The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
important Bills Presented by Maine
Congressnen.
- kI,o DrAan

Especial to the Press.l
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10.-The following
are the details of some of the most import
ant of the bills introduced under the call of
States, by the members from Maine:
By Mr.. Dingey, bill to abolish certain fees for
official services to American vessels, and TO
amend the laws relating to shipping commission
ers, seamen, and owners of vessels This pro
YldeS tllat ON and after July L. 1856, no 1ees
shall be charged or collected by collectors or
steam vessels or shipping commissioners for any
marine documents; papers, certificates, indorse-
other official service to any vessel of the United
States, or for any service in shipping. dischargng
and paying off seamen. 1t provides that COZ
lectorS, inspectors and shipping commissioners
who are paid wholly by fees, shall make a de-
tailed statement of such services and the Secre-
ia of the Treasury shall allow such officers such
to the passage of the act. 1t also provides for
fee of $1.25 per man. to be paid by the vessel, to
shipping commissioners for shipping crews for
vessels engaged in the cOastwise trade, or the
trade between the United States and Canada, the
West Indies, or the Republic of Mexico, at the
request of the master or owner of the vessel. 1t
also provides fines for vessels not having the
number denoting her net tonnage carved or perm
anently marked on her main beam for vessels
trading or carving on fisheries without being en-
rolled or licensed and for foreign vessels found
carrying passengers between ports within the
Also bill to prohibit the establishment of
private lights and buoys. 1t makes it a msde-
meanor for any person, persons or corporation to
establish any light or buoy in any of the naviga-
Bile waters OF the United States, to act or to be
used as aids to the navigation of the waters of
the United States. But the Lighthouse Board
may establish inexpensive temporary lights or
buoyS on proof from any private person or corpor-
alton that their interests will suffer il such lights
or buoys are not Immediately established, pro
vided the funds can be spared from the appr0-
priations for such purposes, and that the Light
iaa,tysns.siala tosl-nl9ke no a6nropri-
tlnued within three months after the expiration
of said Congress.
Also a bili which provides that after its pas
sage public lands OF the United States shall be
sold; but all such lands shall be reserved for act
ual settlers under the provisions Of the homestead
laws 1t does not modify the laws relating to
the rights of officers soldiers or seamen in the
United States army or navy, or laws relating to
Mr. Dingley's piiotage bill provides that the
master or mate Of any registered sailing vessel,
may be examined by local inspectors and If found
competentmay be licensed as pilots for ports,
harbors or waters within such inspection dis
trct, as may be prescribed in the license, and no
such sailing vessel shall be holden or obliged to
take any other pilot in any such port or be COM
PEELED to pay any charges or fees for pilotage ser
of any State. Nor shall it make any difference if
they have the aid or towage of steam vessel.
He also introduced a bill forbidding the giving
of any contract or order for the construction of
any government building or work OF any kind by
any officer of the United States to any person
who employs convict labor in any part OF such
work.
Mr.. Boutelle introduced bill which provides
that any person who served three months during
| the war of the rebellion, and has an honorable
discharge, who is or shall become disabled from
| any cause not the result of his own gross care
lessness disreputabe conduct or vicious habits,
and shall also be dependent upon his Own labor
for support, shall. upon making due proof OF the
facts be placed upon the list of pensioners of the
United States, and shall receive pension during
the continuance of the disability at rate proper
tionate to the degree, thereof; The. highest rate
| of pension granted shall be S24. 1t raises the
| rate of pension paid to widows and orphans now
| receiving IS per month to $12. Any widow or a
| minor child under 16 years of age of an invalid
pensioner, shall receive pension at the rate now
| allowed by law without being required to prove
| that the pensioners death was due to his military
or naval service. Pensions paid to widows on
| account of minor children shall be continued
without limit as to age whenever it shall appear
| that such minors are of unsound mind or physi.
cally helpless, so as to render them incapable Of
earning q subsistence; provided that such widow
| retains the care and control of such minors and
| in the event of the death or remarriage of such
| widows, the pension shall be continued to the
minors in their right during such disability, and
payable to a duly constituted guardian.
These bills are all of considerable import
ance, and should be passed.