The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-04
OUR FLAG ON THE OCEAN
SENATOR FRYE REPORTS TWO
SUBSIDY BILLS.


SUBSIDY BILLS.
One of Them Proposes to Pay Ameri-
can Vessels 80 Cents Per Ton for
Every 1000 Miles Sailed-The Other
Measure in the Interest of Fast
Mail Service.
WASHINGTON, May SIN the Senate
this morning Mr.. Frye, from the committee
on commerce, said he was instructed by
that committee to report two important
bills. The first bill was to place the Ameri-
can merchant marine engaged in foreign
trade on an equal footing with that of
other nations. This, he proceeded to say,
is the bill known as the shipping league
tonnage bill.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
at provides for the payment of 80 cents
per ton for every 1000 miles sailed, and in
cludes all vessels-iron, steel, wood, sail and
steam-from 500 tons upward. 1t provides
that they shall be what would be
regarded as ships of a very fine order.
1t provides that they shall carry certain
proportion OF American cltizens as sailors,
that they shall be differed by American
citizens, and that they may be taken by the
government. The cost of this bill, accord
ing to the commissioner of navigation, would
probably be for the first year between
$S0OO,O00 and S3,500,000, and would
increase, in his opinion, within six
years to So, ,000, 900 .or S6,000.000. The bill
would save to the people OF the United
States many millions for every million that
it would cost. 1t has been supported by the
resolutions of innumerable boards of trade
and chambers of commerce, by the national
grange and, / am informed, by the
farmers national alliance.
AN OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
II also report bill to provide for an
ocean mail service between the United
States and foreign states, and 20 promote
commerce. 1t is an original bill. 1t pro-
vides that the Postmaster General may
make contracts for the carrying of the
United States mails in United States ships,
owned by American citizens, between Unit
ed States ports and all foreign ports. He
may make contracts for not less than five
years and for not. more than ten
years duration. The bill provides for four
classes of steamships for which he may con-
tract, the first class being steel ships of a
reg stored tonnage of not less than 5000
tons, capable of maintaining at sea under
ordinary weather twenty knots an hour,
and it provides that only that class of
ships shall be used for the transportation
OF mails between the United States and
Great Britain. 1t provides for a second
class Of ships of not less than 5000 tons
register and capable OF maintaining eighteen
knots an hour at sea in ordinary weather,
for O third class of fourteen knots an hour
and not less than $500 tons, and for a
fourth class of not less than 1,500 tons,
which may be of iron, steel or wood"
THE PAY.
The pay for the first class is not to exceed
Sc mile, outer voyage; for the second
class, $3; for the third class, S1.50, and for
the fourth class, 81. The vessels of the
first three classes are to be of such char
acter that they can be utilized in case OF
foreign war as armed cruisers.
Mr. Frye affirmed that within three years
after the passage of this latter bill line OF
the best ships in the world, American built
and Differed, would be running to Liver
pool, another to the River Platte, South
America, and two from the Pacific coast to
China. Japan and Australia. The two bills
were read the first and second time and
placed on the calendar.
MeSsrs Vest and Coke, members of the
committee on commerce, announced their
entire dissent from both bills presented by
Mr.. Frye.
THE M'KAY CLAIMS.
The Senate bill for the relief of Nathaniel
Mckay and of the executors of Donald
Mckay, referring to the court of claim:
their claim for further compensation fol-
the construction Of the iron-clad monitors
Squando and Manset and the side-whee
steamer Ashulot. was passed by a vote Of
IS yeas to 10 nays, all the nays being demo
crats
The calendar was then resumed and sew
eral bills were passed, among them the fol
lowing:
The Senate bill for the completion of tht
public building at Pensacola, Fla, at a cos
of $32, 900.
The House bill for the allowance of Ger
'Fourth of July" claims.
The Senate bills giving to the Jacksonville
St. Augustine and Halifax Railroad Com
pany right of way across the military
reservation at st. Augustine, Fla, was re
ported from the committee and placed OF
the calendar. At 4:30 o'clock Mr.. Harri
Interrupted the proceedings with an an
nouncement of the sudden death Of Senator
Beck, and the Senate at once adjourned
The Senate flag was placed at half mast, ant
Senator Ingalls, dispatched the assistant ser
geant-at-arms to make arrangements Tor tn