The National tribune., 1892-05-19

President Harrison signed what is known rs
the Inman bill last week-the bill which per-
mis tho largest foreign built steamships now
sailing between New York and English ports
tho City of New York and the City of Paris
to be admitted to American registry and float
the Stars and Stripes. To Senator Frye, of
Maine, and Representative Bourke Cochran, of
New York, credit is due for the clearness and
vgor of their respective expositions OF the
merits of the measure and its Importance to
the Nation, in both the Senate and House,
which led to the passage of tho bill by large
majorities- there being no opposition to the
| measure in the House. while the Senate passed
the bill by vote OF IL to TO- There is but little
doubt that the American owners of the two
vessels named will take immediate advantage Of
| the provisions of the act, and will soon fly the
American flag The favorable reception this
bill met with in Congress and by the President
induced Senator Frank Hiscock, of New York,
to introduce bill granting American registry
to the steamship China, a foreign built steam
ship now engaged in the freight and passenger
| business, and having tonnage of about 5000
tons, provided it shall be shown that 90 per
cent of the shares of the foreign corporation
owning said steamship WERE on Jan. l. 1891,
and have since remained, the property of citi-
zens of the United States; and provided fur
| Their, that the company shall contract TO build
| a vessel of equal tonnage in an American ship
yard.
| The friends of the bill to transfer the Revenue
Marine service from the Treasury to the Navy
Department are making an attack on Commo-
dore William NJ. Folger, Chief of the Bureau of
Ordnance of the Navy Department, because he
| is opposed to the measure. Commodore Folger
| made ali argument before the House Committee
on Naval Affairs in opposition to the bill, on
Wednesday, May IL, notwithstanding the fact
that Secretary of the Navy Tracy gives the
| measure his official sanction. The friends Of
the bill think it is simply astounding and
utterly demoraizng for o bureau officer,
welding influence by reason Of the patronage
which he has given him by grace of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, to defeat the bill. They say
| Commodore Folger should he succeed in hay-
| ing the House Naval Committee report un-
| favorably upon the bill, means the humlia-
| ton of Secretary Tracy, who has earnestly
| committed himself to its passage a matter
| of considerable benefit to the Navy Depart
ment. They say that il Cabinet officer should
| oppose any measure of public policy which was
| urged by the President, he would be compelled
| to resign his office, should he not have respect
| enough for himself to do il voluntarily, and
the friends of the transfer bill think this plan
| should be adopted either by Commodore Folger
or Secretary Tracy.
80
II tho joint resolution introduced by Senator
other legal holiday will be added to the list Of
| those to be observed in the United States this
year. Tho resolution authorizes and directs
the President to issue proclamation recon
mending to the people the observance in all
their localities ION Oct. IL, 1892 of the 400th
anniversary of the discovery of America, by
public demonstrations, and by suitable exercises
in their schools, and other places of assembly,
which may impress them anew with the in
telectual moral, and social developments
made possible by the act Of Columbus"
The Senate Committee on Military Affairs on
",
Mr.. Sherman's bill to promote and encourage
the display of the United States flag by allow
ing the Secretary of War TO sell to citizens and
Grand Army Posts regulation flags at contract
price, and making it 2 misdemeanor to print on
or affix to United States flag any business
advertisement or political motto, or the name
of a candidate to Office. The Military Com
mttee reported the bill adversely upon the
grounds that such law would authorize the
Government to compete with private manu-
facturers of flags
-.
The bill to grant leave of absence to all
Grand Army men in the employ of the Gov
ernment during the week Of the National En-
campment next September, was amended by
striking out Grand Army of the Republic and
inserting "All ex-Union soldiers" and favor
ably reported from one Of the committees Of
the House. and will undoubtedly be passed.
This will give the veterans in the Departments
weeks holiday, with pay, to meet their COM
rades.
While the Sundry Civil appropriation bill
was under discussion in the House last week,
Mr. Cogswell of Massach usetts, made motion
to increase the appropriation for the National
Geological Park from $1,000 to $4,000, saying
that if it was the purpose of the majority to
destroy the Zoo, let them do it in manly way