Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-13
DINGLEY AND THE PILOTS
AMERICAN VESSELS ONLY Gov
Erred BY THE BILL.

licensing of Masters or Mates of sail
Ing Vessels as their own Pilots the
Only Proposition Standing any Chance
of sueocss-hIr. Garlands Telephone
Stock,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-There seems to
be an impression that the pilotage ques-
tion has been presented to the House
Committee on Shipping as affecting for
eign vessels. This is not the case. Both
propositions presented in the alternative
by Gov. Dingley to the committee relate
20 American vessels. His first proposition
is to authorize the licensing OF master or
mate of a sailing vessel Of the United
States to pilot his own vessel In the same
manner as the master or mate
of steam vessel is now
authorized. His second and alternative
proposition was to abolish compulsory pi-
lotage Of American sailing vessels in the
coastwise trade. If the committee re-
ports ANYTHING on the subject it will re-
port in favor of the first proposition, but
the pilots are strongly represented here,
and may prevent any report, as they all
most certainly will prevent any legisla-
tion adverse to their interests.
GARLAND's TELEPHONE STOCK.
Many silly reports are circulated in
connection with the telephone contrO-
versy. The latest published to-day were
10 the effect that Attorney General Gar
lands connection with the matter had
been the subject OF consideration at the
Cabinet meeting yesterday, and that the
Attorney General had offered to relin-
quish the stock be holds in the Pan Elec-
trio Telephone Company. The Attorney
General said to-day that he did not
think these reports were worthy
of notice. However he denied
very emphatcally, first, that he
had any intention of resigning from the
Cabinet; second, that he had offered to
relinquish his Pan Electric Telephone
stock; and third, that the matter had
ever been mentioned at a Cabinet meet
ing since last fall, when he made brief
3statement about 1t, which be afterwards
reduced to writing at the Presidents re-
quest. He has spoken to no member of
the Cabinet since about it except in
purely casual and jOcular way.
THE BELL SUIT.
Commissioner OF Patents Montgomery
said today that there seemed to be a very
general Misrepresentation as TO the effect
Of a suit by a private person against the
owner of a patent-tor example, the Bell
Telephone Company. II 100000 suits
should be decided in favor OF 40, 900, 600
private plaintiffs, suing the Bell Tele-
phone Company separately, no notice
would be taken OF them by the patent Of
flee. If there is a question as to the va
liditY OF a patent, it can only be deter
lnined to the satisfaction of the patent Of
fee by a decision in a suit brought
Nh the name of the government.
Th6 counsel for the government
in the coming suit against the Bell
Telephone Company are all here, eX-
Senator Thurman having arrived last
night, and will hold a conference tO-mor-
row, when the time and place of bring
ing the suit will be determined. 1t is
believed that it will be brought either in
the District of Columbia or in Ohio. 1t is
SAID that Mr.. Thurman prefers either
Cincinnati or Columbus. Solicitor Gen
eral Goode prefers, it is said, the Supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia. The
purpose of both sides is to have the case
taken to the United States Supreme Court
as quickly as possible.
THE SILVER FIGHT.
On Monday the House Committee on
coinage expects to take vote on the sill
yer question, which will be decisive as to
its position. But the position of each in
dividual member was pretty well dis
closed In the lively discussion which took
place in the committee meeting to-day.
Every one of the fourteen members of the
committee, including the delegate from
Montana, who has no vote. had a differ
ent plan for the solution Of the problem,
and each advocated his plan with much
warmth and earnestness. 1t was appa-
rent that had vote been taken on the
resolution declaring IN favor of a suspen-
sion of the coinage of the silver dollar it
would have been defeated by a vote Of
to ), the i've being Messrs. Seymour, Of
Connecticut; Hemphll, of South Caro-
lima; Scott, Of Pennsylvania; James, of
New York, and Rockwell, OF Massachu-
setts.
FREE COINAGE NO BETTER OPT.
IL was equally apparent that a resolu-
tiOn in favor of tree coinage would have
been defeated by vote of seven to six.
But the committee showed no disposition
TO vote directly on either one Of these
two propositions. The general sentiment
seemed to be in favor of adopting a COM
promise proposition such as William l..
Scott advocated with energy, providing
for Limitation OF the coinage. Mr.. Scott's
plan is to authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury TO limit the coinage TO the
amount In circulation and fixed sum,
say 500, 600, 900 or $3.50, 900, 900 deposited in
the Treasury, 1t seems probable that a
bill OF this sort will be the outcome OF the
committees deliberations. Such a prop
osition might be acceptable to a majority
OF both Houses.