Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-10
SD CONGRESS.
Senate Passes Bill Admitting
the Inman Steamers
To American Registry---Mr. Frye
Fully Explains the Matter.
House Passes River and Harbor Appropriation
BilI The Sugar Trust.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-Frye, from the
committee on commerce, reported back the
House bill to encourage American ship
builtling. Frye said that two ships CITY of
Paris and City of New York today were
capable of taking on board. in an hour ;
fine. Il. r5feI cannon AMI going TO sea to
meet any Gar emergency. Besides, the
government would have fiye other ships OF
the same kina and American citizens would
have the privilege of going TO Europe under
their oEn flag instead of a foreign flag.
He (Frye} had bcen the persistent and
aggressive friend of ships and the Ameri-
can shipyarl. and in giving his adhesion 10
the pending tiii he did not rub out one jot
or one tittie of his devotion to these inter
ests. II was aot an impulse that lead him
to support the pending measure it was the
result of careful, long continued consflera-
ton.
In the last Congress his hopes were ex-
eeedingly haeyant, the Senate having
passed two bills, one the tonnage bin and
the other the postal subsidy bill. He felt
if those two bills became laws, the country
would be restored TO ils proper and righ,ful
position upon the ocean. But, unfortunate
ly, the House defeated the tonnage bill,
and hal crippled the postal subsidy, so that
no in1uccment was left for capital to build
tiFst-class ships and put them on the lines.
Shortly after he spent week in fhiladel-
phia and New York. using all the powers of
persuasion to induce capitalists to put ships
on their lines bis effort being a complete
failure.
Some six months ago a proposition was
made for the admission of those two iuman
ships to ameriqan register, on the condition
that two equally as good and fast ships be
built in AmeGean shipyar'ls, and thu,
establish an 4nicrican line between New
York and Liverpool. He declined then to
give an answef and told the gentlemen who
came to him that he would take the matter
under careful consideration. He did 50,
and communicated with leading friends of
American ships and shipyarls all over the
United States and finally came to the con-
rlusion that 1t was in the interest of Ameri-
can ships and American shipyards TO enact
the pending bin into law.
He was authorized to say that some lead
ing men and manufacturing and shipbuild-
ing establishments in the United States
sent to Washington their approval of the
penling bill.
Mitchell asked Frye to state how the
pending measure would tend to develop the
! shipbuilding industry of the United States.
/ Frye said he had not the slightest doub,
that the men proposing 10 build these ships
were all men Of large experience and vast
wealth, and they had made up their minds
that there was in the United States Il senti-
mcnt of patriotism and regard for tht
American flag that would lead all oceai
/ travellers of American birth TO select YES
sels carrying the American flag rather thar
/ vessels carrying Belgian, English of Frenct
/ flags, and the enactment of the pending
measure would lead to the building (by linz
/ after line) of American ships at American
shipyards,
/ He had been assured that il was the I''ir
pose of another line (betwcen New lorl
ami Antwerp) to put in three of their grea
ships If the.e sxs.re successful Gas he be
4 iered they would be-, it would encourage
/ capital to embark once more i'll the oceai
/ steamship business.
! Mills expressed the opinion that the iw,
/ ships would be entitled to subsidy. Yes
expressed contrary opinion, because th'
subsidy bill applied only to American buil
ships.
Sherman read clause of the bill 10 show
( that the City of Paris aud City of New
York are to he entitled Ito all rights am
privileges of vessels of the nitcd States.
except they will not he employed in TIN
coaStwisc trade. He gave it - his opinio'
that the clause would confer upon tlie
owners the right to make contract uudel
postal subsidy law.
Vest remarked if that was the construc
ton To he put upon the bill it would he
repeal, by implication, of the postal subsidy
bill, which absolutely required American
built ships.
Mills moved tn amend the bill by strikinl
out the clause read by Sherman. Ilawlc'
said that those two ships were now 10 al
inteuts and purposes, American ships
Over 80 per ceut of the capital which bull
them was American. They were managet
by Americans. It was SIMPLY change o
flag . matter Of national pride. lie sal,
the company oSning the vessels is snrren
dcring by this transfer Sl0j 900 yea
which the British government is now pay
ing it, 4
Mills do iibt believe these men wouI,
hc actuated by {Ich strong emotions of pat
rioiism to surre1 der slo5, 900 year, sim
ply that they may display the American
flag at the maSts of these two vessels. The
are surrendcring this sl0J 900 year iron
the treasury of Great Britain that they ma
draw larger amount from the treasury o
the United States. | am rs much in fayo
of free ships As any gentlemen, hut
want free ships to come on question o
principle | do not wish 10 vote for a bill
to give one company, as a favor, the rigi
to go to foreign country, buy one or tw
vessels. not to enlarge the commercial mar
inc, but to enable the company to put it
hand into the public treasury and e1trac
revenues taken by an unjust system of tax
alton.
Palmer, while expressing sympathy wit
Frye's views, thought that gentleman ha
INDUCED in too many promises. VIII
should privileges be limited to these tw
ships: Higgins said he would vote for til
bill with great reluctance, solely on tn
ground that it would give the America
navy these two ships for cruisers in case o
q new national imbroglio.
Vt the close of the discussion Mill
amendment to strike from the bill tn
clause which would entitlc the the tw
ships TO contract under the postal subsid
act, was rejected without division. Th
bill passed just as it came from the House
yeas. Il nays, 10. The Maine senator
voted ave The bill now goes to the Pres
dent for apnrny1I