Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-14

wAsuIsoroy. July Is, 1883.
Geuaee-

WAsHISGToy, July ii, 1883.
senate.
The Senate at 1870 went into open execu-
tive session, and Mr. George resumed aud
finished the speech begun by bun yesterday
in favor OF the ratification OF the fishery
treaty. a.
when Mr.. George had concluded. Mr.
Dolph. of Oregon, followed in speech IN
opposition TO the ratification OF the treaty.
MIR. Pugh gave notice that he would address
the Senate on the fishery treaty next Monday.
After the adoption OF couple OF resoiu-
tions Of inquiry directed to the departments
and the transaction Of some business AFFECT
ing the District OF Columbia, the Senate adj
journed TO Monday.
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia. submitted the
conference report on the post>ofiice appro-
priation bill. An agreement has been ar
rived at on all the amendments except that
known as the "subsidy" amendment. The
rate OF postage on seeds, plants, bulbs, roots,
ana scions has been fixed at one cent Tor each
two ounces or fraction thereof. III IS pro.
yided that no contract for rent OF third-class
post.otiices shall be made for longer period
than one year.
lie REPORT WAS dGIttu vs. uuN bbth HiAt
bingham, OF Pennsylvania, moved to con-
cur in the Senate "subsidy" amendment
with an amendment reducing the appropria-
ton from $500, GOO to s450, 1000; authorizing
the Postmaster General to increase the mail
facilities not only between the United states
and Central America and South America and
West Indies, but between the United States
and China. japan, Sandwich Islands, and
Australasia, and providing that American
ships carving the mails shall be allowed iour
times the rate OF compensation they now re-
ceive.
The debate on Mr.. Bingham's amendment
occupied the entire session until the
O'Clock recess.
The question presented In the amendment,
SAID Mr. Bingham, was not one OF subsidy
or bonus, but the question as to the read.
justment OF compensation under the law OF
1853 as applied TO the sailing oil American
steamships under the existing conditions OF
1888. The steamship companies were not
paid by weight, but by the amount OF sea
aud inland postage, and therefore any change
in the rates OF postage effected change IN
the compensation paid to them. Nhen
the law was passed under which the present
method O! payment was established the rates
OF foreign postage varied, but averaged more
der the international postal union, and he
contended that under these circumstances 1t
was not Just 10 compensate steamship COM
panIes now under the infexible law OF 1858.
Mr.. Rleunt, Of Georgia opposed the mo-
ton 10 concur, and repeated his trm anita
gonism TO the subsidy system. That system
had been followed by England. but her ac-
ton in this respect was political. the subsl-
dies she had given having, as general rule,
gone 10 her colonies with which she must
keen ND her connection. The same system,
"a followed by France aud Germany, had re-
suited in throwing the lines OF those nations
into bankruptcy. and be was opposed to the
United States inaugurattng any such policy.
Tie compared the compensation paid ior mail
transportation by sea with that paid Tor
the transportation Of freight aud ex-
press matter 10 substantiate bis argu-
ment that the former was suih-
cieutIy high and perfectly satisfactory.
II was Satisfactory to the commercial world
and TO every one except ship-owners. lie
spoke by authority when he said that tie
| Postmaster. General WAS in favor OF the pay
! ment OF sea aud inland postage only. The
Postmaster. General favored neither the
amendment OF the Senate nor the amend.
ment OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
but he believed that the existing provisions
for the service were ample, and that to-day
The United States had the best mall system
| on earth.
Mr.. Dingley, OF Maine, hoped that what
ever objections might be raised TO the Senate
amendment they ought not TO affect the
House in the decision OF the simple question
presented by toe ameudmen, OF the gentle,
man from Pennsylvania. That amendment
involved fair and reasonable mlil pay, not
subsidy; pay sufficient to justly compensate
American steamships which piled between
the United States and South America and Tue
East, aud enable them to be maintained; pay
sufficient to make 1t possible TO establish
other American lines 10 run TO the countries
Of South America, with whom he desired
closer mail and commercial relations. The
amendment gave substantially the Fame basis
of payment ~ was provided by the law OF
1858 for the reason that the rate OF sea aud
iulaad postage was today hardly more than
one fourth Of What II bad been in 1853.
Mr.. Holman. OF ludiana, attacked the prin-
ciple OF subsidy.
mir. Owen, Of Indiana, discussed the
amendment in a commercial point OF view
and advocated it as a means OF advancing the
business interests OF the United states in the
great consuming countries OF South America.
Mr.. Nelson, OF Minnesota, SAID that the
argument that American Shipping did lot
exist because Of the rebellion which occurred
TWENTY-FIVE years ago was to him all stun
and nonsense, all fuss aud feathers. The
trouble was that the Government had put the
merchant marine In sort OF straight lcket.
Ii IS said to people wishing to engage capital
IN navigating high seas, "1ou cannot en-
gage in this enterprise unless you buy Amefi'
can vessels" This was putting the mer-
chant marine In stralghtiackct.
fApplsuse on the Democratic side.
lie referred TO the country OF bis
birth-NorWay-as poor country With
less than 100000 Inhabitants. she was
so Door thai she could not subsidIze single
ship for a single year, and yet with free
trade and free ships stood next 10 'he United
States in tonnage and commerce. Applause
on the Democratic side jn every port OF
the world could be found a Norwegian ship,
aud the idea thar in this country, with all MS
wealth and all its resources, American ship
ming could not exist without subsidy TO a
few steamship lines, was preposterous. The
granting OF bouhties TO few steamship lines
would not stimulate commerce, but would
umpy arm them with weapon TO light OIL
all competition.
Dir. Dockery, OF Missouri. made an elabo-
rate argument against the system OF subsl-
dies, aud commended that the effect OF the
pending amendment would be 10 discourage
the building OF additional lines, aud 10 enable
such Door mep as Jay Gould, Russell Sage,
and c. L. Hunliogton TO prevent any com
petition being built up TO the Pacific Mail
steamship Company. Tbesystem Of subsidies
would not revive the merchant marine. That
marine had declined because it did not pay.
II was plain business proposition. As long
as the people OF the United States could do
better on land than on sea they were going
10 do il.
Speeches were also made by Messrs. FELTON,
Of California, Adams Of Illinois, and others,
and at 8 O'clock the House took recess
until O'Clock, the evening session 10 be for
tho con sideIaiinn Of nensiOn bills.