The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-27
AMENDED SUBSIDY BILL.
PROVISIONS INSERTED ny oPPo-
NENTs OF PAYNE MEASURE.
Congressman Jones Outlines Fea-
tures of the Amendments Intro
duced TO the Original BiII-Great-

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 35.--Representative
w. l.. Jones. in conversation with the cor
respondent Of the Post-Intelligencer on the
Hanna-Payne ship subsidy bill. made the
following clear statement OF the proposed
legislation and the amendments demanded
by Pacific commerce:
-Four Of the Republicans on the commit
tee on merchant marine and fisheries were
not satisfied with the bill introduced BY Mr..
Payne. We want it distinctly understood
that we are not opposed to the principle
of subsidies for the purpose OF building
up our merchant marine. We realize Just
as fully as anyone the deplorable condi-
ton in which our ship interests are. and
We also understand the difficulties sur
rounding them In competition with other
rations. Not only do they have 10 com
pete with cheap labor and cheap materials,
but they also have to compete with other
subsidized ships.
IF our merchant marine is to take the
position that II ought TO take, heroic
measures are TO be employed. Such meas
ures, however should be plainly In the In
terest OF all the people. and not for the
particular and exclusive benefit Of any
particular ship owners, either in effect or
by design. We have not felt that the bill
under consideration was bill that can be
so defined. With this idea we have en-
deavored 10 have considered amendments
to this bill in the committee, but have
not been able to progress very favoraby
in this direction. Our attitude has also
been misrepresented in the papers, and we
have felt that. in order to show clearly
our position, we should prepare oil en-
bodying TO "A great extent our wishes, and
introduce II. Such a bill has been pre-
pared and was introduced by Mr.. Minor.
This bill does not represent everything
that each Of US would like TO see in It,
II, in itself, Is compromise. We nave
felt that concessions would have TO be
made, and We have not only conceded to
each other, but the bill contains conces-
sions, also, to the known views OF others
This bill differs In several important par
ticulars from the bill under consicers-
ton.
Provisions of Substitute.
"One important provision is that the
subsidy provided for under subdivision
a, in the first section OF the bill, Is con-
ditioned upon the carriage of "A certain
amount of cargo from this country. In
order for the vessel to secure full COM
pensatfon she must carry at least one
half of her gross tonnage outward bound.
This tnsures the expectation OF our prod
ucts. A snip cannot simply run for the
subsidy. This accomplishes one OF the
great objects of the bill. that is tho ex-
portation of our produce. This exporta-
ton necessitates the finding OF a market.
and the finding of a market increases the
demand. This provision does not dim
intsh the subsidy of vessel homeward
bound.
Another important provision is that in
the compensation for speed vessels we
allow for the homeward voyage only two
thirds of the compensation for the out
ward voyage The annual subsidy is
limited to 5000 600.
We want to encourage the building OF
freight carriers, and as one means TO ac-
the compensation earned in any one year