The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-12
THE HOUSE.
The Shipping Bill Again Exercises the
Statesmanship of Congress.
Adjourned

The Shipping Bill Again Exercises the
Craftsmanship of Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Speaker an
nounced the eonferees on agricultural appropr
alton bill.
Mr.. Page, of California, from the committee on
commerce, reported back the resolution offered
by Mr.. Randall, calling on the President for a
statement of the aggregate amount expended on
river and harbor improvements since the begin
ming of the government. Adopted
The consideration of the shipping bill was then
resumed the section under discussion being the
drawback section, for which the committee sub
stitute is pending, limiting the amount OF draw
back to the amount of tonnage tax collected. To
this substitute Mr.. Gamblers rree-ship amend
ment is pending,
A long discussion ensued, during which Mr..
Smith, OF Illinois, advocated the eighteenth
ton. 1t was contended by its opponents that it
WAS oulg entering wedge into the Treasury,
He was willing to trust that entering wedge TO
the Democratic Congress of next year.
Mr. Townsheud, OF Illinois, opposed the draw
back feature of the bill. When the Democrats
had had control of Congress every subsidy
scheme had been defeated, and the lOhbies and
corridors Of the Capitol had been Gle tnsed of
subsidy seekers and joh0ers who had heen
swarmng there. Now, again Congress
confronted by another subsidy scheme.
IL not from Pacific railroads or from
Pacific Mall it was John Roach and his cOu-
freres who were asking that un enormous
bounty be taken from the people. lie charged
that the eighteenth section would put 100000
IN Roaeh's pocket annually. 1t was not in the
interest OF American labor, and nothing more
than a subsidy.
Mr.. whitthorne, OF Tennessee, stated that
while he would vote for the free-snip canse, he
questioned whether it would do anything for the
American carrying trade.
Mr.. March, of Illinois, supported the bill, in
Guiding the eighteenth SECTION. He was in favor
of a protective tariff but when he found any in
terest suffering, lie would exempt it from the
operation of the law.
Mr. inf mad hat fha
posed draw back was unconstitutional.
Mr.. R0besoH. Of New Jersey, SAID that there
had been some remarks made in this debate
which called for a reply, aud he desired to make
il. 1t this: When an American ship-buiider,
who has invested his capital in building up
American shipping and employed American
labor, sought to advocate by argument a
proposition in this DILL Iii favor Of American
labor, he was denounced on this floor by men
who had no words to denOunce English
Interest," which were represented by lobbyists
in the galleries of this chamber This gentle
MAJ who had been denounced was a man born
of the people, man who came from ireland
without the advantages OF an education, man
who by his industry, his energy and his brains
had built up the greatest American ship build
ing establishment which ever existed. He WAS
a man in character at least the equal of those
who denounced him. He (Robeson), was not
the man who would denounce American in
dustry becarse somebody profted by it, but he
denounced that spirit which would strike IA blow
at an American industry in the interests of for
eign cheap labor, which would bring
to shis country manufactured ships entirely
equipped, to the destruction of this great indus
try of shipping
Mr.. B0unt. of Georgia, inquired whether the
gentleman had felt the influence of that spirit.
Mr.. Robeson-I have not felt that influence,
Int have seen admitted English agents OF the
English carrying trade, not On this floor, bat in
these Hobbies, aud see them in the gal
leries.
Mr. Blount-Name them.
Mr.. Robeson-I am not here TO attack outside
parties
Mr.. Blount-You have already assailed them.
Name them.
The debate on the 18th section then closed,
and the House proceeded TO vote upon the
fered to the original section by Mr. Holman, of
Indiana, and which provides that so per cent. of
the drawback shall be paid laborers employed In
the construction OF any vessel.
Rejected-yeas 101, nays 12S-a party vote
except Buckner, Ellis, Jones, of Texas; Morse,
ROsecrans, Speer ana Epson voted with the Re-
publcans, and Burrows, Of Missouri, with the
Democrats.
The question was then resumed on Mr. Gamblers
freeship amendment to the proposed substitute,
and was agreed to-yeas 125, nays l0d.
Yeas-Messrs Aiken, Ald:ieh, Anderson, Arm
field. Atkins, Barbour, Beach, Belmont, Belly
hoover, Berry, Blackburn. Blanchard, Bland
Blount, Bragg, Brown, Buchanan, Buckner, Bur-
rows, of Missouri; Caid we'll, Gambler, Cannon,
Carlisle, Chapman, Clardy, Clark, Clements,
Cobb, Converse, Cook, Cox, of New York; Cox, of
NORTH Carolina; Covngton, Grape, Cravens, Cul-
berson, Cullen, CuGts Davis, of Missouri; Deer
ing, DeMotte, Deuster Dlbrelle, Dowd, Dugro,
Dunn, Dwight, Ewins, Farwell, of Iowa; Flower,
Haten, Herbert. Hewitt of, New York: Hewitt,
Alahams; Hit, Hoblitzeil, Hoge, Holman, House,
Hutchius, Jones, OF Texas; Jones'
OF New. Jersey; King. Knott. Lacey,
Latham, Leedon, Lefevre, Manning. McCord,
McCOok, Mckenzie, McI4ane, of Maryland;