The morning call., 1890-07-13
THE SENATE.
The Tonnage and Postal Subsidy Bills Passed
by Party Votes.


WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Senate to-day
resumed consideration Of the two Shipping bills
and was addressed by Vest.
He said he would like the Senator from Maine
Frye) to explain how it was there was time
when the United States, without a dollar OF sub
sidy, and wien the country was undeyeloped and
had just emerged from its colonial condition, had
grappled with Great Britain and came near
wrestling from her control OF the ocean
carrying trade. He quoted from the speech
of Daniel Webster, to the effect that
the success OF the American merchant
marine had come not from protection
of bounty, but from skill. perseverance
and economy. He showed that former
subsidies had ended In failure and scandal
and summed up the whole question by reading
an extract from speech OF Representative Can
non showing an expenditure Of over S21 100000
In subsidies between 1046 and 1878, aud as.
serting that $1,000, 900 would buy all the Amer
lean steamships then afioat. The idea that COM
merce followed the flag, Vest said, was a mon
ster fallacy. He alluded 10 the INTERPOLATION in
the British Parliament act to the Mckinley bill,
and said that as soon as England found she could
dispense with American products she would do
so; and yet, he said, all that American statesman
ship aimed at was to put up duties against
Great Britain. He predicted that subsidies
would never bring collar OF foreign commerce
TO- this country. They would enrich the men
who got the contracts and there would be a
repetition of tile same old scandals that had
attended the expenditure OF S21,000,00o in sub
SlulcS, an expenditure WHICH Ddu lelL tle country
Today with its shipping absolutely dead.
Stewart gave it as his opinion that the plan
proposed In the pending bill was the only mode
OF revlytng the ocean carrying trade OF the
United States, and that free ships would simply
destroy American ship-bullding yards without
aff0rdlng any relief
George then spoke In opposition to the bills.
Harris offered amendment providing tnat
the total sum paid 10 any vessel sailing between
any American port and foreign ports shall In no
case exceed the sum paid vessels for the same
class and tonnage between such foreign ports
aud Ihe nearest American port thereto The
amendment was rejected by party vote-ayes
21, noes 27.
Teller offered an amendment providing that
no vessel shall be entitled 10 payment under the
act that makes any discrimination between or
gives unequal facilities to competitive trans
pOrtation lines in receiving or forwarding freight
or baggage at any American port or at any for
eign port. This amendment was agreed TO.
vote was then taken on the amendment
offered yesterday by Vest providing for free
ships for The foreign trade but not for lake or
coastWlse trade, and II was rejected by strict
parry vote-ayes 1S. noes 90.
The Tonnage subsidy Bill was then passed
ayes 20, noes lS. The only exceptions TO the
strict party vote were that Payne voted with the
Republicans for the bill and Edmunds and Plumb
with the Democrats against IL.
vote was then taken on the Postal Subsidy
Bill, and 1t was passed-ayes %, noes 16. Payne
voting aye, Edmunds no and Plumb not voting.
On motion OF Morrill, the Tariff Bill was taken
up and made unfinished business.
Alter executive session the Senate adjourned.