The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-20

which are specially relied upon to convey
our products across the Pacific to the new
markets in the Orient"
The next class is raised from 5000 tons
and over to 1000 tons and over, with a
speed of seventeen knots to nineteen
knots, and the next class from 5000 tons
and over to 10.000 tons and over, with a
speed OF twenty and twcnty-one knots and
over.
1t is provided that OF the 100000 an
nually available for subsidies net more
than S2,000,00O shall be paid to vessels Of
over twenty knots.
Sections are inserted to prohibit ships
engaged in ccasting trade from receiving
compensation under the act. One Of these
includes in the prohibition class: a yes
sci on 4 voyage carrying any passengers
or cargo destined for any port or any
place ON the Pacific Coast of the United
States from any port on the Atlantic or
Gulf Coast OF the United States to any
port or place on the Isthmus of Darien or
any port or place in Central America or
Mexico, and a vessel on a voyage carrying
any passengers or cargo destined for any
port or place on the Atlantic or Gulf
Coast of the United States from any port
on the Pacific Coast of the United States
to any port or place on the Isthmus of
Darien or any port or place in Central
America or Mexico
One OF the amendments provides that
all steam vessels under contract pursuant
to this act shall be visited and classified
from time to time under the direction of
the Secretary of the Navy. with a view to
their possible use by the United States as
auxiliary cruisers or transports. or for
other purposes, in time of war, or other
public necessity; and the owner OF any
such steam vessel as shall be SO classified
as an auxiliary cruiser shall bind himself
to SO strengthen the deck of said vessel,
consistently with her use for commercial
purposes, as to make said deck strong
enough to carry suitable guns: Provided.
That vessel which shall have already
been constructed in accordance with the
regulations applying to auxiliary ruisers
shall be deemed to have fully complied
with the provisions of this section
Section IL. which is an amendment,
provides that a vessel receiving COM
pensation under this act shall not be sold
to any foreign subject. citizen, company,
or country. or transferred to any foreign
flag, without the written permission of
the Secretary Of the Treasury
Three of the majority of the Commit
tee on Merchant Marine and Fisher ies de-
clared in the closing days of the last ses-
sion that they would not vote for the
bill in its present. shape, and at the prop
er time would seek to engraft upon it
amendments which would radically alter
it.
Mr.. Minors Objections.
Representative Minor favors a reduc-
ton OF the period of subsidy for each ship
from twenty to ten years, the payments
term. His objections to making the pc
Rod twenty years are that it would be OF
too great advantage to existing lines be-
cause vessels which were built later
would receive payments only for frac-
tional portions of the twenty years. This.
he contends, would work to the disad-
vantage of the very object sought by the
bill. namely, the building of new vessels.
Therefore, he proposes that the payments
for each vessel shall continue for ten
years, regardless of the date of starting.
Another vital objection by Mr.. Minor to
the twenty-ye term is that the life of a
vessel is approximately the same period,
and in the latter part of the term, when
the ship had naturally deteriorated in
value and safety, would receive the same
bounty as new up-to-date, or, perhaps
as the amount OF bounty is limited by
receiving it would bar the new ships
from, bounty altogether. By limiting the
twenty-year period for any one ship to
ten years, Mr.. Minor thinks the bill
would accomplish the object fer which il
was intended, the stimulation of Amer.
lean shipping.
What is known as the antitrust amend
ment to the bill will be vigorously OPP
posed because of the excess of authority
which it is claimed would be vested in
a.. .f 49,
This amendment. which is section "a
OF the bill. provides:
THAT upon complaint made upon the
Secretary OF the Treasury that any person
owning. controlling. or operating vessels
entitled to compensation under this act
which, together with the vessels asso-
ciated with them in any combination. con-
tract, or conspiracy, aggregate in tonnage
one-third of the total tonnage of all ves-
seis entitled to compensation or that any
person owning, controlling. or opera ting
vessels entitled to compensation under
this act which transact business In any
part of the United States and together
with the vessels associated with them in
any combination, contract or conspiracy.
aggregate one-third of the total tonnage
OF all vessels entitled to compensation
under this act entering or clearing from
such port in the United States during any
one year has entered into any contract. |
combination, or conspiracy, whatever be
the form thereof. for the purpose of con-
trolling the terminal facilities for ship |
ping in any port or ports of the United |
States. or for regulating OF increasing |
the rates or fares for freight or passen-
gers in trade or commerce among the sew
erai States CT with foreign nations. or for |
granting any special rebates or privileges |
to shippers in such commerce. or for 9TH |
erwise putting any restraint upon trade |
or commerce among the several States |
or with foreign nations, the Secretary |
snail nix time and place for hearing such |
charges and give notice thereof to the |
persons interested and may require the |
production before him Of any contracts or |
papers which he may deem material in |
the consideration of such charges, and |
any refusal to produce the contracts or |
papers herein demanded shall be prima |
facie evidence that the matters sought to |
be proven by said contracts or papers are |
true. II, after notice and hearing, the |
Secretary Of the Treasury shall determine !
IN writing that such charges are true,
thereupon the right Of the person or per- |
sons SO found violating the provisions of |
this section, and their assigns, to any |
from the United States un- |
der this act shall Immediately cease and |
determine" |