Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-12
THE SHIPPING BILL
Considered, but 10 Vote Taken
By the Senate.
Silver Debate Postponed Rank ol
Lieutenant General to be ReYiYed.
Two Communicatiors by tho Presi
deot-Peusiops for Maine People.

WAsHisGIos, July lila the Senate.
Mr.. Teller introduced joint resolution
declaring il to be the determined policy of
the United States government TO use both
gold and silver a. full tender money. in
ssrueting the President to invite the gov
e-nments of the Latin union countries and
other nations 10 join the United States in a
conference to adopt . common ratio be-
tween gold and silver for the purpose of
establishing internationally the use of BIZ
metallic money and securing = 6xity Of
relative value between these metals. The
President is 10 appoint not less than three
cor more than i've commissioners to attend
such conference on the part of the United
states, and who are to receive SO SEQ and
their reasonable expenses. The joint reso-
luton was referred to the finance commit
tee.
AT o'clock the shippiug bill WAS taken
up and Gibson addressed the Senate. He
argued against the proposed subsidies for
ships, but ia favor Of moderate postal sub
sides. He spoke of the importance of es-
tabIshin2 lin F.. of steamship to trade with
the Congo country. or building govern
ment dry dock at New Orleans, and of re-
forming the tariff by admitting commodi-
ties from the South American States at
lower rates of duties. Nothing, he said.
was more destructive to the shipping inter
ests than TO attemp, to tax the farmers and
producers of the country 10 order 10 supply
bounties for shipbuilders. Ii wss BOT By
such means that the United States hal
once occupied q leading position on the
ocean. IL vas by freedom, not restraint,
by self reliance. not bounties or subsidies.
He appealed TO the chairman of the com
mittee OF commerce Frye TO relax the
rigldity OF the policy, 10 allow ships to be
purchased abroad and sailed under the
American flag, to take of the tariff duties
from all materials, supplies and outfits that
go into the construction and sailing of
ships. and accept as compromise the poll
cy of giving postal subsidies to American
built vessels.
Coke said the proposition to grant sub
sides in aid Of merchant marine 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 70 per
cent. of imports and exports to lG per
cent. was not a 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 that
original cause had been added legislation
that forbade American citizens from buying
foreign bult ships and tariff legislation
that tended to isolate the United States
from other nations in regard to interna-
tional trade.
II he had to frame a bill to place the
A mercan merchant marine on an equality
with other nations, he would not commence
with taxing the people for the payment of
but would repeal the shipping
laws of the United States, and would allow
American citizens at least the same priy-
leges foreigners had in American ports
that of getting their sGps where they could
buy them the cheapest. He would also So
modify the tariff laws that they would
not seal up the ports of the United States
against the importation of foreign goods.
He protested against the bill because il
proposes to tax the people for the purpose
of building mp an industry that vas i'm
possible under the existing legislation.
The plan wa, u,opian and visionary, as it is
simply impossible, under the existing tariff
aud navigation laws, to build up the foreign
carrying trade of the United States.
Vest offered substitute for the bill as
to American merchant marine provision
for free ships to be used only in foreign
tsrry ing trade and not in coastwise or lake
trade. The bills went over without an sc-
ton, after An unsuccessful effort by Frye
10 have an agreement to vote upon them
tomorrow.
After brief executive session, the Sen
ate at ; 20 O'Clock adjourned.