, 1891-02-27
SUBSIDIES FOR SHIPS.
The Shipping Bill Discussed
in the House.
Fifty Thousand for Repairs
at Fort Mckinney.
Report of the Director of the
Mint for 1890.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Grosvenor
spoke in favor of the shipping bill. de-
voting most of his attention to the
Mckinley bull, which he ~eulogiEed. The
reason the Democrats would be 10 the
majority in the next house was that there
had been misrepresentation and misun
d~ers,anding of the Mckinley bill The
commodities that entered into the daily
life of the people are cheaper than on the
LIST Of September last, and cheaper than
ever before in the history Of the country.
At the same time, agricultural products
brought better prices.
Coleman of Louisiana said he was
authoritatively informed that since the
passage of the Mckinley bill the price OF
lutte baRginV and ties to cotton planters
had been greatly reduced.
Grosvenor. in closing his remarks. said
congress should take advantage of the
the Mckinley bill and send American
vessels, covered by the American flag,
carrying American products, to seek for
the markets of the world.
Mills OF Texas opposed the bill and
ridiculed the reciprocity policy of the
present administration. Ii reciprocity is
wanted, why not negotiate with England,
France and Germany. A few months
ago the Republicans put up the bars
against foreign trade. Now they want il,
aud in order to trade want TO further tax
the people in order to send ships to
foreign ports. to show the American flag
aud return in ballast. The Mckinley
bill, he said, had cheapened the wages of
American labor in all parts of the country.
In concluding, Mills laid down the
doctrine of the Democratic party, quot
log from Thomas Jefferson. He affirmed
aud reafirmed that the will of the
majority. when expressed. was the will OF
God. But that will must be reasonable;
it must be rightful. 1t must, By equal
laws, protect the rights of the minority.
That was what the Democrats were con
tending for.
HOPKINS of Illinois opposed the bill. be-
cause he WAS opposed to the policy Of
subsidy. 1t was against the policy OF the
government. aud always should be, "a
take money IRON the treasury and pay II
tn a class OF persons engaged in private
calling. This legislation was modelled on
a French law that had proven a failure.
He objected to adopting the bounty sys-
NthA III " " dNu AuG NNbltu nhtDd vi
Maine. The great mass of the American
people would not be benefited one iota
aud vet the bill would take $50. 000. 00O
of the peoples money.
Morrow of Caiifvruia. IN supporting the
measure, emphstically denied the declara-
ton, frequently made, that the bill vas
being pressed by an active lobby. II
there was such a lobby he had lever
heard of it. This legislation was re
quested by representatives Of the leading
commercial organizations of the Pacific
coast. He did not look upon the measure
as = partisan one, but as one that should
be considered on its merits.
Cummings of New York advocated the
bill, as tending to build up the American
merchant marine aud extend the Ameri.
can commerce. The bill would achieve
results that could not be achieved BY
the passage Of the free ship substitute.
Free trade and sailors rights was good
Democratic doctrine. The shipping in,
terests had always been allied to free
trade. The maritime prosperity OF Eng
land miSht be cited as an example, bui
even with free trade hundreds aud hun,
dreds OF millions had been drawn from
England in order to increase her carrying
trade. This only illustrates the skillfu
policies OF Great Britain to secure and
MAINTAIN the carrying trade OF every Other
nation. 1t was by the use OF such means
that England maintained her supremacy
on the seas She knew how essential il
was for her greatness that she should
maintain that supremacy and
carp at methods she did moi
or higRle at expense. This was not Q
protective measure; nor was it a gratuitous
subsidy like the sugar subsidy. IL was q
measure to build up our decayed ship
ping industry. The passage OF the
Measure would open the markets OF the
world to the products OF the farmers Of
the West and Northwest. 1t would
stimulate the building oil ships to AN ex.
traordinary extent. 1t would give profit.
able occupation to sailors and provide EN-
ployueut for $4,000 or LOG, 900 American
machinists and artisans.
Fitch OF New York opposed the bill,
denying that it would prove of any bene.
fit to the laboring man. The stock OF the
Pacific Mail Steamship company was yes
terday quoted at 3S; this afternoon 1t was
quoted at 400. The stockholders of this
company were the honest labOring men
whom congress was going to help.
Laughter.
After further discussion the general de.
bate was closed, the committee rose and
the house took a recess.
In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-The sundry