Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-19
Various Measures Before the House.

In the morning hour the pending measure
was the Senate bill anne 1dlng the interstate
commerce &C, by providing for the taking
of deposits by notaries pnblic. Passed.
At the expiration of the morning hour,
Farquhar of New York, chairman of the
committee on merchant marine and fish
cries, moved that the House go into COM
mit;ee of the whole for consideration of
the Senate bill 10 place American marine
engaged in foreign trade on equality with
other nations, with the House substitute
therefor.
Contention (stsrted by Springer, of Illi-
nois and Blount of Georgia. arose as to
whether Fstquhar had the authorization of
his committee to make this motion.
Springer and Fithian (Illinois) positively
denied such authorization granted, and the
latter gentleman called for reading Of
minutes of the committee.
Fafquhar recited the action of the COM
mittee but his statement was not satisfac-
tory to the speaker, who decided that the
gentleman had not received sufflcien. au-
ihority from the committee, to make q mo
ton.
Fsrquhar then made a motion for the
House to go into committee of the whole
on the State of Union-sgreed to.
Farquhar moved that the House proceed
to the consideration of the Senate bill to
place American merchant marine on an
equality with other nations. Springer
made point that the order in motion was
not 10 order, bu, the committee must pro-
ceed to the consideration Of the appropria-
ton bills.
The chairman ruled the motion in order,
for the rules gave him authority to decide
what measure they would take up.
Springer took appeal from the decision.
Decision sustained.
Wheeler of Alabama move that the CON-
mittse proceed TO the consideration of the
army appropriation bill.
The char held the motion in order and
that it had precedence over that made by
Farquhar.
Wheelers motion wa, lost.
Wheeler moved the committee rise. Lost
Wheeler moved to take up the Distric,
of Columbia appropriation bill. The chair
declined to entertain this motion. Thought
it had made an error in deciding some time
previously that any member could call up
an appropriation bill. After examination
Of the rules and precedents it was of the
opinion that no gentleman, no. the chairman
nor member of the committee havirg the
appropriation bill in charge. could All up
tle measure in q committee of the whoie.
Wheeler appealed from the decision,
which the chair refused to entertain.
Farquhars motion was agreed to.
Farquhsr in supporting the shipping bill,
expressed regret that any member should
refer to it as JOB He did not believe
any gentleman would reflect upon the com
mi,tee of the merchant marine aod fish,
cries. No corporation or organization
had go. dollar out Of this measure,
to which it was no; fairly entitled.
He said the United States had lost its foot
ing on the ocean msiuly from the unfair
ness of its rivals, whose governments since
the acceptance of our free shipping policy
suppressed its spirit and by subsidies, boun.
ties, subventions, and other agencies, act
lively aided their people to Withstand our
competition to gain advantages. and finally
work the ruin Of our ocean traffic.
This bill was presented to restore the
lost footing in practical and speedy way.
1t was argued tina. there was no sntaaonism
between this measure and the mckinley
tariff bill. American foreign commerce
has been greater per capita under protec-
tion than il has ever been under free trade
He drplored the fact that foreign carrying
trade of the United States had fallen from
IS to IL IL par cent
The question now presented was whether
the government would take care of its
merchant marine or ehut up the country 4
shipy ards, and place the American fse
over everything Of foreign manufacture.
He was born on the osher side of the ocesr
but was enough Of an American to antag
onize the supremacy Of England on the
sea. Ii was time the public opinion oi
American people should be aroused NAM
papers in the United States advocated ih,
abolition of Amdricsn navy yards. Ameri
| can esilors and American trade.
Ii was . fearful spectacle When men arr
forgetting land their birth and the bloc,
in their veins, who took partisan line to th'
distraction Of American pride and Amer
can honor. The bill buils mp ali portion
of the country. 1t would bring Americ
to the ocean, Pending further discussio
| the committee rose.
House adjourned.
The Financial Bul Reported to the
Qanaep