Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-15
The Senate.

neous.
The Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Credentials of re-
elected Senator's Coekrell and Dawes were
filed.
An extraordinary large number of petitions
were presented by temperance organizations
of many States for constitutional amendments
to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF alco-
holic beverages.
Bills were reported from committees:
By Senator Garland-To amend section 49,,
revised statutes, relating to writs OF error and
appeals Placed on the calendar.
By Senator Davis House bill appropriating
money toward expenses incurred in the Gen.
tennial celebration Of the battle of Grafton
Heights and for other purposes. Calendar
By Senator Saunders-With amendment
establishing the Territory of Pembina and
providing temporary government, accom-
panied with written report Calendar.
By Senator Booth-With amendment and re-
commendation it pass the Senate, bill
authorizing the payment Of prize money to
officers of the Farragut fleet for destruction
special report.
By Senator Platt-Instructing the commit
Tee on postofices and post roads to inquire
whether the practice of the postoff1ce depart
ment in meeting contracts for transportation
of mails to persons, who, though the lowest
bidders do not intend personally to perform
the contracts but make them solely for the
purpose of speculation, is in accordance with
public policy and if any, what means
can be devised to prevent the same, and report
by bill or otherwise.
The postal appropriation bill was proceeded
with, pending motion to table the subsidy
amendment being withdrawn and various
propositions to perfect original amendments
reported from the committee on postoffices
being overruled as not in order. The votes on
these propositions ranged as follows, Is to IL,
IA to 81, 16 to a.
An amendment by Senator Morgan to allow
steamships to be of steel as well as of iron was
agreed to-, on viva vOce vote.
Senator Bayard regarded the doctrine OF
United States subsidies, which he construed
as the taking of public money for private use,
identical with communism and as violation
of Democratic usage and doctrine.
Senator Whyte reviewed the history of
the American subsidy legislation, beginning
with the plan proposed by King in 1S41 appro-
priating 100000 annually for term of years
for foreign mail service, the bill in that in
stance being covered with the same sugar
coating of equitable distribution that
Is presented at Inls tlme, anu COLI
ing down to the Brazilian experime 1T.
He added, we were asked within five years
after that disastrous failure, to repeat the
folly. During ten years, up to 1875, in which
the government had paid $15,000,000 our
imports were doubled, while our exports in
creased but one-eighth. The Pacific Mail
furnished another experience that ought not
to be forgotten, and he would, if he could,
draw veil before the eyes of
tha nation and save
them from the recollection of that
scandal, that smirched Congressman and ex
cluded one member from the floor of the
House He concluded with the statement
that no reasou had been given on behalf of the
proposition, as that gentleman hadn't under
taken to show he wasn't now making money
in the carrying trade, and that the present
facilities in that direction were not adequate.
Senator Beck said he had heard of no COM
plant that ocean postal facilities were de
fcient
Senator Morgan replied Southern ports had
been closed to United States mails by the poll
cy of the government and the South now asked
mail facilities be extended to her.
Senator Beck replied and went on. to argue
the amendment wouldn't have the effect to add
a single steamer to the lines now running, but
the 81, 900, 900 here provi1ed would go to the
Pacific Mail and Brazilian companies with the
exception of about 10 per cent. which would
be left for other lines to scramble for; he sug
gested among other measures OF
relief that Washington be made exclusively
the place of registry for vessels of the for
eign conveying trade, that system of Ameri-
can apprenticeship on these vessels be insti-
tuted, that contracts be made with their own
ers by which the ships may be made part of
our navy in a foreign war, that they be re
lieved of local taxation and consular and
pilotage fees be paid by the government and
their burdens otherwise lightened.
Senator Bayard asked Maxey if he favored
free importation of ship building materials as
well as ships already constructed.
Senator Maxey replied he was a free ship
man in the most unqualified way, and he
would allow ship building materials to be
admitted under reasonable tariffs such as
would provide revenue for the govern
ment. He then quoted from statistics to
show that while the commercial and agri-
cultural growth of the country has been un-
precedented in the last thirty years, the carry
ing trade alone of our industries has declined
in volume and almost disappeared, and that
the cause of this was to be found In our navi-
cation laws.
Senator Teller moved to lay the amendment
on the table to avoid further discussion.
Agreed to, ayes Pa, nays IA. Senator's Beck,
Cockrell, Salisbury, Teller, Wallace and Ed
munds in the affirmative, were paired with
Blaine, Baldwin, Platt, Kellogg Cameron, pa
and Anthony in the negative. Hampton was
paired with Saunders.
The committee of the whole then reported
the bill to the Senate, when the amendments
were agreed to and the bill passed finally.
Senator Withers, from the appropriation
committee, reported with amendments the
district appropriation BILL Placed on the cal
sndar
AT ter debate on priority of business the
House funding bill was taken up and inform
ally laid over as the regular order business to-
morrow.
The cattle diseases bill was taken up and five
of the eleven sections of the bill read, when
Senator Thurman criticised the mrchinery to
be created by it as complicated and cumber-
some. At this point a message from the
House announcing the death of Representative
Wood wos read, and as a work of respect for
memory of deceased. Adjourned.