Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-14
THE NATIONS CAPITOL
The Subsidy Question is Warmly
Discussed in the House.
Also Our Commercial Relations
with South America.
George Concludes His Speech for Ratihca-
ton and DOlph Replies.
The House Disposes OF Twenty-four
Pension Bills at the Even
ing Session.
" ann =
Senate.

a large number of wool manufacturers and
wool dealers. against the legislation proposed
in the Mills bill.
The Senate at ~ 30 went into open execu-
tive session and Mr.. George finished the
speech begun by him on Thursday in favor
of the ratification of the fisheries treaty.
After George had finished his speech on
the fishery treaty Dolph addressed the Sem
ate in opposition to the treaty. The ques-
ton of ratification or rejection, he SAID,
should be determined upon its merits. There
fore he did not base his opposition to it upon
grounds of irregularity in the manner in
which it had been negotiated. He then pro-
ceeded to discuss the treaty according to its
provisions.
After the conclusion of Dolph's speech the
Senate at 5.25 adjourned till Monday.
House.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia. submitted the con-
ference report on the post Office appropria-
ton bill. An argument has been arrived at
on all amendments except the subsidy amend
ment. The rate of postage on seeds and
plants, bulbs, roots and sciOns has been fixed
at one cent for each two ounces or frac-
ton.
1t is provided that no contract for rent of
third class post offices shall be made for a
longer period than one year. The report was
agreed to and then Mr.. Bingham of Penn
sylvania, moved to concur in the Senate sub
sidy amendment with an amendment reduc-
ing the appropriation from $500, 900 to $780,
900
Mr.. Dingley of Maine, hoped that what
ever objections might be raised to the SEN
ate amendment this would not affect the
House in the decision of the simple question
presented by the amendment.
That amendment involved fair and reason
able mail pay, not subsidy, pay sufficient to
Justly compensate the American steamships
which piled between the United States and
South America and the East, and enable
them to be maintained; pay sufficient to
make it possible to establish other American
lines to run to countries of South America
with whom we desired closer mail and com
mercial relations.
The amendment gave substantially the
same basis of payment as was provided in the
law of 1858, for the season that the rate of
sea and inland postage was today hardly
one fourth of what it had been in 1858. Un-
less something were done to increase the
compensation to American steamship lines
now running to South and Central America
and to the East, Mr. Dingley predicted
that before five years there would not be a
single American steamship line left. Fair
compensation was not subsidy, and he APP
pealed to the House not to be frightened
from doing what wise craftsmanship demand
ed should be done, increasing our means of
postal and commercial intercourse with the
leading countries of South America.
Dingley of Maine traced the history of
the foreign commercs with this country since
the war, showing, contrary to common un-
Jnr hat II had trraatly increased
In 1861 the exports to South America were
seventeen and half million dollars. in 1883
they were forty-two and half millions. In
1860 the exports to the West Indies were
twenty-five millions, in 1888 thirty-two mill
lions. These illustrations showed that our
foreign commerce had grown as never be-
fore during that period. Therefore the talk
to the effect that it was of no use to try and
improve our commerce and relations with
these Countries had no foundation in fact.
FELTON, of California cited the case of the
line plying between San Francisco. Australia
and New Zealand. Here, he said, was
line receiving subsidy of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars from Foreign govern
ments The mail service on this line was
not part of the postal union service. There
fore the United States government collected
between forty and forty-seven thousand
dollars annually as postage, while it paid to
the line twenty thousand dollars. The gov
ernment was making twice as much as it paid
out, and was not this an ignobe policy and
beneath the dignity of this nation to use for
the purpose of money making a line sustain
ed by foreign governments?
owen of Indiana, discussed the amendment
in a commercial point of view, and advocated
it as a means of advancing the business in
e al. IT,,s. ,,,t tl,
suming countries of South America South
of us lies an empire richer than the Indies,
containing fifty millions of people who were
inactive and without genius. They impor
ted annually five hundred million dollars
worth of goods; seven hundred and fifty mil
lion dollars from Europe; fifty million dol
lars from the United States. 1t was part
of patriotism that Congress should do what it
could to enable our people to reach out and
secure this rich market.
Buchanan of New jersey, commented on
the decline in merchant marine, and spoke
regretfully of the fact. that but IA per cent.
of the merchandise which left our ports bound
for foreign countries was carried in vessels
flying the American flag.
Nelson of Minnesota, said the argument
that American shipping did not exist because
of the rebellion which occurred twenty
years ago was, to him, all stuff, nonsense,
fuss and feathers. The trouble was that the
government had put the merchant marine in
a strait jacket. 1t is said to the people
wishing to engage capital in navigating the
high seas, 'you cannot engage in this enter
prise unless you buy American vessels" This
was putting the merchant marine in strait
jacket (Applause from the Democratic side.
He referred to the country of his birth, Nor
way, as poor country with less than two
million inhabitants, and SO poor she could
not subsidize a single ship for a single year
yet with free trade and free ships she stood
next to the United States in tonnage and
commerce, Applause on the democratic
side. In many ports would be found the
Norwegian ships and the idea that in this
country with all its wealth and resources,
American shipping could not exist without
subsidy to few steamship lines was prepos-
ferrous.
Dockery of Missouri made an argument
against the system of subsidies. The pend
ing amendment would be to discourage build
ing lines and enable such poor men as Jay
Could Bussel Sage and C. 2. Huntington to
prevent any competition being built up to the
Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
Pending further debate the House at 5
O'Clock took recess until o'clock.
| Twenty -four Private Pension Bills.
I At the evening session the House passed
twenty -four private pension bills and then
adjourned.
N a. L