Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-03
WASHINGTON NEWS.
A Bill Presented for a Grand Celebration
On the 4th OF March, 1889.
WAsuINcrnN NJ

WASHINGTON. March 9.
Senator Gormau introduced bill TODAY. TO
provide for joint celebration by the sixteen
American republics on the 4th of March.
1889, In honor of the Tooth anniversary of
the parent republic in the United States. 1t
authorizes the President to invite the presi-
dents OF Mexico, Guatemala Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, San Salvador, Honduras, U. S.
OF Columbia. Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Chill.
Uruguay. Paragua. Ecuador and Argentine
Republic, TO visit WashiH gton on the 4th of
March, 1889. and with the President of the
United States and others who NAV be invited.
participate in suitable ceremonies in honor
OF that event: that the presidents of these re-
publics be requested to have prepared concise
histories of their constitutions and amend
ments thereto, and a commission be appointed
oy the President to have said histories trans
lated into English and published The bill
appropriates 100000 to detray the expenses
incident to the celebration.
The Chinese Troubles.
The President sent messrge to Congress
today in regard to the Chinese troubles and
he referred particularly to the massacre of
the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming, a
year ago. The President expresses gratifi-
cation that it has not been proven that any
one of American birth had anything to do
with the outrage. He quotes from the treaty
OF 1880 with China and says that in case of
Ill treatment of the Chinese in the United
States this government is bound to exert all
Its power to devise measures for their protec-
ton by securing to them rights equal with
any and all other foreigners. Whether it is
now incumbent upon the United States to
amend the general law. or devise new meas
mr. ID bo
present communication, but confines him.
self TO the particular point raised by the out
rage and massacre at Rock Springs, that the
Chinese must be protected by all the power
the government can control. The President,
however, desires the legality of the claim of
the Chinese minister. The Chinese subjects
who were victims should be indemnifed, but
he leaves the question of bounty and generos-
ity of the government to the senators.
The Dingley Shipping Bill.
The Dingley bill, relating to pilotage, wa,
today reported from the shipping committee
by Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas.
The first section gives masters or mates of
American sailing vessels, employed in the
coastng trade, the same right to be examined
by U. S. inspectors, and if found competent
to be licensed to pilot their own vessels into
and out of ports.
The second section relieves American
coastwise vessels from the obligation to pay
a State pilot, whose services are not used
when these vessels are towed by steam ves-
sci in charge of United States pilot.
The last section provides that the act shall
go into force six months after its passage.
The reports say that since 1852 Amer
lean steam vessels in the coast
ris oh Ind loly nd
rivers, have been relieved from the
obligation to pay fees to State pilots not used
when such vessels are piloted by their mas
ters or mates who have been ex-
amined or licensed by U. S. inspectors to
pilot their own vessel. This bill simply ex-
tends the same privilege to American sailing
vessels in the same grade, and also relieves
them from the obligation to pay State pilots
not used when the vessels are towed by
steam vessel under the charge of United
States pilot. The necessity of this relief
is made all the more necessary by the
fact that all the States except the / Atlantic
and Gulf Southern States, who don't own
much shipping, have relieved the costwise
vessels from compulsory pil0tsge fees, thus
Maine, Massachusetts or New York coaster
which goes to port in Maryland or any port
on the Southern coast must pay pilot fees to
pilots who are not used, while a Maryland
coaster may go to anv Maine or other North
ern port without paying fees to pilots not
used
A Boston coaster which is compelled to
enter the port of Savannah and with tug un-
der United States pilot which must be paid
and is all that is needed OF used must also
pay a fee of S75 to the State pilot, who does
nothing except to demand his fees, but a
,tEA
paying and such exorbitant fee. The report
saws that the objections to the bill made by
New York pilots. in a circular sent to the
labor organizations, are that it is in the in
terest of foreign vessels, that it will destroy
the pilotage system. that it is in the interest
of capital and against labor and that it will
increase ship wrecks and loss of life.
To these objections the report replies that
the bill relieves only American vessels and
not single foreign vessel; that it is in the
interest of seamen and comparatively poor
owners of coasters men who do not on an
average earn as much from their vessels by
voluntary service as pilots do by their mUnop-
olv law. 1t also shows great benefit to the
government in saving large expense.
Answer to the Bland Resolution.
The secretary of the treasury today sent to
the speaker of the House of Representatives
an answer to the Bland resolution calling for
information in regard to the past and future
policy of the treasury department on the sill
yer question 1t is an exhaustive document
of 40 pages and includes vast amount of
correspondence and statistical information.
The secretary says the treasury is reservoir
with income. and outgoes. By law it re-
ceives almost every kind of authorized cur
rency. The outflow authorized by law is far
less free and various. The government
could, of course, compel the acceptance of
nothing but legal tender money. evenif COM
pulslon were pecuniarv or moral advan-
tage. Nevertheless the practice of this de-
partment is becoming. for the first time. diff
fcult 1t has been uniform TO 50 provide for
the usual wants of the sub-treasuries that any
creditor of the United States might at all
times have his choice among the currencies in
which his dues were payable. l have la
bored to promote the circulation of silver
with unremtting energy. have pressed i,
into circulation at q constant expense to the
treasury when other forms of lawful money
could have been circulated without such
lost. The secretary then goes on to state
that he has tried in every possible way to
bring silver into circulation. He makes IN
elaborate review of the silver question in al
ito aspects and defends the policy of the de-