National Republican., 1884-04-10
Grave Senators Improving the Symmetry Of
the Naval Appropriation Bill
Mr. Vest Explains the Decline Of the
American Merchant Marine,
And Unwillingly Pays the Secretary Of the Navy
High Compliment
The House Investing the Treasury Sur
pius In New Public Buildings.
THE SENATE.

duties caused by extraordinary generalization Of
the Austrian form in 1873.
At the request of Mr.. Sherman, the bill was
placed on the calendar. He said that minority
of the committee would present their views here.
after.
Mr.. Hill, from tho committee on postofiices and
postroads, reported favorably an original bill to
establish postal telegraph system. MIR. Hill re-
marked that the committee were unanimous as
TO the first ten sections Of the BILL which relate to
doing the work by contract with existing COM
panies. but that minority of tho committee
were opposed to the sections relating to the con-
struction or purchase of lines by the government.
The senate took up for consideration the bills
upon the Iive-mlnute calendar.
Mr.. Mcpherson spoke in support OF the bill to
promote Capt. Thomas G. Corbin now on the re-
tired list of the navy to the rank Of admiral
on the same list. Mr.. Mcpherson highly eulogized
the services and record OF Capt. Corbin.
Mr.. Logan opposed the bill. He deprecated the
practice of army and navy officers coming to con-
gress for promotion 1t led TO dissatisfaction in
both services, and made congress a mere foot ball
to be played with by officers who for any cause
were dissatisfied with their condition.
Mr.. Cockrell also opposed the bill To pass the
bill and take out OF the taxes collected the In
creased pay that would follow follow would, Mr.: Cock.
moved to indefinitely postpone the bill, which
On motion Of Mr.. Hale. the senate then re.
sumed consideration OF the naval appropriation
Dill, ana Mr. vest continued MS remarks.
The popular impression, Mr.. Vest said was that
the late civil was the beginning Of the decline
of the American merchant marine, but this i'm
six years before the war. The loss OF American
shipping from lsaO to 1882 was For the period be.
fore the war, l6 40 per cent; during the war.
IS $40 per cent, aud since the war, IL 21O per
cent.
Referring to the shipping bill reported to the
senate by Mr.. Frye, from the committee on COM
merce, Mr. Vest said 1t was like the empiricism
which mistook deepseated disease for mere
nnntnQ ntfpVan aud nd ftAr
culcura and moderate doses of sulphur.
After reference by Mr.. Vest to the increased
cost of running American vessels as compared
with others, Mr.. Frye inquired how that would bo
remedied by putting vessels under the American
Mr.. Vest replied that he would repeal tho in.
famous navigation laws, which compelled an
American ship that had hired its crew abroad to
retire the crew the moment 1t touched America.
Mr.. Frye inquired If the proposition was to de-
wise some plan by which the wages Of American
Beamen should be deCreased2
Mr.. Vest replied that he proposed that the wages
should be just and reasonable but the sailors who
sailed the foreign going American vessels were
of them were Americans. All this preext of pro-
tecting American labor was "leather aud pru
nella.' American ships were Obliged 10 pay
foreign sailors the same wages they paid to sailors
engaged in the coastwise trade.
Mr.. Bayard said he had been informed that In
case where the same stockholders owned vessels
built and registered in England aud also vessels
built and registered in the United States, which
they were paying the same wages, yet they had
felt compelled to cease running the American
vessels. Mr.. Bayard had been wondering what
was the magic that made the difference that COM
PEELED such a result
Mr.Vest read correspondence from the president
ofa shipping company to show that there was a
difference of % to 80 per cent in the first cost of
ships against the american shipowner. He
should be permitted to buy ships wherever he
might choose to buy them.
MIR. Bayard suggested that that would be left
handed privilege II the higher wages prohibited
the running of the vessel
Mr.. Vest continued reading, 10 show that the
rehiring of the crews in America increased the
expenses of an American steamship by Sl5.00o a
year. 1t was no wonder the only American line
had deserted the flag of Its country.
Mr.. Frye said If ships could be purchased to-day
anywhere in the world under the laws of the
United States no American citizen would dream
OF making the purchases. Therefore, free trade in
ships would amount to nothing. because they
could not be run in competition with foreign
ships, on account of the difference in wages.
Mr,Vest said free ships were not the only things
necessary. He would reform the whole protect
i've system, which had struck down the American
merchant marine
Mr. Frye. by increasing American wages
Mr. Vest denied that the tariff gave American
workingmen higher wages, except as It paid with
one hand and robbed with the other-taking 1t
out of the cost of living. He did not believe that
the removal of any one Of the several causes that
had contributed to the decay of the American
merchant marine would result III its immediate
return TO Its original condition. Many conditions
must combine before our mag could again float In
marine was the nursery of navy, and one could
not be had without the other
Mr.. Hale remarked that he had not wished to
understanding that he was going 10 DO absent
when the shipping bill was to be considered by
appropriation bill that related to the merchant
marine.
lie hoped senators would bear in mind the Gus.
tom of the senate, which had been to regard ap-
preparation bills as business bills.
Referring to Mr. Vests statement that $685., ,OOO.-
600 had been expended on the navy since the war
Mr.. Hale said he was surprised that so stale a
matter should be again brough up; $500 900 of
the amount had been spent In the pay OF the
provisions no,
100000 for repairs and maintenance Of navy
yards COAL &c., had cost $40, 900 0O0 the repairs
of the old ships, that were left legacy OF the
war, had cost S4l.OOOOOO. The remainder was
made up of items whicn could be stated but
been spent on new ships. What we wanted was
new ships.
MIR, MCPHERSON, in the course of some remarks,
said that while the government persisted in keep
ing the present secretary of the navy, 1t could not
wonder at lack OF confidence in the navy depart.
ment.
Mr.. Hale remarked he did not suppose the sena-
tor from New jersey could sit down without
getting oil some OF his bile against the secretary Of
Mr.. Mcpherson replied that II the senator would
read the newspapers OF the country he would see
that IL was not the bile of the senator from New
Jersey that was responsible for the opposition to
the secretary OF the navy.
Mr.. Hale, after referring to the efforts made by
the secretary TO increase the efficiency OF the navy
said that what had kept England neutral during
our late war was the immense power the Ameri.
cans had shown in improyising a navy. The con-
ditions Of those times, however were not the
conditions of to-day, aud navies could not now be
so promptly improvised, Yet 1t was essential that
the country should have an efficient navy. Great
Britain, France, Germany or any other power
hostility to u. With suGh navy, America would
be protected from European domination or iuier-
ference Referring 10 the new cruisers, they were
built, he said as a bond on other nations--as
menuce, II you choose TO call IL SOTO induce
them to keep the peace Mr. Hale defended the
secretary ofthe navy from aspersion, and asked
any man could put his finger on single thing
that the secretary had done IN the administration
oi his office that even suggested suspicion. That
officer had no voice on the floor Of the senate, and
he MIR. Halel had felt 1t due to him TO say thus
much.
Mr.. Bayard inquired II the steel cruiser pro-
vision had been ongraited on the appropriation
bill, the senate having already passed bill maxi
ing special provision for them.
Mr.. Hale replied that the bill had gone to the
house and that, metaphorically speaking, the
house had snapped its fingers at tho senate, and
seemed disposed to lot the bill lie untouched.
The committee on appropriations had, therefore,
in accordance with repeated precedent concluded
10 put tho provision for the building of the
cruisers into the appropriation bill.
Mr.. Bayard did not deem II proper for either
house TO attempt TO coerce the other nor for the
senate 10 make the appropriations TO sustain the
upon .wrangles between the two houses of con-
gress.
Mr.. Vest, while recognizing the great ability
of the secretary OF the navy said he believed the
partisan bias OF thai oticer was such as to lead
him to DO things IN public capacity that the in
terests OF the country would not warrant.
MIR. Hale asked whether Mr.. Vest meant that
that officer had IN the administration OF his office
done anything of the character indicated
Mr., Vest said he could not nut his finger on any