New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-23
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE POUND RULE IN OPERATION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

WASHINGTON, July 22.-The advantages and dis
advantages of the Pound rule exempllhed
in the House this morning. and an hour was worse
than wasted over the first bill reported. This was
bill from the Ways and Means Committee proposing
the following addition to section 1920 of the Re-
yised Statutes:
Steam and sail vessels built for foreign account OF
domestic aud imported materials shall be entitled to tho
benefit OF the rate Of drawback the imported materials
as provided in the preceding section.
The purpose of the bill. as explained in the report
of the committee, is:
To extend TO vessels built in the United States,
foreign account, partly Of domestic and partly OF i'm
ported materials, the same drawback tnat Is anowea
under section 3Ol9 of the Revised Statutes on manu-
featured articles constructed wholly OF imported ma,
terias Under Sections 3Ol9 and O2O Of the Revised
Statutes shipbuiders o. the United states import all
the materials used III the construction OF vessels ana
wnen such vessels are exported can obtain dTawDach
equal to the amount OF duty paid the materials used
III sosi ructOn, less 10 per cent but single uosr
worth OF domestic materials loyed in conjunction
with imported materials then no drawback can ne
allowed. The increasing demand from abroad Tor
Anercln-Du vessels Of certain class makes 1t neces
sary to this discrimination III order that Amer
can snipbuidcrs Dc placed Oh an equality with ther
icrciGn competitors aud In order that they iay po
enabled t. accept orders for building vessels on foreign
account further reason controlling the opinion VI
your committee is IouhJ IN tue TACT tnaI ne
discOurdges the use of American material by making ls
use occasion for deprug shpbui dcrs Of the die"
Ddck "dch ls allowed wheI no domestic hatelIas & ~
used There IS no dispute that sound economic poISy
requires us to give employment to our Labor Ill inc
largest degree for foreign account
AS soon as the bill was read Mr. Robson
objected to its consideration. on the ground that
1t would open up the whole subject OF the tarili
but he withdrew his objection temporarily IN order
to allow the report to be read. After that had been
done the Speaker to the surprise OF nearly every
body, held that the opportunity for objection had
passed. No sooner had TINS singular ruling been
given than Mr.. Tucker. of Virginia, offered an
| amendment to extend the provisions of the bill to
vessels built for domestic well foreign account
and supported it the ground that the bill as re-
ported by the committee Disseminated against
Americans and in favor of foreigners. Mr. Lord, OF
Michigan, also supported the amendment, while Mr.
| Haskell opposed it. He declared that the Demo-
cratic iree-traders would allow no measure, however
carefully matured and designed to benefit American
| labor and enterprise, to be brought i'll aud con-
| sldered and disposed of its merits but III
| sisted on loading it down with obnoxious amend
meBts, which compelled every friend OF American
| industry 10 vote against IT.
All thlG time Mr. Iownshcnd, OF ILLINOIS, an apostle
in very small way of free-trade, was canorlng TOT
| recognition, and shouting that he ha an amend
ment which he desired to offer as an additional Sec
| ton The ten minutes allowed for discussion eX-
| pred before dozen members appeared 10 realize
the scope meaning OF the important measure upon
which they were suddenly required to vote. ON
| ulYSlOn Mr. fuckers Amendment was carried, puI
| less than quorum voted and atterward the yeas
and nays were demanded and ordered.
1t was found impossible TO get quorum, many
| Republicans refusing TO vote. \ motion for call
o1 che House then rejected, and the speaker de-
clrcd that the morning hOur, provided Tor by the
! new RUE had expired. 1t need surprise no one TO
| ind that every morning hour under the E0uho
rule from until the END OF the session has Deen
wasted over the bill now pending.
1he summer heglrd of Representatives began yes
tcrday, and by next tuesday the House VIII be lett
| win barely quOrum; and it Will Dc compara-
| lively easy matter to prevent the passage OF OBJ
| jc tlOnabie measures, and some (which are unOD-
Jecuonable and necessary may iall Tor similar
| reason.