The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-18
PAYNE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
OUTLINE OF THE MEASURE now
BEFORE CONGRESS-.
Eastern and Western Representa-
tives DiRcr ms TO Whether Conn
pensation should he Based ON
Speed or Tonnage of Vessels.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteiigencer.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11,-So much pub
lie interest attaches to the so-cailed Han
na-Payne ship subsidy bill, that synop-
SIS of its provisions will be both timely
and valuable. II should be observed, In
the beginning. that the use of Mr.. Han
mas name as the putative author OF the
bill is not Justified by the facts He sim
ply introduced the measure In the senate
as favor to Senator Frye of Maine, who
was absent at the time. Mr. Hanna, how
ever, is a warm supporter of the meas
ure.
The title Of the bill declares that 1t Is to
promote and increase the foreign trade Of
the United States, and to provide auxil-
larry cruisers, transports and seamen for
government use when necessary. Under
this bill the secretary of the treasury is
authorized and directed to contract with
the owner of any American vessel engag-
ed in foreign trade. for the payment of a
period of twenty years. the sums follow
ing:
On each entry of a sail or steam vessel
not exceeding sixteen entries In any twelve
consecutive months, IL cents per gross ton
for each 100 nautical miles not exceeding
15GO nautical miles sailed outward bound,
and III cents per gross ton for each ad-
ditionai 100 nautical miles sailed
Steam vessels which may be suitable for
carrying the mails of the United States
and as auxiliaries to the power of the
United States in time of war or other
need. If of the following tonnages and
capable of maintaining the following rates
of speed, shall, In addition to the COM
pensation already provided. receive COM
fpensation per gross ton for each 100 nau-
teal miles sailed, at the following rates,
namely:
vessels over $500 gross Fourteen
L. hay 4
per gross ton, fifteen knots and less than
sixteen kots, l ITO cents per gross ton;
sixteen knots or over, 2-10 cents per gross
ton.
Vessels over 5000 gross tons--Seventeen
knots and less than eighteen knots, 4-io
cents per gross ton; eighteen knots and
less than nineteen knots. II Clio cents per
gross ton: nineteen knots or over, s-lV
cents per gross ton.
Vessels over 5000 gross tons-Twenty
knots and less than twenty-one knots, 2
cents per gross ton; twenty-one knots or
over, 1910 cents per gross ton.
Mileage Determined.
The mileage upon which compensation
shall be paid shall be determined by the
direct customary route from the last port
of. departure at which cargo. passengers
or mails shall have been taken in the
United States for and carried to a foreign
port. or port belonging to the United
States at which cargo, passengers or mails
shall have been discharged or taken: and
from such last mentioned port by the
direct customary route to the first port of
arrival in the United States the distance
by the direct customary route between
such ports shall also be included in the
mileage upon which compensation shall be
paid.
An unusual feature of the bill is that.
following 1t. is an argument containing
alleged reasons why 1t should become a
law. II is set forth that ''the fundamen.
tai principle, reason and purpose OF the
United States in aiding and encouraging
our shipping-helping to create it. when 1t
does not exist, to the extent necessary to
the defense and advancement of our just
interests-and promoting its capacity to