The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-27

The shipping bill was up for debate to-
day. Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, who held
the floor when the bill was last under
consideration, concluded his remarks in
favor of Che measure. Tho time which
had elapsed since he last addressed the
House, he said, had oontroverted the
argument made by gentlemen on the
other side that the Mckinley tariff law
had shut out American products from
fereign markets and foreign products
from American markets. Time had done
a good deal for tho Republican side of
the House, and had assured the trium-
plant passage of the shipping bill.
Under tho operation of tho Mckinley
bill, as part of the letter and spirit and
purpose of that bill, the United States
had opened markets for many bushels of
wheat and a good many barrels of pork.
After a little sparring with Mr.. Nc
Millin as to the causes which led to the
recent Republican defeat, Mr.. G%rosvenor
said that the reason hat the Democrats
would be ia n majority in the next
House was that there had been a mis-
representation and MISUNDERSTANDING of
the Mckinley bill.
Mr.. Mills opposed the bill and ridi-
cul I'd the reciprocity policy Of the
present administration. If the United
States wanted reciprocity why not ne
gotiato with England, Franco and Ger
many? The advocates OF the bill wanted
ships; why not build them? They had
tho protective policy, which it was
claimed, brought down the cost of
production. 1t was claimed that the
Mckinley bill had %cheapcned the cost
of necessities. 1t had c~hcapened one
thing. 1t had cheapencd the wage OF
American labor in all parts of the courh
try.
Mr.. buchanan, of New Jersey, made
an argument in support of the bill,
quoting in terms of warqnest commenda-
ton from the last speech delivered by
Secretary WindOm as to the wisdom OF
rcstoring'the merchant marine.
MIR. Hopkins, of H., regretted that
an attempt had been made to tarn
this question into a party one. 1t was q
nationaluIuestion and should be consid-
cred as such. lie was opposed to the
bill, because he was opposed to the
policy Of subsidy, and because he be-
licved THAT it merely temperized with a
great subject. twas against the policy
of the Government, and always should
be to q money from the Treasury
and pay it to a class OF persons engaged
in a private calling. That was ali the
measures was and all that it could be
dignificd into.
Mr.. Morrow, Of California, in sup
porting The measure emphatically de-
MED the declaration frequently made
that the bill was being pressed by an
| active LOBBY.
Mr.. Gambler, of Massachusetts. spoke
in favor of the proposed substitute
authorizing tho Postmastcr-Gencral to
enter into,contract for no less than five
nor more thai ten years, with Ameri-
can citizens, for the carrying OF mails
on American steamships to foreign
ports, the Dominion Of Canada excepted,
tho mail service to be equitably dis
tributed among the Atlantic, Mexican
Gulf and Pacific coasts. lie opposed
the pending bill. His substitute was a
free ship bill.
Mr.. Cummings addressed tho commit
tee in advocacy of the bill as tending to
build up the American merchant
marine and to extend American com
merce. The bill would achieve results
shat could not be achieved by the pas
sage of the free ship substitute. Free
trade and sailors rights was good
Democratic doctrine.
Mr.. ONeil7 of Massachusetts, entered
his protest against the passage of the
Bal which proposed to settle upon the
taxpayers OF hhe country an additional
expense without proportionate recon-
pensc. This Sill was the greatest hum
bug ever attempted. 1t proposed by
~hot1house process to revive American
shipping. Mr.. Fitch, of New York.
opposed the bill. saying stockholders OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
were hOnest labOring men whom Con-
gross was going TO help. After several
other gentlemen had spoken. general
debate was closed, the committee rose
and tao House took a recess till 8
o'clock.
A long evening session followed in
which tine general deficiency a%ppropria-
ton bill was taken APP.
For tho better Information of the
public of Southwest Virginia, whose in
terests Wild be materially served by the
passage OF the shipping bill, that
measure is mere appended:
AoUsE BILL NO. 4,663, AS AMENDED BY
THE COMMITTEE.
a bill to place the American merchant marine
engaged In tbs foreign trade upon an c0ual-
ity with that OF other nations.
he 1T enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States
OF America in Cons ress assembled, That
on n after the passage of this act
there shall be paid out of any moneysin
the Treasury Of the United States not
otherwise appropriated, to any vessel of
more thar five hundred tons gross reg
lister, whether sail or steam, constructed
in and wholly owned by citizens Of tho