Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-14

Cured in the 3fth Congress, when the prop
osition was made TO cut off deonte on the
paragraphs of the tariff bill which had no
been read and considered. in order to show
that Messrs. Carlisle, Hammond. Randall.
Cox and Blackburne had protested vigorously
against the proposition, the latter character,
izing 1t as more adroit than manly and homer
able. Nowhere in these speeches Was he
able TO find that any distinction mad been
made between general appropriation and river
and harbor bills.
After further debate Mr.. Willis moved &c
lay the appeal on the table. Agreed TO:
yeas l2l, nays l04, and then. though il was
two minutes past l2 o'clock, the House ad-
Journed and was Immediately called to order
again, in Fridays session.
The Speaker laid before the House a num-
Der OF executive communications, which were
appropriately referred. Among them was
one from the Secretary of the Navy, asking
legislation authorizing the expenditure of the
balance of the appropriations for steam ma
chinery for the steel cruisers.
The House then proceeded TO the considera-
ton OF business under special rule.
number of minor bills were passed under
the rule, andat 2.le the House went into
committee of the whole on the postoffce
appropriation bill, the pending question bear
ing on a point of order raised by Mr.. Holman
of Indiana against the paragraph allowing
additional compensation to American steam
ships for carrying ocean mails.
The chair, in rendering his decision, said
if it were proper to look upon section 1916,
revised statutes, as the existing law, there
could be no difficulty in ruling upon the point
of order but the chair was of the opinion that,
as the pending legislation did not take effect
until the first of January next, all questions
as to what was the existing law must be de-
termined with reference to that time. Sec
ton % of the Dingley bill repealed, sec,
1916 to take effect the first of April next,
and the chair would hold that the Dingley
bill was an existing law.
The chair overruled the point of order. He
however, ruled out that portion of the para
graph which provides that vessels engaged in
this service shall be of American registry and
shall, in time of war, be liable to charter or
purchase by the United States at reasonable
MIR. Holman of Indiana, appealed from the
decision of the chair, but the committee, 1870
to 45, sustained the ruling,
Mr.. Holman then moved to strike out the
paragraph and insert an amendment appro-
prating S4l5,00 for the transport of foreign
mails, including the railway transit across
the Isthmus of Panama, and reuniting for one
year from July next, sections 1876 and 1908
of the Revised Statutes. A provision con-
tanned in the bill proposed direct subsidy to
the vessels whether they carried the mail or
not
No member who had been present on this
floor some years ago and witnessed the MEM
orable scene which occurred in reference TO
the Pacific Mail subsidy would ever wish to
witness another such scene.
Mr.. Hunt of louisiana defended the pro-
vision in the bill.
Mr.. Bount of Georgia, said that with our
present navigation laws we could not posi-
bly, hope to revive American commerce by
this increase in mail compensation. This
provision was simply an effort to increase
the compensation of the few lines now in ex-
istance
At the end of a long debate MIR. Holman
modified his motion so as to move merely to
strike out the provision without the insertion
of the clause reenactng sections 1876 and
4203 of the Revised Statutes. The motion
was agreed to- l09 to 81. amid applause on
the democratic side.
Mr.. Horr of Michigan, gave notice that he
would demand the yea and nay vote in the
House.
An amendment was adopted providing that
the rate of drop letters. including delivery at
the letter carriers offices shall be two cents
per ounce.
The committee then rose and reported the
bill to the House. and previous question hav-
ing been ordered on the bill, the House took a
recess until o'clock.
The House at the evening session passed
sever al personal and dozen pension bills.
At 10 o'clock the House took recess Until
10 o'clock tomorrow.