The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-28
Its Friends Are Compelled to
Make Sweeping Changes.
SUBSIDY ONLY TO STEAMERS.
The Measure Gets Through the House
by Slim Majority.
Senate Passes Legislative Appropriation
and Immigration Bill and shelves
Pure Food-Blsir Minister 20 China
-Indiaus Man for Treasurer.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 27.-rHpecial. T.
On the theory that half loaf
- better than no loaf, the House
today satisfed itself with passing the marine
postal subsidy bill instead Of the bill reported by
the House committee, which would have given
aid to all American ships in the carrying trade
70 foreign ports. The opposition was too strong,
and BY majority Of four, afterwards changed
70 six In order to move reconsideration, the
House measure was defeated
The full strength Of both sides was recorded,
and II was only By the exercise Of remarkable in-
genuity that anything was saved from the wreck.
All day long the fight was spirited, and
good gcneralship was displayed on both sides,
though Farquhar was found to be unable to
the task before him, and at an early hour he was
forced TO relinquish the reins to his more ag-
gressive and qnick-wittcd iicutenants. Halt a
victory was won by a tight squeeze, the like OF
which may not again be felt in the House for
many sessions. If Clunic and Geary had voted
for the original bill, the vote would have been a
tic, and the speaker would have cast the decid-
Ing vote and the bill would have passed.
When ballotting commenced the fight became
interesting, and the vote was closer than that on
any important public measure that has come up
since the day Morrison's horizontal bill was first
tested. The mWoritics ranged from two to five
as the ballotting proceeded on the House COM
mittee bill, giving tonnage bounties to both
In the city there were only two or three
ahsentees, and messengers were sent securing
over the city In quest Of them. The first to ap-
pear was Abbott, Democrat, and he was hailed
with cheers, and when Gibson OF Maryland, an
other Democrat, appeared, everybody on that
side Of the house wanted to shake hands with
him. The committee shipping bill was doomed
after the vote on third reading, as the full
strength OF its friends had been brought ont.
Then came pretty piece OF parliamentary
work in an effort to save one whole piece from
& the debris that resulted from the disastrous es,s
Republicans from the interior states who had
voted with the Democrats, and the result vas
apparent when Mr.. Dnglcy changed his vote
and then moved to reconsider. A promise had
been made to the Republican opponents of the
bill that If the motion to reconsider was car
ried the bill would be rccommittcd and more
being to vote as they did before II any treach-
cry was shown. Under these considerations there
were just enough votes to carry Mr. Dingley's
as they fully believed the bin would 60 through
and that the influence Of the tabled lobby had
been felt in the pockets of some Of the more
@ weak -knsed Republicans, this belief being fur
third reading was carried by a majority OF two.
The bill was read, and at this juncture Mr.. Can
non offered what is known as the ''Candler sub
stitute," but which IL really the Senate bill
amended. which he moved to recommit to the
committee with instructions to report forth
with.
This bill authorizes the postmaster general to
enter into contracts for a term of not less than
five nor more than ten years with American
citizens for carrying Of malls on American
and ports in foreign countries, tn Dominion Of
Canada excepted, the mail service on such lines
TO be equally distributed among the Atlantic,
Mexican, Gulf and Pacific ports The vessels
employed in the mail service shall be American.
built steamships, owned and officered by Amer
lean citizens. The following proportion Of the
crew shall be citizens OF the United States:
During the first two years, one-fourth thereof;
during the next three succeeding years one
third, and during the remaining time OF the con-
tinuance of the contract at least one-half. They
shall be divided into four classes. The first
class shall be iron and steel screw steamships,
capable of maintaining speed of twenty knots
an hour at sea in ordinary weather, and Of gross
The second class shall be iron or steel steam
ships, sixteen knots an hour at sea,
and and Of gross registered tonnage of
third class shall be iron or steel steamships,
fourteen knots an hour, although the gross reg
istcred tonnage may be less than l 800 tons. The
fourth class shall be iron or steel or wooden
steamships, twelve knots, and of gross regis
tered tonnage of not less than 1900 tons. All
steamships of the first, second and third
classes shall be constructed with particular
reference to prompt and economical conversion
into auxiliary naval cruisers, and shall be Of
sufficient strength to carry and sustain the
working and operation oi at least four effective
inches, and shall be OF the highest rating known
to maritime commerce The rate of compensa-
ton to be paid for firstcluss ships shall not ex-
eeed So per mile, and for second-class ships 50
per mile by the shortest practicable route for
each outward voyage; ior third-class ships, $l.50
per mile, and for fourth-class ships
ber of miles required by the postoffice
department to be travelled on each outward
bound voyage. In case OF failure from any cause
to perform the regular VOYAGES stipulated for in
the contracts pro rata deduction shall be made
from the com pensation, and no steamship SO
paid for carrying the mails shall receive any
other bounty or subsidy from tine treasury OF
the United States.
Officers of the United States navy NAV voluu.
teer for service ON these mail vessels when ac-
cepted by the contractor, or may be assigned to
duty by the secretary of the navy. They shall
receive furlough pay from the government
and such other compensation from the con-
tractor as may be agreed upon by the parties:
provided that they shall only be required to per-
form such duties as appertain to the merchant
service. These vessels shall take as cadets or
apprentices one American born boy under 2l
years of age for each ,0O0 tons gross registered
and for each majority fraction thereof.
The steamers may be taken and used by the
United States as transports or cruisers upon
payment to the owners OF the fair actual value
OF the same at the time of taking.
his bill was passed by a vote of 40 to T.
Ciunie and Geary voting against, and then a
squabble was caused as to the appointment OF
conterees, 10 decision being reached at the
time of adjournment. The substitute reduces
the subsidy about 33 per cent under the San ate