The Portland daily press., 1894-12-22
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The EastpOrt Collectorship To Be
Settled at Once. +
A BILL OF IMPORTANCE TO ALL
ENGAGED IN SHIPPING.

The Banking Bill Continues Before the
House-Harsh Criticism by DEM
ocrat-If the Bill Should Pass 1t
Would Wipe Out the Last vestige of
the Democracy.
Washington. December 21.-The House
committee on Mel chant Marine and
Fisheries, today, ordered favorable report
upon a measure of great Importance to
those engaged in the shipping trade. The
bill removes the present limits of five per
cent for crew, space. and fifty per cent tor
all deductions, ,ssincluding propellin power.
The removal of the limitations conduces to
the comfort and health of the crews and to
the destruction of speedy vessels. 1t pre-
scribes that the spaces for berthing of the
crew and the construction in regard to the
health of the men. 1t is proposed that the
bill shall go into effect the first day of July.
Owners of vessels docuhented before that
date and thereafter are to nave the option
of availing themselves of it's benefits. Pro-
vision is made for an inteInational. .appen-
dix, designed to give American vessels in
foreign ports the full advantage of any de-
crease in net tonnage that may be estab-
lished hereafter by the laws of other
nations. The bill brings the laws of the
United States into substantial accord with
the laws of Great Britain and the other
powers. 1t does not materially affect the
gross tonnage. but makes considerable re-
ductions in the net tonnage. The net ton
mage is the basis on which many navigation
charges are imposed, both at home and
abroad.
THE EASTPORT COLLECTORSHlP.
The Appointment Was Made at the Last
Session of the Senate But Was Not Com
frmed-It Will BE Taken Up On the
Presidents Return.
Especial to the PRESS.)
Washington, December 2l.-Private seore-
tary Thurber says that it is his intention to
call President Cleveland's attention to the
Eastport. Me-, collectorship case. as soon
as he returns from his trip to South Caro-
lima, which will probably be tomorrow or
Sunday. Last August, just before the ao-
journment of the special session of Con-
gress, the President sent to the Senate the
nomination of Mr.. George M. Hanson, one
of the leading lawyers Of Eastport, to oe
the collector OF customs at that port. Owing
to the late hour of its reception. the nomi-
nation failed of @ on nfiImation because there
was not quorum of Senators present. and
because the Republicans had declared that
d more business should be transacted after
b tariff bill had been disposed of. Since
tuen, for one reason or another, no further
action has been taken in the matter by the
President. After his return from the sum
mers outing at BuZzard's Bay, lie was ouslly
occupied by the preparation of his annual
message to Congress. and the finaLeial
problem were harrassing at that time. Then
of his old enemy, 1.-THE poor mans gout.
and he has given little or no attention to ap-
pointment matters. The Eastport case. is
in the same condition as that of the collec-
tor at Suspension Bridge. New York, whose
nomination was sent to the Senate at the
some time as that of Mr.. Hanson and failed
for the same reasons, and has not since
been touched.