Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-21
WkTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session.
sen NATE.
WAsHINGrnN May Q

oiils the Staten Island bridge bill was then
iaid before the Senate, and Mr.. Mcpherson
resumed his speech against the bill.
Mr.. Mcpherson read from engineer reports
and other authorities TO show the great ipiurv
that would result to the stream as medium
of commerce.
MIR. Frye said that his predictions had
been and were today in favor of the Penn.
sylvania rather thar the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad, and rather in favor of New JERSEY
than New York, but after careful and patient
attention given TO the subject by the Senate
committee on commere MIR. Frye had been
compelled by proofs of the wisdom and pro-
prie!y OF building the proposed bridge to
yield MS assent to the proposition. OF course
any bridge at the point indicated would seme-
"hat interfere with the water route, but the
great advantage to the commerce of the
whole country. especially the West, bv the
building OF this wOulc more than amply COM
pensate for the loss of commerce on the
water route.
At O'Clock the bankruptcy bill was
placed before the Senate and temporarily
laid aside to permit the continued discussion
of the Staten Island Bridge bill
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Vest.
winch was agreed TO, authorizing the secre
tary OF war If he should deem anv alteration
OF the bridge necessary or the entire removal
OF the bridge necessary to avoid obstruction
to commerce helmay order its alteration or re-
moval at the expense of the owners, and if
the bridge be not finished within two years the
right to built shall cease.
Mr.. McPherson's amendment tor a tunnel
instead of bridge was rejected-Yeas, 5;
navs, 40.
After further debate and the voting down
some amendments the bill was passed by a
viva voce vote as reported from the COM
mittee with the sole addition of Mr.. Vests
amendment.
The bankruptcy bill was the laid before the
Senate and at 6.l0 the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Holman, from the committee on ap-
propriations, reported the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill. and 1t
was referred to a committee of a whole.
Mr.. Breckenridge, from the committee on
ways and means, called up the bill providing
that for period of five years no mackerel
other than that known as the Spanish mack
erel, caught between the first of March and
the first of June, shall be imported or landed
in the United States.
He made brief explanation of the bill,
and MIR. Hewitt Of New York stated his in
tention of speaking against it.
The bill was postponed until Friday and
the House went into committee of the whole
on the Senate amendments to the post office
appropriation bill. The amendment setting
apart $4,000 of the appropriation for the
free delivery system in cities where it is not
now established was concurred in. The
amendment was non -cOncured in which au-
th0rizes the postmaster general to contract
for nj nd
when it can be combined in one route; also
the nmendm. mt increasing by $50, 900 the ap-
preparation for railroad postal car service.
The amendment was concurred in increas-
ing from $25l,725 to 1921 900 the appropria-
ton for necessary and special facilities on
trunk lines.
The steamship amendment having been
reached, Mr.. Bount moved non-concurrence
in it.
MIR. Burrows moved concurrence in the
amendment with the following amendment
thereto: Provided, that not exceeding $780,
600 of the amount herein appropriated shall
be expended in payment of existing Ameri-
can steamship lines for the transportation of
foreign mails according to the schedule here
tofore in force and that SO much of the bal
ance as may required shall be expended, in
creasing the frequency of postal service of
such steamship lines and in the establish
ment of postal service by American built and
registered steamships between the United
States and such ports of foreign countries
herein named, not connected now with the
United States by American steamship lines.
as the postmaster general may elect. includ-
ing Buenos Ayres and MOntivideO.
Mr.. Burrows answered the objection made
to the amendment which he said simply gave
the postmaster general the same discretion
in regard to foreign service as was now pos
sessed in regard TO coastwise and star route
service. All the talk about paying S350,000
to the Pacific Mail Co. was made to alarm
the members. How any gentleman could twist
this provision into subsidy he could not un-
derstand Star route service could as well
be called subsidy
Mr. Mcmillan of Tennessee thought that
the appropriation was subsidy in the broadest
and ooldest sense and the question for the
House to determine w8s whether it was ready
to enter upon the policy of giving gratuities
to steamship companies. When reduced to
the last analysis this amendment was the en-
tering wedge to a system which could work
viciousness and corruption only. If it paid
better to work on the ocean than on land
the people of the United States with their en-
terprse and energy would navigate the ocean.
Mr. Hewitt of New York moved to strike
out the appropriation for 100000 and insert
one of S400, 600 and to add to the Senate
amendment the sollowing
"And the postmaster general as far as pos
sible shall cause the mails of the United States
be carried to and from said places respect
ivelv in American built and registered steam
ships provided the same can be carried for a
reasonable compensation to be by him de-
terDined but not exceeding the rate of 80
cents per nautical mile for the distance u.s.
ually travelled in the most direct and feasible
course between the terminal points herein
before specified
The Barrows amendment was rejected, Sc
to l42. and the Hewitt amendment was re-
jected. 82 to l39.
The Senate amendment was non-concurred
in without division and the committee rose
and reported its action to the House.
The recommendations of the committee
were all agreed to without division with the
exception of the foreign mail service amend
ment, which was non-concurred in by vote
of l7S to so
The result was received with a round of
cheers on the democratic side. The repre-
sentatives from Maine. New Hampshire and
Vermont voted with the minority. The bill
and the amendment will be sent TO the SEN
ate and then go to the conference committee.
The House at o'clock adjourned.
Lecture BY Frederick Douglass.