GENERAL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 187, 15 August 1870, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

THE -TEAM LINE SUBSIDY. [From the " News of the Woeld."] The great pressure of business has prevented tlie bill granting a subsidy to an Australasian steam line from being reached by Congress before the departure of this month's mail. Parliamentary forms here are not quite the same as in tho colonies, where tha Ministry of the day arrange the order in which public business shall be taken, and are able to give precedence to any matter of special urgency. Here all Members of Congress are on the same footing, and no member has any advantage over another. Every bill introduced is placed on file, and all measures are called on in the order in which they are introduced, unless Congress specially by vote orders otherwise. Last Saturday there were no less than 580 bills which had precedence of the Australian Steam Subsidy Bill. The friends of the measure, seeing that there was danger of its going over as unfinished business to the next session, (bills do not here lapse at the end of a session) moved that the bill be called up out of its order on Monday next. This was carried by 31 votes to 9. The bill is now safe, and will be law before the 15th of this month, on which day Congress adjourns. It says not a little for the favour with which the bill is received, that members have pursued the very unusual course of giving it precedence at the end of the session, when every member is anxious to bring on his own " little bill." Thi3 favourable action is owing to the desire which prevails not to disappoint the expectation which the ■colonists have been led to form, that this country would give one-half the requisite subsidy. The following telegram, datel at Washington on tho night of the Bth of June, frome the United States Senator who has the bill in charge, may be taken as authoritative :— " New Yobk, June Bth, 1870. "Editors 'News of t#e Woeld.' — Australian Steamship Bill will pass Congress this session. Press of business only prevents immediate action. " Coenelius Cole, " U.S. Senator for California."