National Republican., 1883-01-13
MANY MEN OF MANY MINDS.
After Accepting Mr. Cox's Substitute the House
Decides TO Reject II,
And Finally Passes the Bill Without a
Subsidy or Free Ship Clause,
Mr.. Easson Rises 10 Question Of Privilege and De-
nounCos Clumsy Slander.
Tho Senate Considers the Mexican Treaty
In Executive Session.
TIE HOUSE.

bUlub very NdiNNblb ltbialAllOu Ill lllt lllltItNJ
of American shipping, whatever may be said
in the way Of regret that the bill did not pass
as 1t camc from the committee Tho push
made by Mr. Cox, of New York, for free ships
and free material raised questions that
centered tho attention of the house
upon the eighteenth section aud brought
the democrats and tho Massachusetts,
men together for free ships, which
Of course they did not get, though the draw
back feature was defeated. In turning the
fight upon that section and its amendments
other features Of the bill quite as important
passed for less than they are worth. The
shipping interest will recognize them at
once, and regard them as of importance in
making IL possible TO conduct the ,ocean-car-
rying business in ships of some sort. The
building and owning Of ships will follow in
time The old shipping laws, now in force,
have made it possible to pile on the fees at
every foreign port, TO say nothing of the power
consuls have to delay q. voyage arbitrarily
for two or three weeks. Then there were
fees that shipmastcps had to advance for
ecamen, and all sorts Of annoyances that this
bill either modifes or sweeps away entirely.
Whenever the business of sailing ships around
inc world is nlaue pIOHIaDle, lncfe Will nc no
difficulty in building the ships There is n
modest little section in the bill that amounts
10 about the slime thing as free material,
since il lets in nearly everything in the raw
that shipbuders want to use. Tho bill will
stand as an important piece of legislation.
Mr. Butterworth, from the committee on
Pacific railways, reported a bill to authorize
the Southern Pacific railway company and
other railway companies to unite and COnsoli-
date so as to form continuous line of rail-
way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
House calendar.
Also bill to compel the payment by the
Kansas Pacific railway company Of the cost of
surveying, selecting, and conveying certain
lands granted to il, and to create n sinking
fund for the Kansas Pacific, Sioux City, and
Pacific, and the central branch of the Union
Pacific railways. House calendar.
Mr.. MCCool, asked unanimous consent for
the passage of the senate bill authorizing the
president 10 place Gen. Montgomery G. AIoigs
on the retired list OF the army with the pay
of major general.
Mr. Springer, of Illinois, suggested that the
Fitz-John Porter bill be also put upon its
passage.
Mr. McCook advocated the passage of his
bill, but Mr. Thomas objected.
Mr. Humphrey, from the committee on the
judiciary, reported back the senate bill to in
crease the fees of star route witnesses coming
from west of the Mississippi river. Passed.
Mr.. Rice, of Missouri, from the committee
on public lands, reported bill to prevent the
unlawful occupation of the public lands. Re-
ferred TO the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Bingham, chairman Of the committee
on pOstOnces and postrOads, reported back u
resolution calling on the secretary of tho In
terror for information rs TO whether the land
grant railways have complied with the laws
of congress respecting the construction and
maintainance of their own telegraph lines for
the use of the government and the public.
Adopted.
Mr.. Joyce presented n petition of $500 citi-
zens of Vermont, asking for n reduction of
the tax on tobacco. Referred to the ways and
means committee.
The house then resumed the consideration of
THE SHIPPING BILL,
the pending question being upon the commit
tee substitute, as amended, for the eighteenth
section.
Mr.. Knott moved to strike out of the sub
Stitute all the provision for n drawback He
stated that his intention was to strike out the
subsidy clause.
The motion was lost--yeas 90, nays 13l.
Mr.. Mills offered an amendment providing
that as the object Of the bill is to increase the
wages of American labor as well as to encour-
age the growth of American shipping, no
drawback shall bo paid to any shipbuilder or
shipowner until he shall file with the secretary
of the treasury the proof that he has paid to
each of his employees 20 per cent. advance on
tho wages paid for like services in the month
of December 1892.
Mr. Mills amendment was rCjected--yeas
0l, nays III.
The vote then required on the committees
substitute as published this morning, and it
was agreed to-yeas 1874, nays SO. Ut limits
the amount of drawback to the tonnage tax
collected in any one year, and provides for
free ships and free matcrals.l
Mr. Van Voorhees, offered an amendment to
al
in the foreign trade under the provisions of
this act from engaging in tho coastwso trade
except between Atlantic and Pacific ports, so
as also to except between ports on the great
lakes and Canada. Rejected.
Mr.. Buckner offered an amendment pro-
hibiting the alienation of any such vessel, or
its voluntary sale and delivery to a citizen Of
any other country, or for the purpose of OBJ
tanning II foreign registry, within ten years
from the date of certificate of registry.
Mr. Gambler opposed the amendment The
object of this bill was TO give freedom To men
TO build ships and sell ships After having
considered sound and liberal bill which
would do something, the house should not
shut out the ship builder from the right 10 sell
his ships. II was contended that this bill was
against mechanics He maintained that it
was for the benefit Of the laboring classes, and
that under its provisions two men would be
employed where one was employed now.
Mr., Reed sarcastically suggested to the gem
tleman from Missouri (Alr. Bucllner) that his
amendment had not II particle Of importance,
as We should not build many ships under this
. act
Mr.. Gambler replied that the gentleman
from Maine had given many suggestions ON
the subject. There was an honest difference
OfOpiniOn, and majority of the house thought
that Americans should build ships and run
ships and increase the foreign carrying trade,
If the responsibility Of killing this bill was
to be taken by any one, ho hoped IL would be
taken by the gentleman from Maine.
MIR. Reed, snail always take the responsibility
myself Of voting against a proposition which pee
teuds to be lair and Is not half fair, a proposition
which proposes with one hand to give - bluuty OF
ue.hulf Of what was necessary and with the
other hand repeal all the projection which AZ
thip building we have long line OF American III
dus res to be eugOurngedin the same way, and for
my part do not believe that that sDrt Of enCnur.
ugenent encourages anything except sudden
death. lApplause on the republican slde.l
Mr.. Gambler said that he believed IL to be q
dangerous precedent to deny by law the right
OF a man to sell ship where he desired. The
United States had no carrying trade, and tho
people desired to enter into that trade, They
also demanded free ships, With all the conccs-
eious which congress might make, with all
the flvOrs which il might extend, the increase
ol the carrying trade would be a slow process,
Let this law be carried out for two or three
years without lettering the shpbuildcr or
shipowner and then if it needed to be
amended congress could so amend il.
Mr.. Cox OF New York said that the rea-