The morning call., 1891-01-08
THE HOUSE.

Debate on the Shipping Bill Occupies the En-
tire Day.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-Funston of Kansas
introduced in the House to-day resolution,
which was referred to the Committee on
Rules, setting apart Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday next for the consideration of
the Elections Bill.
Geary introduced bill to place burlaps
and bags on the Tree list.
The Senate bill increasing from fifty to
seventy the number OF army officers who
may be detailed to military colleges was
passed
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the Shipping Bill.
Herbert of Alabama opposed the measure
because it proposed the indiscrimnate sub
sidizIng of vessels of every character in the
foreign trade 1t was the natural result of
the Mckinley bill.
Dockery OF Missouri said three causes
constituted an effectual barrier against any
attempt TO restore the American carrying
trade. The first was the difference OF cost
between American and foreign vessels
second, the greater running expenses Amer
lean vessels were under, aud third. the
harsh and restrictive features of our naviga-
ton laws, eXactlng heavy tonnage dues, con-
sular fees aud other dues. Furthermore,
the Republican policy of exclusion OF i'm
ports was at war with the interest of the
American carrying trade. He opposed sub
/ sides and other protection to special indus
tries, and asked FarQuhar, the Chairman
OF the committee, how much the Pacific
Mall Steamship Company, which. at one
session, lie said, corrupted the employees Of
the House, would get?
Farquhar replied that 1t would get the
same as all other steamship companies.
Dockery said that was no answer and
asked If Pacific Mail stock had not risen on
the probability of the passage of the bill
Dingley OF Maine, reviewing the deca-
dence Of American shipping interests, said
that in such condition as the country now
found Itself, with only IL per cent of the
foreign carrying trade, with Great Britain
entrenched on every ocean route, it was OBJ
vlous that 1t was utterly out OF the power
| OF private individuals, without assistance In
| some direction, to di>lodge the shipping of
| Great Britain 1t was said the bill would
not do for the merchant marine what was
| claimed for it. We could Judge of that by
what a similar policy had done for France
! with less maritime people than those of
| the United States. Within five years from
the establishment of the subsidy sys tenn the
steam tonnage of France had doubled. With
| the widest extent of coast known to any
nation the United States could reap a
| benefit from subsidies far greater than any
| other nation. Italy adopted a subsidy policy
in 1885, aud in four years her steam maine
had increased 40 per cent. The maximum
! expense of the bill for the first year would
w
or 100000 would come from postage and
tonnage dues. Taking the highest rate OF
| increase in tonnage and intimated as the re-
suit of the provisions of the bill, the greatest
amount of expenditure that would be needed
in one year would be $1,000, 600, after which
the rate OF payments would steadily dim
| inSh.
Farquhar warmly replied that If it were
so he was glad of 1t, and hoped the STOCK o.
every American company would increase III
value.
Dockery, reIorting, said he wanted 10 "a take
the fact home TO the farmers OIL the WeS'
that So OOO 600 were being taken from the
Treasury to sustain and support New En-
gland shjp-owners. George Gould, lie un-
derstood, was one of the "laboring men II
be benefited. Duckery then invited atten.
tion to the restrictive scope of reciprocity
advocated by Secretary Blaine. So far a;
the farmers were concerned the defect tina
was fatal to subsidy was alike fatal to reel
procity. The farmer could derive no beneti
from reciprocity because the South Ameri
can countries had almost every article nee
essary for their own consumption. Let TIL
country return to that propitious policy un
der which it explored every sea and cas-
anchor in every harbor. Divested of ever
artificial restriction our commercial marin
could renew and assert its importance upol
the deep.
Pending further debate the committe
arose and the House adjourned.