The San Francisco call., 1896-04-01
Subsidy to American Vessels Only
Third of the Sum Received
by the English.
PERKINS TALKS PoINTEDLY
It Is a Shame to Sit Idly By and
Permit the Australian Trade
to Slip Away.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 31.-The
Peffer resolution for an investigation into
all the facts and circumstances of recent
bond issues was not reached in the Senate
to-day, as had been expected, George OF
Mississippi having occupied nearly the
entire session in an argument against the
claim of Dupont to the vacant seat IN the
Senate from the State of Delaware. Peffer
gave notice, however, that he would at the
close of Georges speech tomorrow ask the
Senate to proceed with the consideration
of his resolution.
About half an hour was given to the
consideration of the postoffice appropria-
ton bill. which appropriates more than
$93, 900, 900, of which nearly $13 900, 900 goes
to defray the expenses of the free delivery
system. The discussion was started on an
amendment reported from the Approp ria
tons Committee allowing $4,000 year in
addition to the present compensation of
500, 600 to the Oceanic Steamship Company
for mail transportation from San Fran
cisco to New Zealand and New South
Wales
There was no morning business of any
consequence to-day, SO that within twenty
Dupont election case was taken up and
George CD of Mississippi addressed the
Senate in opposition to the claim of
Dupont as Senator-elect from the State of
Delaware. George spoke for four hours.
His speech, which was not finished when
he stopped, was a constitutional legal ar
gument to prove that Watson, while act
ing as Governor of Delaware, was at the
same time State Senator and Speaker of
the Senate, and was, therefore, entitled
10 vote in the balloting for United States
Senator, consequently that, as Dupont did
not receive a majority of all the votes
cast, he was not duly elected Senator.
PETER (Pop.) OF Kansas gave notice that
he would ask the Senate at the close of
Georges remarks to take UP his resolution
for an investigation of recent bond issues.
The postotfice appropriation bill was
then taken up. The several amendments
reported by the Appropriations Committee
were agreed to the one appropriating
So, ,S1S $50 for the ''free-deivery system -
having added to it the proviso that no part
of the sum should be used for payment of
postoffice inspectors. The amendment
allowing $4,000 additional compensation
to the Oceanic Steamship Company for
mail transportation from San Francisco to
New Zealand and New South Wales hav-
ing been reached, an inquiry was made by
Villas CD of Wisconsin as to the grounds
on which the amendment was reported.
Allison (R.) of Iowa, chairman of the
Appropriations Committee made an ex-
planation. The compensation now pre-
sented for that service, he said, was not
one-third of the subsidy paid to the COM
peting line-the Canadian line sailing
from Victoria. And it went without say
ing that the American line could not
compete with the Canadian line unless
some subsidy or other allowance was
given to it.
Perkins tR.) of California advocated the
amendment, and said it was shame and
reelection on American patriotism to sit
idly by and permit Britishers to come in
and take the Australian trade away from
Americans.
White (D.) of California also favored
the amendment.
Without disposing of the question the
Senate at 5 p. NJ. adjourned until tomorrow.