The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03
NEWS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
WRIT THE WIRES sRiNG US.
Warrington.
AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS.
lBy telegram 10 the nlepatch,l

AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS.
fly telegraph 10 the Dlspa,ch.l
WASHINGTON, II. c., January 1.-The Sc
lect Committee OH American Ship-Building
and Ship-Owning Interests met to-day, but
as there was not quorum present no def
mite action was taken. IL was the opinion OF
some members that the bill authorizing
free ships Will not pass the committee. In
the discussion OF the subject to-day Rep
resentative Hunt, Of Louisiana Demo
craD, excited some surprise by strong
" opposing the measure throughout.
He said that such bill. should IL
pass. would kill the ship-building interests.
An effort, however, will he made TO get IL
before Congress either through the Commit
tee on shipping or through that on Com
merce. Mr.. Hunt also expressed himself to-
day In favor Of aiding the merchant marine
by change in the payment for carrying
mail. He said he favored more liberal pay
ment on the part Of The Government. and
thought that II was hy such policy that Eng
land had built IN her merchant marine.
Mr.. Dingley's bill 10 remove certain bur-
denS on the American merchant marine
meets the approval OF the committee. and,
with a few minor changes will he reported
10 the House at. an early date. 1t provides,
among other things. for reduction OF hos
pital duties. and some members OF the COM
mittee are in favor OF relieving from such
duties entirely all ships engaged in foreign
trade.
CHANGING POSTAGE RATES.
WASHINGTON, January .. The Pos,maS-
tcr-General today issued IN order chang
ing the rate OF postage OH number OF arti-
Giles that have heretofore been rated rs
third-chss or printed matter, paying post
are nj the rate OF one cent for every two
ounces. Under this order these articles
will hereafter he classified rs merchandise
or fourth-claSS matter, upon which postage
is one cent per ounce. The following is
the text OF the order: The character Of
paper rs an article OF merchandise within
the meaning OF the postal laws is not ne
ceSSarilv changed by the printing or
stamping thereon o. words, letters, charac-
tiers. figures. images, or OF any combination
thereof: labels, patterns. photographs.
plavinC-cardS. visiting cards. address tags,
paper sacks, wrapping paper with printed
advertisements thereon. bill-headS, letter
heads. envelopes. and other matter OF the
same general character. the printing upon
which is not designed to instruct or amuse
the mind or taste, or impart general infor-
nation. are mere articles of merchandise,
aud should be rated as fourth-class matter.
TIE PUBLIC-DEpT STATEMENT.
WASHINGTON, January 1.-The debt state
ment issued to-day shows the decrease Of
the public debt during the month Of De-
cem6er to he S1l, 743.357; decrease Of the
debt since June so. 1883, $4,000, fS3; cash
in the Treasury. SS7j. 200; gold certiG-
Gates outstanding, sol, 03l,920; silver cer-
iifcateS outstanding, S109, S9S,Gl1; certifi-
Gated deposit outstanding, 4,560,0 600; re-
funding certificates outstanding, S3l5,1j0;
/ legal tenders outstanding. S3t6.GSl, 0lG;
fractional currency outstanding, $685.
42S: cash balance available January L.
/ 1881, S1l2,47S,4 ij.