National Republican., 1883-01-19

tion of protecting the liens Of pledges for
moneys advanced on goods in transit or ware
house, reported progress and were given fur
ther time for the preparation of final reports.
The question of the
REVIVAL OF OUR OCEAN COMMERCE.,
which was the next theme on the official pro-
grammG, gave rise to long and apparently
prohtless discussion, participated in by no
less thaIl dozen members. The shipping bill
passed Lust week by the house came up for
criticism, and wide difference of opinion
was developed, the free-ships and subsidy men
clashing. The board did not seem to be get
ting on very well, and the chairman, i'm a we'll
considered speech, suggested as plan of OK
trication fl om confusion the adoption of q
substitute f,,r the various measures under con-
sideration in the shape of q resolution or
memorial re Commending the imposing Of n
duty on foreil m-built ships entering Amcr-
can ports. This, he thought, would meet the
objections of Inen who represent the diverse
phases of the shipping question. He recog-
nized the force of the objections raised against
the proposition 10 give bounty to American
shipbuilders in the form of rebates or draw
backs 60 equalize the cost of construction of
home and foreign. built vessels, and thought 20
per cent. duty OF foreign-made ships would
serve the same pun pose, and simplify the busi-
verse TO the direct bestowal of subsidies upon
specified men orinte rests exists, and the impos-
ing of tax on fOreig n-built vessels doing busi-
ness with America would go far to harmonize
the conflicting views, and give the American
shipbuiders the protection they seek without
giving ofienso to the opponents of subsidies.
The chairman wanted foreign ships upon
which u 20 per cent. tax had been paid put on
an equality with Amoric an ships in the coast
wise as well as foreign trade.
To the resolution THAT il is the Judgment
Of this board that another session of con-
gress should not be allow ed TO pass without
the passage of an act
RELIEVING THIS IMPORTANT INTEREST
from some of the burdens under which il now
rests Mr.. Lincoln, of Bost on, moved as an
amendment that "this board would express
its general approval of the bill already passed
by the house and now before the senate, as
ailording some small measure OF relief, and IL
would earnestly urge its passage by tho latter
body during the present session, provided that
the tonnage tax imposed undcrseCtion Is shall
in no case exceed thirty cents per ton in any
one year."
strong protest against puttinU the board
on record as making a wholesale rec ommenda-
tion for the passage of bill which, even its
best friends confessed was full of fault and
imperfections, was made by Messrs. Sterns,
Fish, French, CAIRO, Thompson, Henry, Buch-
anan, and others, and several gentlemen
pointed out numbers of these imperloctions.
Finding themselves drifting further aud fur
ther from the point, and entering upon a field
for endless and aimless debate, the delegates
began to grow restiye. In Difference to this
feeling Mr.. Henry moved the appointment of
a committee, of which Mr.. Fraley shall be
chairman, to consider this question and re-
port to-day.
Mr.. Lincoln, and others who are interested
in shipping, explained that this bill, while it
was far from being what was needed, it was
regarded as q
PARTIAL RELIEF MEASURE,
the best probably that can be passed through
congress this session. He was satisfied that
any attempt on the part of tho board to die
tate amendments to the pending bill would
simply endanger its passage and jeopardizo
the small advantages to be gained in the event
of its becoming q law. There were some sec
tions of the bill he objected to, but as there
was no prospect of being able to obtain n
whole loaf, he was quite willing to take the
half loaf that is offered.
Mr.. Henrys motion of reference was de-
feated, and n motion made by Mr.. Buchanan
to take up the bill section by rection met the
same fate.
A general and decidedly free and easy talk,
lasting for an hour, was INDUCED in, and II
strong effort was made to bring tho board to
q voting point. The friends of the Lincoln
amendment were in the numerical ascendency,
but as the hour was late and the opposition
oratorial, an adjournment was had until 10
o'clock this morning to enable the delegates to
prepare for the banquet in tho evening loav-
ing the question TO be acted upon to-day,
when there will be time for further debate.