The Portland daily press., 1885-01-30
WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The second days
session of the National Board of Trade Mr..
Covington reported q resolution from the Gin
cinnati Chamber of Commerce, asking an in
vestigation OF the cause of the great waste of
the conntry's wealth by fire, and that the in
vestlgatlon be made either by o committee OF
the board or by by commission to be appoint
ed by Congress- Mr.. Covington said there was
not the slightest doubt that the fiji loss in this
country could be reduced from S120 600, 900 to
500, o0000 Tae resolution was adopted.
The subject of fictitious bills of lading was
discussed, and after some amendments the
draft of a bill prepared by the New York
Board Of Trade was adopted to be submitted
to Congress.
The question OF promoting the increase Of
American shipping was taken up by the board
upon reconvening. The board had before it a
recommendation OF the Philadelphia Board of
Trade that the question be carefully considered
and the resolution of the New York Board of
Trade and Transportation setting forth the
necessity of adopting the methods of competi-
tors of the United States for the worlds trade
In order to secure share of that trade be
adopted. After discussion, lasting several
hours the board adopted as q substitute for the
resolution OF the New York Board of Trade
the following.
Resolved-That the National Board of Trade rec
egpize the necessity of quick and frequent commu-
nicaton with foreign markets, and that bosrd earn
estly commends to Congress the enactment of
House bill 4987 for encouragement of the Ameri-
can merchant marine and to promote commercial
relations with foreign countries.
This bill provides that the Postmaster
General be authorized in his discretion to con-
trast with American steamship companies for
conveyance of mails at a rate not to
exceed 81 per mile, the amount to be
paid in this manner not to exceed
the sum received from ocean passage by the
United States. The board held its annual
banquet this evening at Wizards Hotel.
The Nicaragnan Treaty.
The Senate went into executive session at
1888 today, and the suspended vote Of last
night upon Senator Vance's motion to postpone
action upon the Nicaraguan treaty was CON
tinued, resulting in defeat of the motion by
a vote of % to 25 Senator Sherman's amend
ment looking to abrogation or modification Of
the Clayton -Bulwer treaty was then discussed
for some hours, and coming to vote in COM
mittee of the whole was defeated by vote of
n to 2s. The second Sherman amendment re-
lating to discrimination in tolls was defeated
without division. The treaty was then report
ed to the Senate, and vote upon the Sherman
amendment relating to the Clayton Bull wer
treaty was again taken, resulting in it's adop-
tion by assvote Of 20 to 10. A vote was then
taken upon the treaty itself, and 80 Senators
voted for its ratification, while % voted against
it. The affirmative vote being less than two
thirds OF the whole number voting the treaty
was not ratified.
Senator Riddleberger was the only man on
tne h6puDllcau slCo VINO Vot6Q IN the negative.
Several Democratic Senators voted in the ai-
frmative. Among them we're Senators Jonas,
Jones of Florida, MCPHERSON, Maxcy, Pendle-
ton, Morgan and Pugh. A motion will un-
donbtedly be made to reconsider the vote upon
ratification. The change in front upon the
Sherman amendment is explained thus. Sew
eral Senators whe favored the amendment but
were opposed to the treaty voted against the
amendment in committee Of the whole, fearing
its adoption would help the treaty. When the
treaty was reported to the Senate and the vote
required upon the Sherman amendment, some
of the friends of the treaty who were opposed
to the amendment voted in the affirmative as a
means of winning support to the treaty itself,
the failure of which If unamended was fore
told by the votes in committee of the whole.
The Public Debt.
1t is estimated at the treasury department
that there will be decrease of over So, ,000, 900
in the public debt during the present month.
Confirmed by the Senate.
The Senate In executive session to-day con-
frmed the following nominations:
Lucius FL. Foote of California, to be Minister
to Corea
Commodore Samuel R. Franklin, to be Rear.
Admiral.