the Treasury and the
Postmaster General, with view OF protecting the
interests OF the United States should the bill become
law. Mr.. William Il. Webb, Of New York, and
Mr. Bee Of California, briefly addressed the commit
tee in favor of their bill providing for subsidy OF
$780, year for thirteen trips between San Fran
cisco and the Australian colonies The further con-
sideration OF the subject was postponed till Thurs.
day next in order TO give hearing to MIR. Barney
IN support Of bill introduced by Senator Conkling
werp and New York.
Representative Wells, In behalf OF the special
committee on the causes Of the decline Of American
commerce and the remedies therefor, to-day made q
report on New Orleans and the Cult Of Mexico steam
ship line, saying
The committee have recommended the granting OF
government aid By way OF postage on mails and by
OF American ocean steamers to foreign ports thus
curing to people the profits OF the trade created
mittee believe the proposed establishment Of line
Of steamers between the port Of New Orleans and
onv result In vast increase Of commerce but as J
direct and necessary step to the cultivation of those
friendly political relations that should subsist be.
tween ourselves and sister republic, and necessary
to the maintenance Of our power and control on
The Brooks Hastings Quarrel-A Contuna.
cious Witness.
The select committee OF the House appointed to
Investigate the charges Of fraud and corruption pre-
ferred against James Brooks by Hugh Hastings met
this morning. and Mr.. Hastings was brought before
them In custody of the Sergeant-atArms After
reading the resolut on OF the House ordering the
investigation Judge Bingham, the chairman Of the
committee, asked Mr.. Hastings to be sworn pre-
vious to an examination. This he declined and at
the same time informed the committee that he
did not propose to answer anything until
they made q preliminary report upon his
memorial presented yesterday. Judge Bingham re.
piled that the committee was acting under the in.
structions Of the House, and had no power to make
such report. He called the attention of Hastings
to the fact that the House yesterday refused to In
struct the committee In this very matter. Hastings
persisted in his refusal to answer. whereupon Judge
Bingham explained to him that the consequence OF
this refusal would be to bring him before the bar
the House for contempt ofits authority, and he would
be compelled In the end either to answer
or to submit to Imprisonment. This did not seem to
have any effect upon Hastings, whereupon he was
remanded to the custody of the Sergeant at. Arms
to await the action Of the committee. 1t is probable
that tomorrow resolution Will be offered to bring
Hastings before the bar OF the House answer fol
contempt. He says he does not intend to answer