The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-14
xLVIth CONGRESSES Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. April IL

WASHINGTON, April 49,
Mr.. Bayard from the finance committee re-
ported with amendments the Senate bill pro-
viding for commission to investigate the
calendar
MIR. Bayard from the same committee re-
ported adversely on the bill for commission
TO consider revision of the tariff.
The Senate resumed the Geneva award bill
Mr.. Garland yield the floor to Mr. Davis of
Illinois, who expressed surprise that the Sem
ator from Massachusetts,, (Hoar) who recog-
nized the right of subrogation, should deny
that underwriters are entitled to subrogation
to the rights of insured owners of vessels des-
troyed by the inculpated cruisers.
Mr.. Hoar moved to strike oat the clause re-
pealing SO much of the act of 1874 as excludes
claims for losses by insurance companies. In
debate on the motion Mr.. Blaine said some
days ago Mr.. Thurman had stated that the
American commercial marine lost
nothing by being obliged to pay war premiums
they charged it in" To correct the i'm
preston produced by this assertion Mr.. Blaine
quoted Richard Golden speaking to the House
of Commons in 1864, "You have been carrying
on hostiities against the people of the United
States" said Golden, 'You have been inflict-
ing an amount of damage on that country
greater than can be produced by many ordinary
wars"
1t is estimated that the loss sustained by the
capture and burning of American vessels has
been about one million. But that is small
part of the injury inflicted on American
marine. The foreign trade of New York for
the quarter ending June 80, 1860, was 1872 000-
900, of which $62000,000 carried American
bottoms and $50, 900, 900 foreign bottoms This
state of things rapidly changed as the war con-
tinued. For the quarter ending June 30, 1863
the total amount of the foreign trade of New
York was $S8, 900 900, Of which only $3O, OOO,-
coo were carried in American vessels The
whole of that loss, continued Mr.. Blaine, fell
directly on American shipmasters and owners.
He thought the doctrine of subrogation had
been strained in support of this bill If man
lost ship and his rich uncle should send him
$4,000 as present to set him on his feet
again, it is as sensible for the insurers of the
vessel to claim that $4,000 as part of the pro-
ceeds resulting from the loss of the ship as it is
for them to claim subrogation as in this bill
Mr.. Blaine was not well enough to extend his
remarks to-day but hoped vote might be
taken on the bill.
Mr.. Thurman said to strike out the clause
reimbursing underwriters would be to defeat
the principal object of the bill. He hoped
therefore, that a vote on that motion would be
reserved until debate on the bill ended. He
expected close debate in support of the bill.
After long continued debate in which a
lively colloquy occurred between Messrs.
Blaine and Carpenter, the Senate adjourned
without action on the bill.
HOUSE.
The army appropriation bill was taken up,
and Mr.. Ewing made speech. Mr.. Ewing
claimed that the amendment was practically a
Republican proposition, and responded to re-
marks made by Republican members on the
subject.
Mr.. Ewing made long speech, and after
considerable confusion the question required
upon the passage of the bill and amendments
The amendment relative to troops at the polls
was adopted by a strict party vote, and the bill
then passed-yeas 118, nays 50.
The conference report on the census bill was
then agreed to.
The Indian appropriation bill was reported
and referred to the committee of the whole.
A bill granting pension to the widow of
Major General Curtis of Iowa was passed
The House took a recess until 730, when an
evening session will be held for consideration
of the pension bills.
EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session five pension bills
were passed after two hours debate, and the
House at 10 o'clock adjourned.