Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-03
FROM THE CAPITOL.
OUR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
Two Bills to Foster Them Reported in
the Senate.
THE DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL
Under Consideration in the House
This Afternoon.
SENATE.

Mr. Frye, from the committee on commerce,
said that he was instructed by that committee
to report two important bills. The first was
the bill to place the American merchant marine
engaged in foreign trade on an equality with
that of other nations. This (he proceeded to
say) is the bill known as the
shipping league tonnage bill and it
provides for the payment of 30 cents a ton for
every thousand miles sailed. and includes all
vessels-iron, steel, wood, sail and steam
from 500 tons upward 1t provides that they
shall carry certain proportion of American
citizens as sailors; that they shall be oficered
by American citizens, and that they may be
taken by the government. The cost of this
Dill, according to the commissioner OF naviga-
non, wouid probably be for the hrst
year between three ana three and a half
million dollars and would increase, in his
opinion, within six years to five or SIX million
dollars. The bin would save 10 the people of
The United States many millions for every mil
hon that 1t would cost. 1t has been supported
by lnnumerable resolutions of boards OF trade
and chambers of commerce, by the National
Grange and. l am informed, by the Farmers
National Alliance.
OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
also report, said Mr.. Frye. bill to pro-
vide for ocean mail service between the United
States and foreign states and TO promote COM
merce. 1t is an original bill. Ii provides that
the Postmaster General may make contracts
Tor the carrying of the United States mails in
United States ships owned by American citi-
zens between United States ports and all for
eign ports. He may make the contract for not
less than tive years and for not more
than ten years duration. The bill pro-
vldes for four classes of steamships for
which he may contract-the first class
being steel ships of a registered tonnage of not
less than 5000 tons. capable of maintaining at
sea, under ordinary weather. twenty knots an
hour, and it provides that only that class of
ships shall be used for the transportation
OF the mails between the United States
and Great Britain. 1t provides for
a second class of ships OF not less than 5000
tons register and capable of maintaining Is
knots an hour at sea in ordinary weather. Ii
provides for third class of ii knots an hour
and not less than $500 tons. and for fourth
class of not less than /, 800 tons, which may be
OF iron, steel or wood.
The pay for the first class is not to exceed Sc
mile, outer voyage; for the second class. S3:
for the third class. Sl50, aud for the fourth
class, 81. It provides that the vessels hereto
fore built and contracted for shall first
be inspected and received and for certificates
of fitness for the service from the Secretary of
the Navy. 1t provides that ships of the three
first classes hereafter TO be buiit shall be
built according TO plans and specltica-
tions approved by the Secretary of
the Navy; that they shall be of the highest
registers; that they shall be capable of carry
ing four siX-inch guns, and that they shall be-
III all respects, built SO as TO be converted into
auxiliary cruisers for the navy within ten or
twenty days, with sufficient strength for all the
purposes for which the navy would require them
1t provides that they shall carry American ap-
prentices as petty officers, one for every thou
sand tons whom they shall educate and train
in seamanship. 1t provides that they shall
carry the mail messenger of the United States
and furnish him with the necessary accOmmo-
dation for himself and the mail. IL provides
that the United States may take
the ships whenever the government pleases.
paying whatever may be agreed upon. or Gf
there be disagreement whatever impartial
arbitrators may determine. have right to
say that know that If the bill becomes a law
a line of the best ships in the whole world will
be put on, within three years, between New
York and Liverpool
Mr.. .Butier-American-b built ships?
Mr.. Frye-American-built ships, flying the
American flag.
Mr. Mitchel-Is there any limit on distance!
MIR frye-There is no limit on distance.
nave right to say further that know that a
line of the second class of ships making
eighteen knots an hour, and of less than 5000
tons. will be running between New YORK and
the River Platte in less than three years. L be-
heve, and L have good reason for my belief.
that there will be within three years two
lines OF steamships running from the Pacific
coast to China, Japan and Australia, competing
with British lines now there. / ask leave to
file hereafter. if l shall desire to do SO, a re-
port to accompany these bills.
The two bills were read first and second
time and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Nest-i desire to say, member of the
committee on commerce, that / dissent en-
tirely from the report OF the majority of the
committee in favor of these two measures
MIR. COke-I desire to say as a member of the
committee on commerce that do not Join in
the advocacy of either of those bills, or in the
report upon them, of the majority OF the COM
mittee.
GOLD AND SILVER.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Mitchell, calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for information as to the export and i'm
port of gold and silver during the calendar
year 1889, Was taken up, discussed and agreed
to.
THE M'KAY CLAIM.
The Senate bill for the relief of Nathaniel
Mckay and of the executors of Donald Mckay,
referring to the Court of Claims their claim
for further compensation for the construction of
the iron-clad monitors Souando and Nanset and
the side-wheel steamer Ashveld, was taken up
and discussed.
MCPHERSON THINKS THERE Is POLITICS IN 1T.
The bill was explained and advocated by Mr.
Higgins and was opposed by Mr.. Mcpherson,
who ntimated that favor was shown TO
Nathaniel Mckay because of his services to the
republican party in the last presidential cam
paign.
Mr.. Spooner--Is that the reason for your
opposition to the bill?
Mr. McPherson-Not at all
Mr.. sPooSER REPELs THE INsISUATIoS.
Mr.. Spooner-I hope that the Senator did not
mean to intimate that the committee on claims
could be influenced by any such consideration.
repudiate and repel it for that committee.
Mr.. McPherson-I intended no criticism on
the committee or no discourtesy on the COM
mittee but I find that there are a great many