The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-02-15
Last Nights Dispatches.
xLvI CONGRESS.
SENATE.


cations, praying for legislation rrohibitiD,
the manufacture and sale of alcohol
| beverages were presented
| A number of unimpoctant bills wer,
introduced and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Booth introduced bill authoriziu.
the payment Of prize money to the otficer'
of Farragut's feet for the destruction O.
tho enemy's vessels 10 1867.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced a resolution
which was adopted. calling upon the dis
trict com missiouers to see If some method
cannot be adopted that will diminish the
probability OF foundations OF the city here
after.
The following wore adopted without
objs cton:
By Mr.. Hoar. diree,ng the secretary to
report to the senate rules OF admission to
the customs Office at New York, approved
by the president March 6. 1879. and Jan
| uary 10. 1880. and such statement OF pro-
cecdiugs under the same as may show the
practical effect of the operation OF SAID
r1les upon the public service.
BY MIR. Platt, instructing the committee
on postoffices and post roads TO inquire
whe,her the practice Of the post Q tficc
department in letting contracts FOR the
transportation of mails to persons who.
though the lowest bidders therefor. do not
intend personally to perform such con-
tracts. but make them solely for the pur-
pose OF speculation, is In accordance with
public policy, and if any. what means can
be devised to prevent the same. and to
report By bill or otherwise,
The postal appropriation bill vas pre-
ceeded with, the pending motion to table
the subsidy amendment being Withdrawn
and various propositions TO perfect the
original amendments reported from the
com mittse on Postofices being overruled
ss not in order under the rule. The votes
on these propositions ranged as follows:
Is to -. ID to 81, Is to 24.
An amendment by Mr.. Morgan. to allow
eamships to be of steel as well as iron,
vas agreed to.
Mr.. Baysrd regarded the doctrine of
steamship subsidies, which he construed
as the taking of public money for
private use, as Identical with communism.
and as violativc of democratic usage and
doctrine.
Mr.. Wbyte reviewed the history Of
Ansrioan subsidy legislation. beginning
with the plan proposed by Mr.. King in
lS4l, appropriating si,000000 annually
for term of years for the foreign mail
service, the bill in that instance being
covered with the same sugar coating OF
equitable distribution that is presented
at this time, and coming down to the
Brazilian experiment, he added: We
were asked within five years after that
disastrous failure to repeat the folly.
During ths ten years up to 1875, IN which
the government had paid to the
Brazil lire 81, 100000, our imports were
doubled. while our exports increased
but one eighth. The Pacific mail fur
nished another expense that ought not
to be forgotten. He would if he could
draw q veil before the eyes of the Ameri-
can nation and save them from the recol-
lection Of that scandel, that smirched Con-
gressnen and excluded one member from
the floor Of the House He concluded
with a statement Of the reasons which had
bsen given ou behalf of Roach in support
OF the proposition, as that gentleman had
not undertaken to show that he was not
not now making money in carrying trade
or that the present facilities il that direc
ton were inadequate.
Mr. Beck aid be had heard of the COM
plant that American ocean postal facii-
ties were deficient.
Mr.. Morgan replied that the Southern
ports had been closed to the United States
mails by the policy of the government.
and the South now asked that the mail
f. cilities be extended to her.
Mr.. Beck replied, and went on to argue
that the amendment would not have the
effect to add single steamer to the lines
now. but that the 81 .O00, 900 mere provided
would go to the Pacific Mail aad Brazilian
com pauies. with the exception of about
twelve per cent. which would be left for
other lines to scramble for. He suggested
among other measures of relief that w ash
iugton be made exclusively place of reg
istry for vessels OF the foreign carrying
trade; that system of American appren
ticeship on these vessels be Instituted: that
contracts be N ade with their owners by
which tt . ships may .be made a par. of
navy in foreign war: that they be reliey
ed of local tag at on that consular and
piotage fess DO paid by the government
and their burdens otherwise lighted,
Mr.. Baysrd asked Mr. Maxey if be
favored the frse importation Of ship
building material as well S. ships already
Mr.. Msxey replied that he was a free
ship nan 10 the most unqulifed way
and be would allow ship building mate
rails to be admitted under reasonable
tariff. such as would provide revenus for
the government He shen quoted from
STATISTICS 10 snow lDaJ ~ulle tD0 COmmST-
cial and agricultural growth of the country
had been unprec edented in the last thirty
years, the carrying trade alone of all cur
Industries had declined in volume and
almost disappeared, and that the cause
Of this was to be found in our navigation
laws, A direct issue had been presented
by Mir. Morgan resolution and had been
negativsd. The construction placed
upon the amendment now pending. in
view of the rejection of other propos =
sitions, had deprived it of that which, in
bis judgment, made it valuable, namely
thesfree ship principle. cIn this coL.
nectiou be presented statistics showing
that of total of over $4,000 paid by
he United States for the carrying OF
European mails. Sl58, 900 was paid the
3wpers of foreign bottoms ard $38. 900 to
A merican, and commented on this as g |
1ational humiliation.
Mr.. Teller moved to lay the amendment |
DO the table to avoid further discussion. |
greed to-yeas "a. nays ii.
The committee on the VIII ole then re |
ported the bill to the Ssnate. when the |
amendments were agreed to and the bill |
passed finally.
Mr.. Withers. from the appropriations
,om mittee. reported With amendment the |
district appropriation bill. Placed on the
calendar.