New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-28

BY VOTE OF 40 TO 40
THE COMPENSATION RE-
DUCED ONETHIRD.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSRJ
Washington, Feb. 21.-One of the most deter.
mined and closely contested struggles ever seen
in Congress that over the Tonnage bill which
began in the House at o'clock this after
noon and ended near midnight with the
adoption of the Senate PC~a Subsidy bill.
The House first refused by vote OF III to 113
to adopt the free ship" substitute offered by Nh
Fithan after he had tried in vain to deceive the
House and foist upon it entirely different propO
sitiOn from the one which has long been known
as the free ship substitute" reported by the
minority of the Committee on Merchant Marine
months ago. Only twelve Democrats voted against
free Ships" and the substitute was rejected.
The House then refused by vote of li3 to
147 to order the House substitute TO third read
ing. On this result there was long and loud
Democratic applause, but it was premature. Mr
Dngley, who had voted for the bill, changed his
vote to the negative and moved to reconsider
Mr. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, moved 10 table that
motion, and yea and nay vote resulted LAG in
the affirmative to 140 in the negative. The mo-
ton to reconsider then adopted las 10 l43,
and the bill was then ordered 10 a third reading
147 to 14j.
Then came another surprise. Mr. Cannon,
who has voted with his party on every motion,
moved to recommit the bill TO the Committee on
Merchant Marine with instructions to report
" forthwith" the Senate Postal Subsidy bill SO modi'
fed as TO make the pay for lrst-class A0-knot
Of not less than s,000-tOn steamers 81 mile foe
each outward voyage; for second-class l6-knoD
I. ,,i1o for ri.
class (l4.knot steamers of not less than $500
tons, 81 mile and of fOurth-cass 1?-knop
steamers of not less than LOO tons. two-thirds
of dollar mile. After parliamentary wranse
the roll was called on this motion, but before
the result was announced men who voted in the
affirmative began TO rock to the opposite side. and
their example was initiated by men who had voted
in the NEGATIVE This of course. led 10 great con-
fusion. and even the most cear-headed men were
at a loss to know or explain their sudden and re-
markablc change of views. The result as at last
announced was a victory for Cannons motion. by
a vote of 143 to li2. Mr.. Farquhar Immediately
reported the bill according To the dlrec-
tions of Mr. CannOns motion. Many
points of order were then raised but they were
over-ruled; and the bill was finally passed by
vote of 40 10 l20
IEAI VI LIE >ENAlC DILL
The text of the bill as passed tonight reads
as follows. except that the rates to be paid are
reduced one-third:
Be it enacted by the senate and House OF Rep
,sentatves Of the United states OF America IN Con-
gress assembled that the Postmastereneri Is here
Uy authorized and empowered TO enter into contracts
for a term not less than five more than ten
wears in duration with American citlzens. for the
carrying OF mails on American steamships, between
port, of the United states and such ports in foreign
Countries the Dominion Of Canada excepted as IN hij
Judgment will besJ slbserve ana promote tlc postal
and commercial interests Of the United states the mall
service on such line, be equably distributed among
contracts shall be made with the lowest responsible
route and the postmast General shall have the rght
reject all bids nor in hi, opinion itaS'haoie ior 'h'
sec :. That before making any contract tor cirSInS
General Shall give public notice By advertising .
shall select, in each Of the cities of Boston. Newiork
Charleston. Norfolk. savannah Galveston ana MoDn1
and when the proposed service Is TO be on d te r,
ocean, then I'm -an Francisco, Tacoma. ana PoFtlthd.
such notice >hau describe the route the une Wnen
such contract will be made, tie Duration of te Sa,
her of trips a year, tie times Of sailing inl
The time when the service shall begin wlncn
Shall be let. The details Of the mode Of adyertisins
and letting such ronracls a Oe % Te Sg ~ tIs
Revised statutes for the letting OF inland mali cog:
Ia Is - far as the same shall be applcaoIe " ''o
See. B. That the vessels employed in the mal
service under the provisions OF this act shall 20
sIeamShipS owned and Differed by American ct
zcnS I'm conformity w tine eAlNdns laws OF - o"nS
and ofEccred and registered according to law, ana
npon each departure from the nicd siaee the l.iioS
ing proportion Of the crew shal az pg W. W. vsor, ~
-llch contract 70" carry lug the mails one iourIn uT,
Of. during the next three sHccefins Ac'r or o
tinuance Of such contract al .i't oheItn
thereof; and shall be- c)n>tucth 'tter the ,he
modcrn Improvements and appliances ior o,ca"
teamtrs. they shan be divided into four cl'',e,.
ship, capable Of maintaining speed Of iW19H h%no's %
an hour AT I'm ordinary weather ana ol q -'V'
vessel except Of fir, class shall be accepted or sai
mail service under the provisions Of il' %t bet~er
rla,s Shall bc iron or steel steamships,
capable Of maintaining "a speed Of d.1,r ,A; ~;
weather and Of gross registered tonnage Of Mt less
han 1000 ton, The thrdcl>> shall be iron or \ 81
knott an hour at sea in ordinary weather and # gross
registered tonnge of moi less Than ZOO tons In'
,hps capable Of maintaining speed of twelve knots
an hOur a sea in Odinary weather ana OF Gro's rg'-
erd Tonnage Of not less than 1900 tons II shall b,
,ipu,ated IN the contract or contract, to be entered
into for the said mail that Naid vessel, may carry
md may do all ordinary business done BY steamships;
See l-That all steamships of the hrst. Se,ond ana
hail he constructed with particular reference 10
prompt aud economical convei ,1n INTO anAiGy anAinary
Inns 70 lie agreed upon by and between The owncTs
nd the secretary Of the Navy and they shall be Z
~ filcient strength and stability Ia carry ana
sustain the working and operation OF AT least
our effective rhed canton Of aIt caltibr,
# les, than >N inches. and shall be O lhe hlghe,t
tinc known maritime commerce; ana al vessels o
aid three classes heretofore built ana - emlllyen
Iau before they a'c accepted Il the mail sc5vr@
nrrn pr,Nided for bc Thoroughly Inspected by COM
,nicnt Naval officer constructor detailed FOR tas
crvce by the ~rcrtlry of the Navy, ami snch olhcs
hall report in writing Ia the secretary o the Navy
,ho shall transmit aid report u the Pt~tn'>teg.
;encraI aud 10 such vessel not approved
" the secretary of the Navy suitable for the service
callired shall bc employed by ihc POstma>teruen-
raj a, provided for II thi, act. . -.
sec. 5.-rhat the Iac OF compensation 10 Dc pdlr
or >uch ocean mail service of the said hrst class ship3
,p Il 0f = a mile. and for mo