Connecticut western news., 1888-02-15
AT WASHINGTON.
Some Matters of Moment Brought
 Up at the Capital.

In the Senate . very lively little debate unexpectedly arose between Senators Frye and Vest on the subject of subsidies to American vessels. @ The question before the senate SC was built vessel. MT. Frye took occasion to make little political speech, in which he stated that since 1884, when the navigation laws were re- pealed, the American merchant marine had steadily declined, and that nothing but pro- lection to it would ever build it up again. Other Governments paid bounty to their ships, he said, and this country must do the same if it hoped to ever regain the position on the seas which 1t once enjoyed. Speaking of American and foreign,built vessels MT: Frye made the statement that 1t cost $25, 900 for duties and freight upon the raw material for the construction of vessel in this country, and that after it is built the expense of running it is much greater than 1t is to run . ship be- longing to any other country. He then stated that the wages paid to English seamen are S5 per cent. less than those of American seamen, and that the expense of sailing foreign ves- gel is 2s per cent. less than of sailing an Amer. ican one. Senator Vest denied these facts point blank. Senator Frye vigorously upheld his statement and expressed his entire ability and willingness to prove the truth of what he had stated. He had the statistics at his room he said and at another time he would prove that he had stated what is the actual truth. Sena- tor Vest challenged him to do so. and was con- fident that he could not. The latter Sena- tor also remarked that Philadelphia ship owner had repeatedly declared to him in writ ing that he could sail an American vessel as cheaply as that of any other nation. The question of fact was thus left pending between the two Senators and the discussion will be continued at a future day.
 The Senate Committee on Fisheries, in re
 porting favorably the bill appropriating S10.
 900 to defray the neces sary expenses of inquir
 ies to be prosecuted by the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries in respect to the destruction by starfsh of oysters in the natural oyster beds lying within tce waters and jurisdiction of the United States, says that: ''1t appears from the testimony of those who have given the matter much study and consideration, that the oyster beds along certain portions of the Atlantic coast suffer great destruction from the ravages of the starfish and other animals destructive to oyster life. The extent of the damage thus done cannot, of course, be calculated with any thing like mathematical certainty; but it is es- timated that the average yearly loss exceeds S2O0, 900 by considerable amount, and is said to be constantly increasing"
 Tho second section of the biggest corpora ton fight there is before Congress is to occur in the room of the Senate Committee on Agri- culture. It is over the Dawes bill requiring
 makers of lard substitutes. containing grease,
 fat, cotton seed oil, or other substances, to
 special tax for making it. On one side are ar raigned the lard refiners, contingent headed by Phil Armour and Fairbanks of Chicago, and composed of refiners throughout the country, including the largest part 0f the cotton seed oil interests in the south The bill is support cd by the hog slaughterers and manufacturers of pure lard, with such men as John P. Squires
 of Boston represented in the deal. Both sides
 have big groups of counsel on the spot, and
 the lobbying is going on at very lively rate and at high cost The reiners have the time
 next, though it may be that W. W. Kim. ball, one of the Boston counsel, will be called on to produce the samples of adulterated lard,
 with the names of tho makers, which he prom. soo ox %ho1 Toe hno no To rd mol dn- clare that they are willing to accept . com.
 promise to get bill, but the refiners are doing
 their best to prevent any bill being passed | at all.