The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-15
WASHINGTON.
The Star Route Trial.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-In the Star route
d,,,s IL tho r,esarstses sese 8.
kota, the last of the 10 routes set out in the in
dictment.
Joseph Pennell, who had been employed by
John Dorsey to build the stations along abe
route, testified that Dorsey offered him an in
terest IN the route. bat witness declined be-
cause he thought it would not pay. Dorsey
told him that the service would be increased
to three trips per week, and he had brother
In Washington being '.all right with the de-
partment." He said the pay for three trips
would be at least S25, 900 per year, and it might
be more.
British Consul Recognized.
The President has recognized William Lane
Booker as consul general of Her Britanc
Majesty for the States of New York, New Jer-
sey, Rhode Island and Connecticut to reside at
at New Jrk.
The Dingley Shipping Bill
The Senate commerce committee has gone
over the House shipping bill, and passed most
of it without dissent. They have stricken out
the section which abolished the shipping com
missioners, and agreed to the section which
gives free raw materials to the shipbuilders of
vessels used in the foreign service. 1t has
been by an accident discovered that the word
mot" was inserted by Mr.. Dingey of Maine
in the House bill which passed so as to increase
the tonnage tax on all Transatlantic stesmers
from 80 cents to $l.20 and LA per annum. Ii
Is claimed this is dangerous to Transatlantic
ocean commerce by steamers, and of great
benefit to sailing vessels, whose tonnage taxes
would by that section be reduced more than
half.
There happened to be in Washington Ran
clItfe Baldwin, representing the twelve North
Atlantic steamship lines, and John Roach and
Charles I'll Camp, shipbuilders. They claim
ed that section is aimed as well against the two
Philadelphia lines, and the Pacific Mail Com
pany, as against the foreign lines They have
all Joined hands and will endeavor to defeat
the bill rather than let the provision pass. Mr.
Baldwin says that the Transatlantic steamers
under the provision OF the bill, would pay each
IL cents per ton per trip tax instead of 80 cents
per ton per annum now. These steamers
average 10 or II trips per annum, and the pro-
posed increase would be ruinous. Mr.. Dingley
says he means that the original bill shall pass
The bill comes up on Thursday in the Senate
commerce committee.
Conference of Repub lean Senators on
the Tariff Bill.
An informal conference of Republican SEN
ators Was held this morning for the purpose of
discussing the general situation in view of the
early passage of the tariff bill by the Senate.
The general programme agreed upon some
days since by the caucus committee was ap-
proved and it was decided to invite con-
ference on the part of the Republicans of the
House either through joint caucus or caucus
committees of each body for the purpose of de-
ciulng upon some plan Dy Wnlcn action upon
the tariff bill can be reached and its final pas
sages secured. No votes were taken as no
propositions were submitted requiring any.
The complications and difficulties of the situa-
tion were recognized and it was admitted that
some understanding between the two Houses
should be had at once and concert of action
secured.
The Jeanette Inquiry.
The report of the Jeannette board has been
submitted to the Secretary of the
Navy for approval by him. 1t is understood
the board will not be discharged until the
survivors still in Siberia have been examined
in relation to the alleged De Long Collins diff
iculty.
Miscellaneous.
The President will leave here tomorrow
evening for New York city to attend the
funeral of ex-Gov. Morgan which takes place
on Friday.
The civil service commission will probably