, 1890-07-17
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Passage OF the Tonnage aud Postal
Subsidy BllIs.

To-day In the senate n remon STRANGE
OF the board Of trade OF Jackson, Tenn,
against the federal election bill was pro-
sented by Mr.. Harris.
Then tho senate resumed considera-
tion OF the two shipping bills, being al.
dressed by Mr. Vest,
Mr.. Vest said that lie would like 10
hear the senator from Maine (Frye) ex.
plain how II was that there was a time
when the United States. without a dol.
lar of subsidies, when the country was
undevelopod and just emerged from the
colonial condition, had grappIed with
Great Britain, and come near Wrestling
from her the control Of the ocean carry
ing trade. lie quoted from a speech
of Daniel Wcbs,er TO the ef-
feet that tho success OF the
American merchant marine had
come, not from protection or bounties
but from skill, perseverance and economy.
lie showed that the former subsidics
had ended in failure aud scandal, and
summed up the whole question by read
ing an extract from speech by Repre-.
sentative Cannon. showing that there
was an expenditure Of over S2l, 600, 900 In
subsidies between lsis and 1878, and AS.
serting that 81, 600 600 would buy all the
American steamships then atoat. The
idea that commerce followed the flag.
Mr.. Vest said, was a monster fallacy.
lie alluded 10 the Interpolation In tile
British parliament as TO the Mckinley
bill, and said that as soon as England
found that she could dispense with
American products she would do
so. and yet, he said, oil that
American statesmanship Armed at was
TO put up duties against Great Britain.
He predicted that subsidies woulo never
bring dollar OF foreign commerce to the
country. They would enrich tho men
who got the contracts, and there would
be repetition OF some Of the old scan.
dals that hal attended the expenditure
OF 81, 600, 600 in subsidies, and the ex
pcnditurc Of which had left the country
to day with Its shipping absolutely dead.
Mr., George opposed the bill,
Mr.. Harris offered an amendment pro-
viding that the total sum paid to any
vessel sailing between any American
port and foreign ports should In no case
exceed the sum paid vessels OF the snme
class ami tonnage between such foreign
| ports and the nearest American port
thereto; rcjccted-'aycs u. noes 81
| Party vote.
MIR. Teller offered an amendment pro.
viding that no vessel he entitled to pay
ment unuer the act that makes any dis.
elimination between, or gives untqual
| facilities to, competitive TRANSPORTATION
lines, IN receiving or forwarding freight
or baggage at any American port, or at
any foreign port. Agreed TO.
The vote was then taken on the
amendment offered yesterday by Mr..
! Vest, providing free ships for tho foreign
trade. but not FOR the lake or coastwlse
trade. Rejecied-ayes, is; noes, 20;
strict party vote.
The tonnage subsidy bill wa, then
passcd-ayes. 20; noes, is.
The only exceptions TO n strict marty
vote were that Mr.. Payne yotcd with
the republicans for the bill, and Mcs,rs
Edmunds and Plumb with tho demo.
crr:s aRainstit
The vote was then taken on tho postal
subsidy bill, and u was passed-ayes. "a
noes 10; Mr.. Payne voting ave. Mr.. E,i-
inund no. and Mr.. Plumb not voting.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrill, the tafi n bill
was taken up and made unfinished bus.
incss,' and alter an executive session
the senate adjourned.
CONVERSATIONS.
Colonel Alex McCook, of tho Sixth
infantry, to be brigadier general.
Postmnsters--Charles A,cihson. nj,
Wardner. Idaho; Lewis U. Sharp. nj
Madeira, Cal