The age-herald., 1900-03-26
THE SHIPPING
 SUBSIDY BILL
Representative Fitzgerald States Position of the Democrats.
WANT TO BUILD UP MARINE
Though Present Republican Bill is Su- perior to the Former One, it Is Still Faulty in Many
 Respects

Washington, March 25.-Representative 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
 ''I think that when the report submitted by the democratic minority on the subsidy bill is presented, it will be found that the members of that minority are in favor of proper legislation to build up the merchant marine of the country. The members of the democratic minority realize as well IS their republican brethren the chaotic coali- ton of the American merchant marine at the present time, and they are just as anx- ious to remedy the condition of affairs. The present bill formed by the republican majority while it is vastly superior to the original measure presented in the house and senate is yet far from satisfactory. The 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 demo- cratic members that various portions should be amended. Two practical amendments, however, which have been asked for by the democratic members and to the sup port of which at least three of the repub- aican members volunteered-enough to make a majority in the whole commit.ee-were defeated through the inconsistence of the ship owners trust and the dictation of Senator Hanna who told the republican members that under no consideration could either of the amendments be attached to the bill.
 The Time Provision
 '"The first was a provision to extend the time during which Americans could pur- chase foreign vessels for another year. This pelscy Is outlined and favored in the report of Secretary Gage.
 ''In advocating this amendment before the committee stated that I saw no req son why the privilege of buying foreign ships which involved at the same time the building of an equal amount ot ton mage In American ship yards, should 'oe restricted to the few persons and eorpo- rations who, being on the inside and know ing that this bill would probably become law, have purchased foreign vessels and thereby secured a monopoly of this right. If 1t is a wise provision to allow the pur- chase of foreign vessels because of the added work that would accrue to American ship yards, it seems to me that it would have proved still more advantageous to allow more foreign vessels to be purchased for a year at least on account of the tre- mendous increase that it would call for dn building American ships in American ship yards.
 "The second provision, allowing Ameri- cans to purchase foreigner ships wherever they pleased, to ply them under the Amer dcan flag and operate them without any subsidy, was likewise defeated. It is a well-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 different ports in the world. picking up cargoes where they can, and it is admitted On ev cry side that this method of doing busi- ness furnishes vast opportunities of profit making to the parties interested.
 "The British shipping today, the increase of which has been so favorably commented on by the promoters of this bil is largely between foreign ports; and why Americans, when 1t does not interfere with the pay ment of subsidies Gas would be the case If this amendment was added to the bilD, should be deprived of the opportunity of investing capital in these ships, as well as increasing the opportunities of flying the American flag, employing seamen and building up the American merchant ma rine Is more than I can understand.
 There are various other features in the bill that are obnoxious. which will be point ed out when the democratic minority mem bers make their report"