The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-05

defiance. Plumb criticised the course of
the Senator who would ask for
many millions to improve the Missis-
sippl River for commerce. but were not
willing to devote anything 70 develope
commerce from the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi TO other lands. As to our ships
there was a sentiment of American ma
tlonality. We could never be satisfied
with the purchase of English, French
or German ships and there was a senti
ment that wanted to see the American
nag hoat over American ships made IN
America and of American material.
Morgan said he did not, of course,
wish to break a rule of the Senate, He
did wish, however, to reply to some &c
marks OF Plumb and would do so in
connection with some resolutions he
would offer.
The debate then closed, and voting
began. A number of amendments
were offered, some of which were
agreed to. The committees provision
for foreign mails as finally amended by
the Senate and agreed to. reads as fol-
lows: For transportation of foreign
mails by American built and registered
steamships to secure greater frequency
and regularity in dispatch and greater
speed in carriage of such mails TO
Brazil, Republic of Mexico. Central and
South America, Sandwich and West
India and Windward Islands,
New Caledonia, New Zealand
and Australian Colonies. China and
Japan. $500, 900. and the Postmaster
neral is authorized TO make, after due
advertisement for proposals. such con-
tract or contracts with the owners of
American steamships for terms of not
less than three. nor more than five
years, and at the rate OF compensation
not TO excited so cents per nautical
mile on the trip each way actually trav-
elled between the terminal points on
the most direct and feasible sailing
course between the terminal points, as
shall be found expedielt and desirable
TO secure the end above set forth,
and If he shall be unable
to make such contracts for any
such respective services he shall, as
far as possible, cause the mails
of the United States to be carried TO and
from said places respectively in the best
and most expeditions manner practic-
able, in American vessels and for a
reasonable compensation not exceeding
the rate before mentioned, and the
Postmaster-General, if in his judgment
It be practicable, shall contract for a
semi-monthly service between New
York and New Orleans and the port of
Rio Janeiro under the provisions OF
this law.
On Plumb's motion the sum of $780,
900 was added to the amount already in
the bill for the railway postal car ser
vice. One of the Senate committees
proposed amendments authorized the
Postmaster-Generalt to contract for in |
land and foreign steamboat mail SER !
vice. When it can be combined in one |
route, where foreign offices are not |
more than 200 miles distant from do
nestle offices on the same terms and
conditions as the inland steamboats,
service, the contract to be made
with and performed by American
This was agreed to by the Senate, while
the limitation of compensation for such 1
service to so cents a mile, each way.
was struck out.
In other respects the bill was passed |
as reported from the Senate Committee.
The vote on the final passage of the
bill was: yeas IS, nays 10. Those yot-
ing in the negative we're: Berry, Coke,
Gray, Harris, Jones of Arkansas,
Kenna, Maxey, Salisbury, Vest and /
Whitthorne.
Morgan offered a series of resolutions,
which were ordered printed, and to lie /
on the table, declaring it is the duty of
Congress to extend the necessary mail
facilities across the seas, from the
principal ports of all foreign coun-
tries with which the United States
has any considerable trade, or where
trade can be pro6tably developed, that
it is the duty of Congress to provide
that the American people shall have a
right to buy ships abroad and import
them at reasonable rates of duty, and
of foreign-built ships are as unjust and
unwise as the laws would be that would
prohibit the importation OF ali other
articles of foreign manufacture.
The Sena.e adjourned.