The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-27

Fighting Hard for Subsidies.


Tho patriots In the Senate who are 80 dis
Interested in their zeal to vote n subsidy TO
john RoACn's two proposed lines To Brazil,
one from New Orleans and one from New
York, 40 as to combine support North and
South. havo rcsortod to the most extra
ordinary methods to carry that scheme
through Congress. They know very we'll
that, as an abstract proposition, dependent
upon its own merits and brought forward in
the regular course of legislation, IL has no
chance to pass the House, though It is quite
probable, from the number OF members
about to retire permanently from that body,
and with no prospect OF political future,
the vote in its favor would be increased over
that Of the last session.
Hence. the advocates Of this job have
Sought TO get II up by an indirect mode, and
by parliamentary strategy to storm the
House into an acquiescing but reluctant
grant OF 100000 a year for addition, divi-
sion and silence. At the last session, the
Post Route bill, which, as its name implies,
usually contains nothing moro than the
natural yearly extension OF postal communi-
cation, was made pack horse in the Senate
Tor two amendments, one TO restore the
liuuhlIb pIlNl'Efs anu lnc OlileI W SuuSl-
die the lines 20 Brazil.
The object Of that movement was TO get
these matters before Committee Of Con-
ference, and by that means TO coerce the
House into submission against its better
Judgment. But when tho subject was
brought up, the House instructed its mana
gers not to consider the amendments at all,
because one Of them, proposing to admit
books free OF duty, trcnchcd upon the privi-
leges of the House as holding the exclusive
power to originate revenue measures. A
second conference under this instruction,
failed TO effect an arrangement, because the
doors were absolutely closed against any
patchcd-up compromise, such as the Senate
stood ready to make, by giving up the frank
Ing privilege in exchange for the subsidy.
This report Of the second conference wa
adroitly kept alive by non-action on the
part of the Senate in the closing hours Of
the last session. The wircpulers knew
what thoy were about, and now MIR. FERRY
comes forward with n motion for third
eonfcronce-although there IL nothing to
confer about, because the House never en-
tertaincd the amendments, and forbade its
managers TO consider thcm-whch he sus-
tains by the significant suggestion, 81 I'M
derstand there is n possibility OF an agree
mcnt between the two Houses at the present
time How did he come 10 reach that I'M
Outstanding? No vote report, action, or
proceeding Of any kind in the House justi-
fes any such conclusion SO far as the Official
record is concerned.
What bargains may have been driven. or
what arrangements may have been pri-
vatcly made, cannot well be known until the
veil is lifted which now hides the jobbers.
But Mr.. FERRY would never have made this
motion, nor have given this assurance.
without reasonable hope that by some art
full dodge like that under review there was
a chance to make a successful combination.
A new Post Route bill has passed the House,
and there was no excuse for resurrecting this
old one, except to get the parliamentary
advantage Of a rcady-made Conference
Committee, with its coercive power over
legislation.
Mr.. HERMAN and Mr.. WHITE, especially,
exposed the object Of this motion, and
showed from tho record Of the House that it
was not justified on any good ground, while
the instructions Of that body TO its man
ayers blocked the way. All these arguments
had no effect on the subsidy managers, who
under the lead Of Ancient HAMLIN, changed
the issue into a question OF dignity upon the
part OF the Senate, contending that it had
the right to insist upon the amendments
and TO demand new conference
Mr. BLAINE, Mr.. PADDOCK, Mr.. FERRY
MI CoNKLIEG, and others were greatly eX
erclscd about the dignity Of the Senate be
cause, by standing upon il resoutely, they
could see q possible way OF pushing the
subsidy for JONI RoAcH's two lines tC
Brazil. Even Mr.. THURMAN, whose politi
cal conscience was troubled about the frank
ing privilege, shut his lips conveniently II
regard 10 this job, which is SO urgently
pressed by " reformers " in and out Of Con
gress. Tho upshot OF a long debate wal
TO send the parliamentary question to {
special committee of five, who are to decide
whether Senatorial dignity demands n sub
sdy Of three hundred thousand per annum
The vote in the Senate on the report will b,
worth watching when it shall be made.