The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-26
POUR INTO THE COUNTRY SUBSIDY BILLS STATUS
RANKING DEMOCRATIC COMMIT
TEEMAN EXPLAINS HIS PAR
TVS STAND
PRESENT BILL NOT YET RIGHT
Certain Amendments Wanted Which
MI. Foraker In the Committee
Would Not Stand for for
Unknown Reasons.

WASHINGTON, March &.-Representa-
tive Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts, the
ranking Democratic member of the house
merchant marine committee made the
following statement today regarding the
position of the Democratic minority on
the shipping subsidy bill:
II think that when the report submit
ted by the Democratic minority on the
shipping subsidy bill is presented 1t will
be found that the members of that mi
nority are in favor of proper legislation to
build up the merchant marine of the coun-
try. The members of the Democratic mi
nortty realize, as well as their Republican
be charged UP to the insistence of the
American merchant marine at the present
time, and they are just as anxious to
remedy the condition of affairs The pres
ent bill, formed by the Republican ma
Jority, while it is vastly superior to the
original measure presented in the house
and senate, is yet far from satisfactory.
Ihe present shape Of the measure and the
many good features that have been added
to the bill since Its first introduction can
be charged up to the insistence of the
Democratic members that various por-
tions should be amended Two practical
amendments, however, which have been
asked for by the Democratic members and
to the support of which three of the Re-
publican members Volunteered-enough to
make majority in the whole committee
We're defeated through the insiStence of
the ship owners trust by the dictation
of Mr.. Foraker, who told the Republican
members that under no consideration
could either OF the amendments be at
tached to the bill.
The hrSt was provision to extend the
time during which Americans could pur-
chase foreign vessels for another year.
This policy is outlined and favored in
the report Of Secretary Gage. In advo-
eating this amendment before the commit
tee l stated that 1 saw no reason why the
privilege Of buying foreign ships which
involved at the same time the building
of an equal amount of tonnage in Ameri-
can ship yards should be restricted to
the few persons and corporations who,
being On the inside and knowing that this
Dill probably would become a law have
purchased foreign vessels and thereby Sc
cured monopoly of this right. If 1t is
wise provision to allow the purchase of
foreign vessels because of the added work
that would accrue to American ship yards
1t seems to me that 1t would prove still
more advantageous to allow more for
eign vessels to be purchased for a year
at least on account of the tremendous
increase that 1t would call for in building
American ships in American ship yards.
'"Tho second provision allowing Ameri-
cans to purchase foreign ships wherever
they pleased to place them under the
American flag and operate them without
any subsidy was likewise defeated 1t is
a we'll known fact that a vast amount of
British and Norwegian capital is invested
every year in the purchase of all kinds Of
vessels, which operate between the differ
ent ports in the world. picking up car
goes where they can and it is admitted
on every side that this method of doing
business furnishes vast opportunities of
profit making to the parties interested.
The British shipping today, the increase
of which has been SO faVorably comment
ed on by the promoters of this BILL Is
largely between foreign ports, and why
Americans, when it does not interfere
with the payment OF subsidies as would
be the case if this amendment was added
to the bill, should be deprived of the op-
portunity of investing capital in these
ships, as We'll as increasing the opportuni-
ties of flying the American flag, employ
ing seamen and building up the Ameri-
can merchant marine, is more than 1
can understand.
There are various other features in the
bill that are obnoxious, which will be
pointed out when the Democratic minority
| members make their report"