New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-10
AGAINST THE SHIPPING BILL,
IT'S ENEMIES ANXIOUS TO DEFEAT 1T.

TIE WAY IN WHICH THEY PROPOSE TO DO so-Irs
FATE IN HANDS OF THE SPEAKER
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUsE
WASHINGTON. May 9.-The Shipping bill is re-
qarded by some of its warmest friends rs being
in critical situation. When it comes back to the
House it will be beset by angry foes, will resort
to any and every parliamentary expedient to pre-
vent its consideration. The free ship men in the
House are angry because their amendment
TO the bill was rejected by the Sen
ate and many of them, led by Messrs.
Morrison and Holman, are still more indg-
nant because the Senate has added to the Dill
section authorizing the Postmaster-General to
enter into contracts for the transportation OF the
mails on American vessels engaged in the foreign
carrying trade. This provision is wildly denounced
as "a subsidy" and threats are made that the
House shall never have chance to vote upon It,
That the Democrats, with seventy three majority,
are unwilling to have this proposition
even considered and voted upon is an
other evidence of the complete decentralization
in their ranks. As soon as the bill comes back to
the House Messrs Morrison Holman and Others
will try to have It sent to the calendar of the Com
mittee of the Whole on a point of order. III they
succeed, the measure cannot possibly be reached nj
this session. if ever for it will have to take its
place at the foot of 142 other bills now on that cal
endar The point of order will be made and in
sisted on even if Senator Frye's plan to send the
hiu directly TO a conference committee shall be
successful There is no specific rule which governs
the consideration of conference reports in the
House. except one which provides that they may be
presented at any time. 1t has been decided that
such a report cannot be laid on the table, The 2Oth
rule of the House provides that any Senate amend
III 10 thA
point of order that 1t shall first be considered in
Committee of the Whole, if, originating in
the House. il would be subject 10 that point. In
this case the amendment providing for ocean mail
service is subject to that point.
MR. DINGLEY PRESENTS SOME POINTS FOR CON-
LIBERATION.
Representative Dingey, OF Maine, who is a good
parliamentarian suggested to Speaker Carlisle to-
day several reasons why, III his Judgment the point
of order should not be held good in the case of the
Shipping bill First, he contended that as the bill
was considered under a suspension Of TIE rules
IN the House and not in Committee of the Whole, 1t
is entitled to retain that privilege when II comes
back from the Senate second, he maintained that
if it comes back to the House on the report OF
conference committee it will thereby bel entitled
to consideration and cannon be sent to the calendar
of the Committee of the Whole.
While the Speaker did not Indicate his own
opinion he replied that as to the first objection, it
will be held by those, who raise and support the
point of order that the privileges of
the BILL under the order to suspend the rules, were
exhausted on it's first consideration and cannot be
made to cover it when ii comes back with Senate
amendments containing new matter. The second
objection urged by Mr. Dngey is a new ono, for
so far as is now known, no attempt has ever been
made to defeat conference report 10y sending 1t 10
the foot Of the calendar The uniform practice has
been to consider such reports matters of privilege
and act upon them as soon as they were presented
No exception to this practice is now recalled. ,
Ii is understood that the President pro tenn of the
Senate, who is an experienced parliamentarian has
expressed the opinion that the point of order indl
Gated can hardly hold good IN either house in the
case of conference report, which is the production
of a. Joint committee of both houses, ana that
the rules shond be interpreted in the interests OF
the orderly dispatch Of public business and not IN
manner 10 obstruct defeat its consideration. But
Speaker Carlisle, and not Senator Edmunds. IS the
man in this case upon whose ruling tho fate OF the
shipping bill may be said to dependl
OF cOulse majority of the House might
reject the Senate amendments and thus
destroy the measure, but Speaker Carlisle may, by
sustaininga point of order prevent the House
from acting upon them at all aud thus Kill thebll.
His action in this matter will be awaited with
keen and anxious interest by the friends OF Amer
lean commerce and shIpbuilding interests.