Morning journal and courier., 1888-08-04
Fiftieth Gongress--First Session.

Fiftieth COngress--First Session. WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. SENArE.-The greater part of the morning session today was taken up with discnssing resolution by Mr. Cullom Rep ul.1 in- structing the committee on interstate com merce to make full investigation into the relations of the Canadian railroads with the i transportation across the continent of oom- merce which naturally belongs to the United States; and he made long speech to show how by the aids and subsidies granted by the British and Canadian governments to rail- roads and steamships the Canadian lines are obtaining control of commerce and especially of the transportation of tea-45 per cent of the tea business being now carried on through Canada. M
 After speeches by Senators German, Ed munds and others the resolution was adopted without division.
 Ar. Edwards said that the fault with the Democratic party was that the only thing about it was it's name. That party had control of the House of Represents tives ten or twelve years, and yet no attempt had been made in all that time to rectify those prodigious evils which the senator from Maryland had now for the first time discovered. Referring to the physical disad vantages of the Canadian lines, MT. Ed munds believed that his honorable friend, MT. German, was immensely wrong in saying that the Canadian Pacific line Whether go- ing through Maine or not), could ever com pete with the American Pacific lines without going to ruin or unless sustained by aid from it's government. There were seven months in the year when the transportation of 8 million chests of tea or a million boxes of silks would not cost half as much by the American lines as by the other lines, and when to that was added the fact that the American lines were capable of doing, and were doing, an immense local business, any American citizen who lashed himself into a great fever on the subject of competition for the Asia trade was falling into an immense delusion. It was true that 50 long as money could be found to run the Canadian line at a loss and to carry goods at half cost it might be done, and the United States could not help it. It had to be said, however, that the contrast betwen the governments of the United States and of Great Britain in regard to encouraging trade, commerce and manufactures was very great, the British government subsidized railroads and steam ships and established colonies and consulates and resented and got instant reparation for wrongs to its subjects. The government of the United States as at present constituted did not do that. Republicans had endeavored to encourage trade in. the South American and other countries by the smallest of mail subsidies to ships. But the Democratic House of Representatives said "No," and the
 
 and the Democratic President said "No, ," and yet the Senator from Maryland stood up and said that the senators on the one side were partisans and the senators on the other, the Democratic side, were patriots.
 MT. Edmunds referred at length to the friendly feeling existing between the Demo- cratic administration and the English gov- ernment, and was taken to task for his state- ments by Mir. German.
 MT. Cullom closed the discussion, declar- ing in conclusion that, if it were necessary Gin order to protect the American people, that the flag of the American nation should float over Canada, he should be in favor of it before the subject was got through with.
 The resolution was then adopted without dissension.
 The resolution offered yesterday by Mir. Hoar fixing the hour of daily meeting at il 8. m. was taken up and adopted, yeas 24, nays 2s Gparty vote), and resolution offered by Mir. Gray that when the Senate adjourns to-day it be till Monday was also adopted; yeas 21, nays 19. The Senate then proceed ed to the consideration of the fisheries treaty in open executive session, and was addressed by MT. Teller in opposition to it's ratifca- tion. He quoted largely from speeches of sessions to show inconsistencies on the part of that senator, and defended the majority of the committee on foreign relations from the attack made upon it yesterday yMr. Nor gan. i
 The committee had not any reason to sup- pose that Great Britain would deal fairly with the United States unless compelled to do so by determination on the part of the United States to insist upon compliance with the terms of existing treaties. England, he said, had never kept an engagement with any people that was not ready and willing to compel her to do so. Her conduct in diplo- macy and everywhere else was against the $1a, 4&I %r Avraov EaH that which they were entitled to unless she feared the power of the government of the United States. What he was claiming he was claiming not as Republican, but as an American, and he knew that back of him and back of every man who took the same position would be the great mass of the people independent of their par- ty affiliations. He would say to Democratic senators that they could not carry their own political party when it came to degrading the great name of the American people.
 MT. Vance obtained the floor and the Sem ate resumed legislative business. Senators Allison, Plumb and German were appointed oonferees on the army appropriation bill. The Senate then adjourned till Monday at Il a. m.
 HoUsE.-Private business having been dis pensed with the House went into committee of the whole (Mr. Springer of Illinois in the chair) on the deficiency appropriation bill.
 The French spolistion claims section of the bill having been reached the chairman stated that according to previous agreement general debate would be allowed for nine hours, and recognized MT. Long of Massachusetts, who declared that the question presented was neither political nor sectional in it's character. It was not political because 1t was founded on just claim, which was older than either of the existing political parties. It was not sectional because the money involv-
 
 all along the original coast of the thirteen colonies. Passing over in brief re- view former legislation in regard to these claims, he contended that whatever excuse had hitherto existed for delaying their pay- ment existed no longer in view of the fact that 6 judicial tribunal ot the governments own.selection had, as @ conclusion alike of fact and of law, declared their validity and the governments indebtedness. Not to pay them would be simple repudiation, outragi- ous and scsndalous repudiation. It was said in opposition to their payment that they in- volve the sum of $30, ,00O,0O0 This he did not believe to be a correct estimate, but even if they did involve $50, ,000, 900 it would be unworthy an honest government to refuse to pay an honest debt except upon the policy that the more 6 man embedded the more worthy he was to go scot free. But it was not likely that the claims would exceed in amount more than $10, ,O00, 900, probably not more LneH $t,OOV,VVU- o.tueu prOc06O60 to explain the history of the inauguration of the French spoliation claims and the release of the obligations of France in return for release on the part of France, of claims against the United States for violation of treaty stipulstions. There was a valuable consideration on both sides-a quid pro quo The opponents of the payment of the claims admitted that the claims against France had been just, but that France in view of the weak condition of the United States at the time would never have paid them. That was contemptibly eowardly admission and he did not believe it would weigh in the days of even this admistration. He did not care whether France would have paid the claims, for the fact was that she had paid them when for their release she had given a valuable consideration. The government had used the private property of citizens to buy off France and the question was wheth- or after enjoying this property, and after it's obligation to pay the claims had been judic- ially determined by the courtss the govern ment would pay them and thus compentate it's citizens or whether it would repudiate it's obligations and dishonor the public faith and credit.
 Mir. Rodgers, of Arkansas, thought there