Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-12
Final Debate in the House Before a
Vote on the Silver Bill.
THE TWO SHIPPING BILLS.
They Are Again Discussed in the
Senate Today.
OTHER CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS
SENATE.


Jackson, Tenn, against the federal election
bill was presented by Mr.. Harris.
ARLINGTON PUBLIC PARK.
Mr.. Daniel introduced bill to constitute the
Arlington estate public park. Referred
THE TWO SHIPPING BILLS
The Senate resumed consideration of the two
shipping bills and was addressed by Mr.. Vest
As Mr.. Frye, he said, has expressed consterna-
ton that any Senator should oppose these sub
sldy bills. he would like that Senator to ex-
plain how it was that there was q time when
the United States, without dollar OF subsidy
and when the country was undeveloped
and had just emerged from its colonial con-
diton, had grappled with Great Britain and
came near wrestling from her the control of the
ocean carrying trade. He quoted from q
speech of Daniel Webster to the effect that the
success of the American merchant marine had
come not from protection or bounty but from
skill, perseverance and economy.
AGAINST SUBSIDIES
He showed how former subsidies had ended
in failure and scandal, and illustrated his argu-
ment by reference to the Collins line, which,
with large subsidy, had been driven out of
business by the rivalry of the unsubsidized In
man line. He also related the history of the
Pacific Mail subsidy, taking his facts from a
pamphlet written by Capt. John Goldman and
quoted from speeches by Senators Sherman and
morrill, against subsidies and in favor of free
ships, and from statements by John Roach and
Mr.. Cramp, advocating the removal of the
duties on iron and other building
materials and declaring their ability
Gn that case) of competing with
foreign shipbuilders. To sum up the whole
question, he read an extract from a speech of
Representative Cannon showing an expendi-
ture of over twenty-one millions in subsidies
between 1913 and 1878, and asserting that seven
millions would buy all the American steam
ships that were then afioat. The idea that
commerce followed the flag, Mr.. Vest said, was
monstrous fallacy.
COMMERCE DID NOT FOLLOW THE FLAG,
the flag followed commerce. He quoted from
exponent, he said, Of Mr. Blaines views, to the
effect that it was demonstrated that trade fol-
lowed the line of transportation, and he cited
as a contradiction of that assertion the case of
trade with Mexico, giving the figures of ex-
ports from the United States into
that country for the four years
prior to 1884, when the Mexican railroad
was opened. and for the four years since then,
showing diminution of that trade by several
million dollars (Sl4.570,000 in 1888 against
S6.860, 900 IN 1861 He alluded to the inter-
pelation in the British parliament yesterday
as to the Mckinley bill, and said that as soon
as England found that she could dispense with
Ck.
said, all that American craftsmanship aimed at
was to put up duties against Great Britain, and
if anybody had the hardihood to demonstrate
against that system he was met with the cry
that he was
UNDER BRITISH INFLUENCE;
that he had been bought with British gold.
The idea seemed to be to invent some new pro-
cess to drive away the trade of the world, and
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. But he
knew that he spoke to deaf ears and that these
bills would be passed. He predicted, however.
that these subsidies would never bring dollar
OF foreign commerce to the country. They
would enrich the men who got the con-
tracts, and there would be a repetition
of the same old scandals that had attended the
expenditure of $21, 900 900 in subsidies-an ex-
penditure which had left the country today
with Its shipping Qn the words of Mr.. Frye
absolutely dead
ONLY MODE OF REvIvINa THE SHIPPING TRADE.
MIR. Stewart gave it as his opinion that the
plan proposed in the pending bills was the only
mode OF reviving the ocean carrying trade of
the United States, and that free ships would
simply destroy American ship-building yards
without affording any relief.
Mr.: Vest made correction of his statement
IN reference to the Inman line having been a
rival of the Collins line. He ought to have
stated Che said) that the Inman line, unsubsi-
died, had competed with the Cunard line and
had taken away large part of its business
MR.. GEORGE OPPOSES THE BILLS.
Mr.. George addressed the Senate in opposi-
ton to the bills; the scheme of which, he said
WAS to tax the people in order to make remun-
erative business carried on by few individ-
uals and mostly by large corporations, and
which was now unremunerative. Such a pro-
position ought to meet the condemnation of
every fair-minded man.
HOUSE.