The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-25
HOUSE.

After routine work, the House, today,
went into committee of the whole on the
post office appropriation bill and there was a
long debate on the inefficiency of the mail
service in the West and South. A desultory
discussion on subsidies and free ships was
brought about by Mr.. Dingley, OF Maine,
with criticism of the compensation allowed
American steamships for carrying foreign
mails. Mr.. DiEgley commented on the fact
that last year, the government paid $4,000
to the North German Lloyd line, while the
American line from New York to Brazil re-
ceived only $4,000 for mail transportation;
Unless the government speedily encouraged
American steamship lines, within five years
they would be driven from the ocean ana
their places taken by foreign lines, support
ed by liberal government bounties.
Mr.. Bl0unt announced his opposltlon 10
subsidies and attributed the decay OF the
American foreign commerce to the prohlbi-
ting of American citizens from buying ships
abroad
Mr.. Dingley suggested that this was the
policy adopted by Washington, and approy-
ed by Madison and jefferson. Under It, the
merchant marine had achieved its highest
prosperity, until revolution occurred IN
modern architecture. The difficulty lay in
the fact that it cost much more to work an
American than foreign vessel and, in the
face of the large subsidies granted by Great
Britain. France, Germany and Italy, Ameri-
can steamship lines would be driven from
the ocean unless the government snould give
them liberal compensation for the transport
alton of the mails.
Mr.. Dockery, of Missouri, thought Mr..
DINGHY had not been exactly fair In lnstltut-
ing comparison between the amounts pald
the South German Lloyd line and the New
York and Brazil line. In view Oh tne iace
that had the Lloyd line been an American
line II would have received three times as
much as it had received.
Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas, said that the con-
dtions which prompted the fathers OF the
republic to favor the prohlDitlon Oh Iree snlps
marine had been driven from the ocean, not
by the subsidies given by foreign govern
ments to their vessels, but by the high tarlif
taxes on cargoes and by the high price OF
vessels. After further debate the commit
tee rose and the bill was passed.
The House again resolved itself into
committee on che state of the Union ana MI.
Belmont of New York called up the senate
bill providing for an international Marine
Conference to secure grerter safety for lie
and property ON the sea. This was amended
by the adoption of substitute, similar In all
essential particulars. The bill was then
laid aside for a favorable report.
The committee proceeded TO tne consl9!eta,,
tion of the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill Mr.. Beecheman, OF New
Jersey critized sharply the action OIL the
Postmaster General in sending circuIar
throughout the country inviting charges
against Republican postmasters to cause
their removal The committee rose without
action upon the bill
The Senate conference bill, as amended,
was passed.
Mr.. GRAY, of Louisiana, submitted the con-
ference report on the invalid pensions appro-
priation bill and it was agreed to. The bill
Is essentially the same as passed by the Sem
ate. ., A..
committee on foreign affairs to enquire into
the facts connected with the Imprisonment
in an English Jail of John Curtis Kent.
naturalized American citizen. The House
adjourned