The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-13
TWO new CRUISERS.
Interesting Debate in The
Senate.
Bill Finally Passed AppfOpriating $S26, 600
for the Purpose.
The Arbitration Of the Sealing DiSpute-Re
port Of an Indian Commission
Idaho Contested Seat.
Special to THE MORNING CALI

t0-day's proceedings in the Senate was the
debate on the Senate bill appropriating
1926, 600 for the construction of two revenue
cutters Of the first class for service on the
Pacific Coast, one Of them of at least 450
tons displacement and the other not less
than eco tons, and each of them so con-
Structed and equipped as to secure a speed
Of 10 knots per hour. The original bill, as
reported from the Commerce Committee by
Senator DOlpb. appropriated only S225.0O0.
1t was amended in the Senate so as to raise
the amount to 1925, coo. Senator Allen Of
Washington and Senator Dolph explained
the merits Of the bill, going into detail con-
cerning the opium and Chinese smuggling
and the urgent need Of an additional swift
cruiser to patrol the Pacific Coast
COckrell of Missouri, who bears the same
relation to the Senate that Holman does to
the House, opposed the bill in a rasping
speech. in which he declared that the rev.
enue ma Iine would, no doubt, soon be trans
ferred to the Navy Department, and that
the money spent at this time for revenue
cutters would only be wasted.
Mcpherson of New Jersey followed in
the same strain. He declared that the rev.
enue service should be under the Navy De-
partment and that no doubt it would be,
by act of Congress, soon. In this case, the
revenue cutters would be of an entirely
different pattern from those now employed.
They would have TO be of a character to
Withstand the attacks of hostile waT-bOats,
and the light-dTaught vessels proposed by
the bill before the Senate would be useless
in naval service
SWIFT CRUISERS NEEDED.
Senator Frye of Maine, the Chairman of
the Commerce Committee, and who was for
o long while Chairman of the Naval Com
mittee, declared that aTmored gunbOats of
heavy draft would never do for the revenue
service. Vessels for this class of wcrk
must be very swift and Of light draught.
capable of turning sharp corners and Of
running over shoals, etc, in pursuit Of yes-
sells engaged in contraband trade. The ar
m0red gunboat for this work would be an
absurdity. lie contended that even if the
revenue marine should be transferred to the
Naval Department the revenue cutters need
not be any better protected than they are
now. The statement made by a Senator.
Cling we're armed for resistance, was not
true in fact. He declared that If the reve-
nue. service should be transferred to the
Navy Department there would still be a
necessity for the very same kind OF cutters
as contemplated in the bill under cOnSidera-
tion.
ADVOCATED BY COAST SENATOR'S
Senators Mitchell and Dolph spoke in sup
port of Frye's statements.
Senator Squire of Washington Offere an
amendment providing that the speed Of the
two vessels should be eighteen knots an
hour, instead of fifteen. He said that he
had given a good deal of attention to the
revenue marine service, and that he had
often been told by officers of the revenue
cutters and 10y Treasury Department Off
cialS that there were smugglers boats tn at
could run as fast as seventeen or eighteen
knots an hour. Captain Hooper, who prob
ably knew as much about these matters as
most sea captains, had told him, for one,
that he knew of smugglers' vessels espe-
Cially constructed for this Illicit business
that could run ut the rate OF seventeen
knots per hour. Others had tod him that
there were COntraband vessels engaged in
the opium trade that plIed between Van
cOuYer Island and the United States at the
rate Of seventeen knots per hour. lie eX-
planned the enormous profit in opium and
Chinese smuggling. A very small quantity
of smugGled opium paid an enormous profit
to the smuggler, while they made $50 per
head and more for every Chinaman they
smuggled in. The ungrudging profits Of
this business enabled smugglers to build eX-
pensiVe vessels, which could Outrun the
revenue cutters Of the Treasury Depart
meut.
Frye opposed Senator Squire's amend
ment. He said that il would necessitate
changing the entire bill, for with the in
creased speed of three knots per hour the
NJ ,aA hn md thn
vessel would have to be Of additional tom
mage to carry an extra supply.
Senator Squire met this objection by as
serting that coal was so plentiful along the
Pacific Coast, and especially in the Puget
Sound region, that the revenue cutters could
coal every three or four hours if necessary.
The opposition to Squire's amndment was
50 pronounced that rather than jeOpardlze
the bill he withdrew his amendment. The
bill was then passed. Squire says that he
intends TO make an attempt TO have his
amendment adopted on the House side and
aeceded to by the committee Of conference
between the two houses.
REDUCING COMMITTEE WORK.
1t is deemed probable that the Ways and
Means Committee Of the House Will make
one very radical departure from the past
practice OF the committee. This will be
declining to afford prolonged hearing TO
those various interests likely TO be affected
Democratic majority is clearly in favor OF
limiting the work of the committee to the
preparation of less than dozen bills, af-
fecting only that number Of articles Of i'm
port, and these interests desiring hearings
will ba requested to reduce their statements
to writing. Daniel McKeever, Secretary Of
the New York Association Of Importers, and
Mr.. Worrel, member Of that association,
to-day applied to Chairman Springer for q
nearing to correct what they characterize
"a general erroneous impression in regard
to tue working of the Mckinley act
FALLING OFF IN IMPORTS.
These gentlemen stated that there was
much larger falling off in the importatiOns
Of woolen goods under the operation of the
Mckinley law than appeared by the report
OF tile imports and exports furnished by the
Treasury Department. They cited the fact
that the Mckinley law provides that all
goods in bond on the first day Of October,
1890. could remain in bond until February
/, 1891, and on being taken out would be
subject only to the duties imposed by the
act OF March 3, 1888. Hence, these gentlemen
maintained, the basis OF determining the de-
crease in the impuTtationS Of wOOlen goods
under the Mckinley act was TO make the
statement dating from February l, 1891, to
the present time. That statement they said
would show falling off OF more than 90
per cent in the imports OF wOOlen goods.
Except as to sugar and tin plates. the re-
celpts OF the Customs since the passage OF
the Mckinley law should date from Febru-
ary !, 1884, for the purpose Of comparison
with previous duties.
AT the suggestion of the Chairman it was
agreed that the New York association of
importers or the TWO gentlemen themselves
should reduce their statements and COM
parlsons to writing for formal presentation
to the whole committee.
THE BEHRING SEA QUESTION.
The Behring sea question was before the
Cabinet meeting to-day. 1t is understood
the case has taken a favorable turn within
the past few daYs aud SECRETARY Blaine has