The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-27
CONGRESSIONAL.

hOJsE
WASHINGTON, May 22-The speaker laid before
the house communication from the first comp
troler of the treasury, reCiting that there is de-
fciency in the appropriation for fees of United
States jurors and witnesses for 1888 anu the prior
year. Referred.
On motion OF Mr.. Wellborn, of Texas, a senate
bill was passed extending for two years the time
within which the st. Louis d SAT- Francisco rail-
road company may complete its road through the
ChOctaw and Chickasaw Indian reservations.
Mr.. eagan, of Texas, from the committee on
commerce, reported back the Cullom Interstate
commerce bill with substitute therefor. Refer
red To the committee of the whole.
After passing few private measures, the house
went into committee of the whole for general de-
bate on the Dunn free ship building bill.
Mr.. Dunn, of Arkansas, submitted an argument
in support of the bill, which would repeal re-
strictive law which worked great injury to the
people OF the country. 1t had been reacting most
disastrousy to the general public good, and espec
tally to the shipping of the United States engaged
IN the foreign carrying trade. Citizens of the
| nlted States had passed out of competition with
foreign built vessels because they, of all nations
were denied by their own laws the privilege of
purchasing ships where they could buy them
cheapest and having them registered as vessels of
their own country, while wooden sailing ships led
the ocean carrying trade of the world, and these
ships could be built cheaper in the United States
than elsewhere. We took and steadily maintained
leading position in the worlds ocean carrying
trade, but about the year 1856 England commenced
to build iron and steel steamships and fast
as they were built and equipped the commerce
of the world was transferred to them because of
Their superior speed and supposed safety, and there
effort at maintaining our position and interest in
the carrying trade and that to do what all other
countries wisely dd-repeat our antiquated nayiga
ton laws and allow our people to buy iron and
of the United States
He passed on to an attack upon the policy which
the nations had entered upon of granting bOuntles
to steamship companies, and which he character
national nnlpr EruurH
some millions; Germany saw that and went some
millions better; Italy, without money had to leave
the game, and the United States was asked to raise
both France and Germany
The contest which had been entered into by the
nations would be fought to universal bankruptcy
OF the tax payers of the nations. There would be
"bounty gathereT' strapped on the back of every
tax payer. such policy must fail.
Mr.. Dingley, OF Maine, deprecated such a radical
change in the policy of the government was con-
templated in the pending bill The policy which
II was proposed to overthrow had been adopted by
the founders of the government, and had continued
for 100 years without cism, until very recently.
II pass this bill would be to discriminate unjust
~ against the ship building interests. Should
it become law, and should the Morrison
tariff bill be passed, the only complete
manufactured product which would be placed on
the free list would be fully equipped British yes
sci, which should be admitted to register under our
laws. Then, from that hour the ship building in
dustry was doomed and the owners of our ship
yards, and the many thousand skilled worklnen
tInplOyeu " IDtm would De UreCTleVuDly driven
into what were already overcrOwded industries. 1t
was an appreciation of this fact which led 100000
laborers from one end of the country to the other
to demonstrate against the passage of such bill as
this. The bill should be entitled bill to close
American shipyards, and provide for construction,
hereafter, in British yards, of whatever vessels
may be needed for the American merchant marine.
me trouble In competing on sea with Great Britain
did not arise from the purchase of the vessel. A
vessel built the Clyde but 10 or II per cent
cheaper than that built in America, which, dis
tribued over the life of an iron ship, was small
con liberation. The great difference arose in the
cost of sailing the vessels growing entirely out of
higher wages and better fare demanded on Ameri-
can vessels. The free ship policy was an invita-
ton, not only to buy foreign ships but also to sail
under British register after they were bought.
Such policy would serve to eXtinguish the
| commendable and indispensable patriotic instinct
which led Americans to look upon American built
and registered ships representing the power, am
bition, the wealth. the prestige, the prosperity and
the civilization of the United States. History de-
monstrated the fact that no nation was able t. OBJ
tain, or to maintain, a maritime supremacy, unless
she built her own ships To rely on Great Britain
| for our vessels would be to DESTROY our foreign
of the country were turned to the defenseless
dition of our navy. navy was but the offspring
OF great merchant marine built in home ship
yards Navies rose and fell with the merchant ma
rne, and the policy which the United States should
| follow was to give every possible aid and encour-
agement to the establishment of good ship yards.
Mr., Buchanan, of New Jersey, opposed the bill:
He did not believe the spirit of patriotism would
he fostered if the American flag iOated over Eng
lish built ships. That might do for gentlemen on
the other side, but for him. give him an American
built ship. with an American master, manned by
American seamen floating the American flag over
an American cargo. applause on the republican
side.) Pending further debate the committee rose.
On motion of Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, the
senate amendments to the urgent deficiency bill
were non-concurred in, and then the house adj
jOurned.