The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-12
SILVER AND SHIPPING.
THE TWO SUBJECTS THAT BUSTED
THE SENATE.

Senator Teller Introduces a Joint Res
olution in the Interest of Parity of
Gold and silver-Senators Gibson and
Coke speak Against the Subsidy
Scheme.
WASHINGTON, July lin the Senate
to-day Mr.. Teller introduced joint resolu-
ton declaring it to be the determined policy
of the United States government to use
both gold and silver as full legal tender
money, and instructing the President
to invite the governments of Latin
union countries and OF such other nations as
he may deem advisable to Join the United
States in a conference to adopt a common
ratio between gold and silver for the pur-
pose of establishing internationally the ratio
Of bi-metallic money and securing
fxity of the relative value between
those metals The conference is
10 be held at such place as may be mutually
agreed upon by the executives Of the gov
sruments joining in it, and when in the
Judgment of the President OF the Unite I
States sufficient number of nation shall
have entered into such an international ar
rangement he shall declare the ratio
30 fixed to be the existing ratio in the
United Sta es The President is to appoint
not less than three nor more than five COM
missioners to attend such conference on the
part of the United States, and who are to
receive 81, 500 and their reasonable expenses.
The Joint resolution was referred to the
finance committee.
LAND COURT.
The Senate then took up the Senate bill
10 establish a United States land court, and
to rrovide for a settlement of private land
claims in New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona,
TkoI, Nauoda Nd GO1n-odn sI1ph oil
being by virtue of Spanish or Mexican
rights.
THE SHIPPING BILLS.
The bill was discussed until o'clock,
when the shipping bills were in order as the
unfinished business" f." and Mr.. Gibson ad-
dressed the Senate. He argued against the
proposed subsidies for ships, but in favor of
moderate postal subsidies. He spoke of the
importance of establishing a line of steam
ships to trade with the Congo country; of
building a government dry dock at New
Orleans, and of reforming the tariff by
admitting commodities from the South
But there was nothing, he said, more de-
structive of the shipping interests than an
attempt to tax the farmers and producers
of the country in order to supply bounties
for ship tuilders. 1t was not by such means
that the United States had once occupied
the leading position on the ocean. 1t was
by freedom, not by restraint; by self-reli-
ance, not by bounties or subsidies.
CAUSE OF THE DECADENCE.
Mr.. Coke stated some of the reasons why
he opposed the bill to grant subsidies in aid
he said, commenced at the surface, and not
at the root of the trouble. The
cause which had from 1855
to 1889 pulled down the carrying trade Of
the American merchant marine from rs per
cent of the imports and exports to 16 per
cent was not surface cause or casual
cause The first great leading cause of the
decadence had been the substitution of iron
and steel ships for wooden ships
To chat original cause had been added legis.
lation that forbade American citizens from
buying foreign built ships, and tariff legis-
lation that tended to isolate the United
States from other nations in regard to inter
national trade.
A TAX ON THE PEOPLE.
He protested against the bill BECAUSE II
proposed to tax the people for the purpose
OF building up an industry that was i'm
possible under the existing legislation. The
plan proposed was an Utopian and a Wis.
lonary one. 1t was simply impossible under
the existing tariff and navigation laws
TO build up the foreign carrying
iaue OF Une united states. Mr.
Coke went on to declaim against the in
furious effects of an illiberal tariff law, and
said that If retaliation were resorted to il
Europe las was now threatened) that re-
taliation would fall upon the farmers of the
United States. While the United States
was piling up Instructions to trade, the
pending bill proposed to pay subsidies fol-
men men to go cut and hunt up foreign trade
I1e whole business was simply absurd
Mr. Vest offered as substitute for the
bill as to the American merchant marine q
provision for free ships, to be used only il
the foreign carrying trade, not in the coast
wise or lake trade.
The bills went over without action. aftel
an unsuccessful effort by Mr.. Frye to have
an agreement to vote upon them to-mor
row. After brief executive session the
Senate, at $40 o'clock, adjourned till to
morrow.