Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-02
CONGRESS- BUSY DAY
The House Postal Subsidy Amend
ment Passes the Senate.
FREE SHIP AMENDMENTS REJECTED
Many Bills of Various Kinds Acted
On in Both Houses.
ONLY TWO MORE DAYS LEFT.
SENATE.
The Senate met at $50.

The Senate met at $50
The general deficiency bill was reported, and
Mr.. Hale gave notice that he would ask for its
consideration today. The agricultural appro-
priation bill was also reported with . like
notice.
SENATOR KYLE's cREpENTIALs.
The credentials of James Henderson KYLE %
Senator from South Dakota, beginning March
4treplacing Mr.. Moody, were presented and
placed on file.
THE POSTAL SUBSIDY BILL
Mr.. Frye called up the House amendment 10
the tonnage subsidy bill and moved to nom
concur In the amendment and that the con-
ferees asked by the House be granted.
MIR. Reagan expressed the wish that the House
amendment be concurred in rather than that
the danger of a more Objectionable bill from
the conference committee be incurred The
subsidizing Of ships Che heidi was not going TO
increase commerce. The only way to increase
either imports or exports was to remove the
shackles Of the tariff The bill was, simply and
nakedly, q gift to the ship owners of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Morrill, moved to concur in the House
amendment.
Mr.. Vest expressed himself opposed to all
manner OF subsidies and stated his objections
to them. The subsidy did not apply merely to
vessels to be built hereafter. The Red Star line
with four American-built ships running from
Philadelphia would receive a large subsidy
without expendlng single dollar even for re-
pairs, and the Pacific Mail Company would re-
celve $500 900 yea- without any further ex-
pendlture. These companies were already
making money without any aid from the
treasury.
But at the risk of appearing inconsistent he was
whilng IN IT would terminate the matter and
prevent bringing worse) to agree to the House
amendment.
Mr.. Cameron stated that as to the Red Star
line 1t had been doing business at a loss.
MR.. M PHERsoN TALKS ABOUT GAG LAW
Mr. Mcpherson characterized the proceeding
as the most extraordinary one that he had ever
seen attempted in the Senate. 1t was the ap-
pllcation of a gag law in the most offensive
form. The Senate not to be permitted to
vote on the proposition. 1t had never been be-
fore the Senate; and still it was to be referred
to conference committee that would make
report which would have to be accepted or re-
jected without amendment.
He made the point of order that it was in
competent to commit the bill to conference
committee.
The Vice President overruled the point of
order. An appeal was taken from the ruling,
and the appeal was (on motion OF Mr. Frye)
laid on the table without division. The ques-
ton being on Mr. Morrilrs motion to concur
Messrs Cockrell. Harris and Reagan stated their
intention to vote against it, and Mr. Vest stated
his intention to vote for it, because otherwise
1t was certain that the conference report would
make q worse bill.
TWO THINGS NECESSARY TO REVIVE OUR SHIPPING
Mr.. Frye stated that in his Judgment two
things were absolutely necessary for the revival
OF the American merchant marine-one was
swift certain communication for the mails
between the United States and other countries.
In providing for that swift and certain COM
munication ships would be provided
as auxiliaries to the navy; and for
that Great Britain Was paving 5000 a
ship outside of her mail contracts. By the
postal subsidy bill these two things were pro-
vided FORSYTH mail communication and the
furnishing of auxiliaries for the navy. BY
which millions Of dollars would be saved There
was no doubt about that.
The House amendment would do that But
one other thing was absolutely necessary. and
that was that American freighting ships shoub
be put in some way other on a level with
the freighting ships of the world. Today every
American freighting steamer was competing
(wlthOut any protection) with the vessels of
Spain, Italy, Germany and Frarce, all of
subsidies. Even with postal subsidy act the
United States could not help its merchant
marine because of that competition. A six
teen-knot ship was not a freight ship. A
twenty-lnot ship could not carry freight. A
tweuty-kno; ship required 800 tons of coal
day and l55 men to handle her. sixteen
knot ship required 200 tons of coal a
day and 120 men. No such ship
could possibly compete with ten or twelve-knot
ships In carrying freight. He believed that if
the House amendment were non-concurred in
and If the bill were sent to conference propo-
sitions could be made that would be acceptable
to both sides of the chamber. Complaints
had been made that the tonnage bill
(as passed by the Senate) took in sailing vessels
(already built) away down to the smallest one
a hundred thousand of them. proposition
might be made to limit it to I, ,000-ton ships to
be hereafter built. He hoped that the Senate
would non-concur in the House amendment
and send the matter to a committee Of confer
ence, where there could be another trial
FAyoRs THE HOUSE AMENDMENT.
NJ c.rlisle exnressad h;,,,aIt =, e.
N,'oA. An i"'or Vi
agreeing 10 tne house amendment lest worse
proposition might come from the conference
committee.
Mr.. Hale favored disagreeing to the House
amendment and letting the matter 90 To a con-
ference committee in the hope that a law
might be enacted that would helm the great
commercial marine of the country.
Mr. Hawley expressed himself in favor Of
the House amendment because he sav a cba,ce
in it for Congress to do Something. and he
would rather take it than run the risk of fur
thar delav from tbe confere,sce n - ~.
erce the oUpos.ion xss and he Sd 1neS nos 1sS NOV
to run risks. $50
Mr.. Gorman announced his intention N xo..
against the House amendment The mere fact
that something worse was threatened or was
possible would not have the slightest effect