Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13

WASHINGTON, July 12.-When the Sen
ate convened to-day remonstrance of the
Board of Trade Of Jackson, Tenn, against
the Federal election bill was presented by
Mr.. Harris. The Senate then resumed con-
sideration OF the two shipping bills,
and was addressed by Mr.. Vest, who
said that he would like the Sena-
tor from Maine (Mr. Frye), to explain
how it was that there was time when the
United States, without a dollar OF subsidy,
and when the country was undeveloped and
had just emerged from its colonial cond1-
ton, had grappled with Great Britain and
came near wrestling from her the control OF
the ocean carrying trade.
He quotedsfrom a speech of Daniel Web
ster's to the effect that success of the Ameri-
protection or bounty, but from skill, per-
severance and economy. He showed how
former subsidies had ended in failure and
scandal and summed up
THE WHOLE QUESTION
by reading an extract from a speech of Rep
resentative Cannon showing an expenditure
of over $21 ,000, 900 in subsidies between 1s48
and 1878, and asserting that 81, ,0O0, 600
would buy all the American steamships
that were then afoat. The idea that COM
merce followed the flag, Mr. Vest said, was
a monstrous fallacy. Commerce did not fol-
low the flag; the flag followed commerce.
He alluded to the Interpolation In the
British Parliament yesterday as to the Nc
Kinley bill, and said that as soon as En-
gland found that she could dispense with
American produce she would do 80. And
yet, he said, all that American statesman
ship aimed at was to put mp duties against
Great Britain; and if anybody had the
hardihood to demonstrate against that sys-
tenn he was met with the cry that ne was
under British influence; that he had been
bought with British gold.
The idea seemed to be TO invent some new
process to drive away the trade of the
world, and especially of Great Britain, and
yet the farmers and beef raisers of the
United States were told by the advocates of
high protection that they were their friends
par excellence.
A USELESS APPEAL.
But he knew that he spoke to deaf ears
and that these bills would be passed. He
predicted, however, that the subsidies would
never bring dollar Of foreign commerce to
the country. They would enrich the men
who got the contracts, and there would be
repetition of the same old scandals that had
attended the expenditure of $21, ,000, 900 in
subsidies, an expenditure which had left the
country to-day with its shipping, in the
words Of Mr.. Frye, absolutely dead.
Mr.. Stewart gave it as his opinion that
the plan proposed in the pending bills was
the only mode of reviving the ocean-carry-
ing trade of the United States, and that
free ships would simply destroy American
ship-building yards without afording any
relief.
Mr.. George opposed the bills. Mr.. Har-
ris said that, while he was opposed to sub
sides in every form, if they were adopted
they should at least be adjusted so as not to
discriminate between American ports, so as
to benefit the one at the expense of the
other.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL AMENDMENT.
He therefore offered an amendment pro-
viding that the total sum paid to any vessel
sailing between any American port and
foreign ports, shall in no case exceed the
sum paid to vessels of the same class and
tonnage between such foreign ports and the
nearest American port thereto. Mr.. Harris
pointed out how, under the bill, discrimina-
tion would be made between the ports of
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Pensacola.
jected-yeas. 81; nays, 27 "a party yote.)
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment provid-
ing that no vessel shall be entitled to pay
ment under the act that makes any discrimi-
nation between, or gives unequal facilities
to, competitive transportation lines in the
receiving or forwarding of freights or bag
gage at any American port or at any foreign
port Agreed to.
The vote was then taken on the amend
ment offered yesterday by Mr.. Vest provid-
ing free ships for the foreign trade, but not
for the lake or cnastwise trade. The amend
ment was rejected-yeas 1S; nays %. "a
strict party vote).
PASSING THE BILLS.
The tonnage subsidy bill was then passed.
Yeas, 29; nays, Is. The only exceptions to
a strict party vote were that Mr.. Payne
voted with the Republicans for the bill, and
Messrs. Edmunds and Plumb with the Dem
ocrats against it.
The vote was then taken on the postal
subsidy bill. and it was passed. Yeas, %;
nays 16, Mr.. Payne voting aye, Mr.. Ed
munds no, and Mr.. Plumb not voting.
On motion Of Mr.. Morrill, the tariff bill
was taken up and made the unfinished
business" After an executive session the
Senate adjourned,