Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-06
FORTY-EIGHvn COyGRgSS.
First RessiOTl.
sen ATE.

mittees and placed on the cal 'ndar-the agri-
cultural appropriation bill from the commit
tee o.. commerce. the House bill 20 adopt the
revised internal regulations for preventing
collisions at sea. and thefHouse bill granting
pension TO Mrs. Louisa V. Fitzpatrick, widow
OF Judson Fitzpatrick.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol-
lows:
BY Mr.. Plumb. to prevent the acquisition
OF real estate BY aliens; to restrict aliens and
foreign companies and corporations in the
ownership of public land and OF any land in
the territories; referred TO the committee on
public lands.
On conclusion of the routine morning busi-
Dess the Senate resumed consideration of the
shipping bill.
Mr. Miller of New York addressed the Sen
ate IN favor Of the bill. He criticised MIR.
Vests position. and insisted that free ships
would not solve the problem of the merchant
marine All leading merchants who had
been before the Senate committee that invest
igated the subject had, he said agreed that
free ships would be no relief.
II would be well, Mr.. Miller continued,
for the Senate to lay aside the theory of free
ships and take the counsel of practical men.
Why should We protect our own brass, steel,
wool and erything else, and not protect
Jul euips, tuc tApcHst OI WuOse cOUslTuCtlOu
consisted of 80 per cent of labor? So long
as we maintained tariff system we should
maintain fair tariff on ships. For one, ne
was willing, il it would meet the approval of
the other side of the Senate, to see such a
change in the navigation laws as would ad-
init foreign built ships to American registry.
just as other articles of foreign manufacture
were imported. but to be subject TO a fair
rate of duty, either at so much per cent. or
by an advalorem charge on cost.
Mr.. Beck said he did not see how that
would help, since we had a treaty giving for
eigners the same right as our own citizens.
Mr.. Vest then asked whether the French
did not also give bounty on foreign built
vessels bought by Frenchmen and used in the
commerce of France
Mr.. Miller replied as he understood it that
it was a fact that France gave a bounty for
vessels built in France yards and bounty of
90 cents a ton for every thousand miles run.
The result was that many English ship build
ers had transferred their yards to France.
MIR. Miller admitted there was difficulty,
but contended that the protection of our
shpbuilding Interests was indispensable. If
iron ships coNld be brought in here free none
would be built here and in % years there
would not be ship yard in the United States.
Mr.. Miller continued at length. He declared
that the section of the bill providing COM
pensation for mail transportation to be worth
all other sections put together and pointed
out the immense assistance given by other
countries to their shipping by subsidies.
MIR. Mcpherson moved some amendments
of detail to the amendment of Mr.. Vest
Among them was one to exclude free engines
sued in ships, but permitting the admission
OF material for the construction of engines.
Mr.. Morrill, said it had been absurdly con-
tended that the existing tariff laws prevented
our shipping business, A vessel could go
abroad and take freights from any portion of
the world to any port. The protective tariff
increased American wages, but other causes
contributed to that result. We gave l60
acres of land to every immigrant, and as long
as we did that no strong athletic man coming
here would go into the occupation of sailor.
Besides the business of shipping was vastly
oyerdone. II free ships were permitted here
shipbuilding would become lost art in this
country.
MIR. Beck severely criticised the navigation
laws. Our treaties, he added containing the
"most favored nation clause prohibited us
from giving our ships any advantage of dis
eliminating duties. 1t was conceded that
we could not build ships here as cheaply as
they were built elsewhere, hence but one OF
two courses was to be adopted, either sub
sidize our ships or permit our people to buy
ships where they can get them the cheapest
The propersition to give high mail pay didn't
the reach difficulty. The coastwise trade while
having good features he regarded as great
wrong. twas absolute monopoly. Its good
point was it trained sailors who would be
useful in case OF war.
Mr.. Dawes of Mass. said that every
body having money enough could build ships
1 -h.l oil W a
monopoly in the thing itself, but there was
lust this in it, there was discrimination be-
| tween our ow citizens and foreigners, and
that was what hurt the feelings of the Senator
from Kentucky.
Mr.. Beck with great warmth replied that
this last piece of meanness did not excuse the
Senator from Massachusetts, Dawes from
| failing to answer to the point, notwithstand'
| ing the ..coacking'' of his colleague (Hoar,
but was cunning evasion. A man that raise;
a bushel of wheat could also build railroad
but the bushel of wheat would not enable
| him to do it. After further remarks Mr.. Frye
gave notice that he would endeavor to have
the bill enacted upon tomorrow. The senate
then went into executive session. and latel
adjourned.
! HOUSE.
| Mr.. Robinson of New York, rising to
question of privilege. said that on Saturday
his colleague (Cox) in endeavoring to secure
the passage of the bill enabling Ensign Rey
| nolds to accept a medal from the government
of Austria, had stated that the gentlemen
who previously objected had agreed to with
draw their objections. his was mistake
He (Robinson) had made no such agreement
and he would never withdraw his opposition
to this species of legislation, even though al
dudism was in favor it.
MIR. Lowry of Indiana called up the con
tested Virginia election case of O'Farell VS.
Paul.
Mr.. Miller of Pennsylvania said that the
minority of the committee had not had tint
to prepare its report and asked that the case
go over until "Wednesday.
Mr. Turner of Georgia thought that thii
request should be acceded to.
| Mr. Lowry refused to do so however, ant
Mr.. Miller raised the question of considera