The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-03
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Fraud In the Land Ofiice-Subsidies to
Restore American Commerce.

Restore American Commerce.
WASHINGTON CRY, July Pin the Sem
ate Plumb, from the committee on public
lands, reported the Senate bill to provide
for the delivery of land patents to their
rightfui owners, and asked for its
immediate consideration. Statements
were made by Plumb Paddock,
and Berry that there were some 10000
land patents accumulated in the general
land office for which those entitled to them
had not applied; that thrifty firm of
Washington City attorneys had been per-
mitted TO hayelists made of them; that they
had then communicated with the persons
entitled TO them. notifying them that they
could get their patent on payment of cer-
tain fee; that this was an act of collusion
between the assistant commissioner, who
was then assistant secretary of the
interior acting as commissioner, and
this law firm, and that the bill was
designed to Illustrate that. The bill
was then passed. 1t directs the secretary
OF the interior to send to the recorder of
deeds in each county in which the lands so
patented lie, lists of land patented in that
county that have been in the general land
Office uncalled for twelve months.
Hiscock called up his motion to recon-
slider the vote by which the Senate yester-
day refused TO recede from the amend
ments to the legislative appropriation bill.
The motion was agreed to, and after debate
the Senate receded from the amendments.
The bill now goes to the president.
The Senate proceeded to consider
the two Senate bills reported
from the committee on commerce to
place the American merchant marine en-
gagged in foreign trade upon an equality
with that of other nations, and to provide
for ocean mail service between the
United States and foreign ports,
and to promote the service. Frye
said the first bill was a bounty on
tonnage and the second was known as the
postal subsidy BILL. He declared that un-
less congress did something to aid Ameri-
can ships, and that speedily, there woulu
soon not be single steamship line travers-
ing the oceans carrying the American flag
mot one. The American carry
inc trade was dead body.
He wanted to know whether it was worth
while to resurrect it and bring life into it,
He could not understand the innermost
thoughts aaG feelings of the American citi-
zen who could listen to a statement
of facts about the foreign carrying
trade and not feel an impulse
to go back once more on the ocean
where the United States stood in
such period conspicuousness thirty years
ago. The American carrying trade was
dead for want of protection.
1t was the only great American
industry of which the same could
be said The people of the United States
had fftyr tn oli iuo
the sugar growing industry of the United
the dead body OF the American merchant
marine and keep it on the ocean.
Vest addressed the Senate in opposition to
subsidy bills. The foreign carrying trade
was languishing and almost dead, but SO
was the cattle trade, and yet if he were to
propose subsidy for the cattle
trade the proposition would be attacked.
Ae went on to speak of the Pan-Americau
congress as a chestnut" "back number"
1t was half made up when the Harrison
administration came into existence, and
the restless and ambitious secretary
of state seized upon it and concluded to
parade it before the country as great and
phenomenal diplomatic victory. The lead
ers of the Republican party had always
advocated the necessity of doing
away with foreign commerce. but a
sudden and miraculous change had come
The senator from Maine wanted to give
subsidies to vessels in the foreign trade, so
as to bring about increased trade, not only
with the South American states, but also
with all the Eoropean countries and the
world at large. The idea. Vest said, of
subsidiz izing one line was TO discourage all
others.
Vest Welded the floor without conclud-
ing his speech, and Fryse said be hoped to
have the Senate act tomorrow on both
bills, as he intended to call up the river
and harbor bill Monday. After an execu-
tive session the Senate adjourned.