Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-28
PORTY-EIGRTH CNyCRgSS.
First session.
HOUSE..


WASHINGTON. Fpril 20.
The speaker announced the appointment
OF the following conference committees on
the naval appropriation bill: Hutchinson.
Randall and Calkins on post office spprop-
preparation bill, Townshend, Holman and
Horr.
The House then proceeded to the consid-
GRAFTON OF q special order being the bill TO
/ remove certain burdens on American mer-
chant marine and encourage the American
carrying trade.
After the reading of the report Mr. Slocum
of New York was awarded the floor. ..Our
navigation laws" he said, like those relat-
ing TO the military, had not been changed in
the past century. They we're today Just what
they were so years ago. For so years they
have been precisely the same as those of
England Thirty years ago England had
modified her laws and her commercial ma
rins had increased vastly from that modifca-
ton. The bill under consideration proposes
TO make our laws somewhat simiisr to the
changes made in England. The subject has
attracted the attention Of the people and this
measure was intended simply TO sweep away
some old laws which ship owners, ship mas
ters and the merchants of the country, agreed
should be eradicated from the statue book.
1t contained no provision which was not
committee and if it we're TO pass il must pas.
today" He said he would not detain the
House with any further discussion.
Mr.. Deuster of Wisconsin supported the
bill. He pictured the decadeRce of Amer
lean commerce and said the remedy must be
found in the adoption of wise and judicious
line of legislation inspired by the necessities
of a great people ready and able to avail
themselves of the lessons taught by the pro-
gressive power of civilization. The pending
measure contained many amendments looking
to the revision of the navigation laws. 1t was
necessary to confront the defects in these
laws and to strip off the fungus growth which
had come with the passage of time, in order
that wiser legislation might adapt itself to
the changed condition of affairs.
Mr.. Cox of New York did not consider il
worth while today to say to the American
Congress that our foreign shipping was a
mere skeleton. BY over coddling it had
been killed. He was surprised. he was about
to say mortified, that this bill which con-
tained so many good features did not contain
something that would really restore the dom
ination which the United States once pos
sessed of the seas, and that while copying so
many of the English features it had not cop
led the main feature-tree registry, the free
purchase of ships, and free trade in material
which entered into the construction of ships.
The measure was merely partial relief 1t
could not rehabilitate our commerce.
Mr.. Parker of New York thought the bill
brushed off too few Of the barnaces which
were attached to the shipping laws, and gave
notice of several amendments that he would
offer which would effect more especially the
commerce of the lakes.
Mr.. Findley of Maryland contended. in re-
ply to the statement of Mr.. Cox. that ever
since 1872 there was q law on the statute
books which admitted free of duty all articles
required 10 the coz struction and repair of
vessels intended for the foreign carrying
trade.
Mr.. Cox explained that this applied to
wooden ships alone.
The bill was then read by sections for
amendments.
Mr.. Slocum, acting under instructions from
his committee, moved to strike out the tenth
section. which prohibits the payment of ad-
vance wages aad which applies to foreign
vessels in ports of the United States, and also
the tenth section which requires vessels to
carry a slop chest
After some debate the amendment was
agreed te.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York moved to amend
the section which abolishes consular fees and
authorizes the secretary of the treasury to
allow such consular offices as are paid in the
whole or part by fees, such compensation for
services as they would have received pior to
the passage of this act by adding the words
mot to exceed an aggregate IN any fiscal
year the amount of fees collected at each
consulate for such services for the fscal year
ended June 30, lSS3; - agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Slocum the l lth act wa.
amended so as to read as follows: That in
-TA
per annum imposed by law, q duty of three
cents per ton, not to exceed in aggregate l5
cents per ton in any year is hereby imposed
at each entry on all vessels which shall be
entered in any port of the United States from
any port or place in North America, Central
America. West Indies, Bohsma Islands, the
Bermudas or Sandwich Islands or New
Foundland, and a duty of six cents per ton,
not to exceed 30 cents per ton per annum is
hereby imposed at each entry on all vessels
which shall be entered on the United States
from any other foreign ports, provided that
the President of the United States shall sus-
pend the collection of so much of the duty
imposed on vessels entered from any port in
the Dominion of Canada, New Foundland,
Bahamas, Bermudas, West Indies, Mexico
and Central America down to and including
Aspinwall and Panama, as may be in excess
equivale tax or taxes imposed on American
vessels by the government of q foreign coun-
try in which such port is situated. and shall.
on the passage of the act, and from time to
time thereafter as it may be necessary by
reason of changes in the laws of foreign
countries above mentioned, indicate by proc
lamation the ports to which such suspension
shall apply, and the rate or rates of tonnage
duty if any to be collected under such su.-
pension and provided further that all ves-
sells which shall have paid the tonnage tax
imposed by Sec. 1919 of the revised statutes
for the current year shall not be liable to the
tax herein levied antil the expiration of the
certificate Of the last payment OF tax. The
words mot to exceed 80 cents per ton per
apnum- we're inserted.
Mr.. Adams of New York moved to amend
Sec. Is, which abolishes the marine hospital
tax, by applying its provisions ~ we'll to ves-
sells engaged in coastwise ~ to those engaged
in foreign trade; adopted.
On motion of Mr.. George of Oregon, an
amendment was adopted providing that ves-
sells arriving at the port Of entry of the
United States laden with coal, salt, railr Dad
iron and other like materials in bulk, NAV
proceed to place in the collection district
to be specially designated by the secretary
of the treasury at the expense of the person
infareafad for the mn urp0se of uulo adin0 sho;r