The evening times., 1900-01-06
THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
Speedy Consideration TO Be Given
the HaunaPayne Measure.
Representatives of shipping Inter
ests Engaged in Missionary Work.
TO he Taken y i'm the senate After
Disposition of the Currency Bill.
Text Of the Proposed Legislation.

come TO the front in the Senate soon after
the disposition in that branch of Congress
OF the Republican Currency bill. The sub
sidy bill will provoke one of the severe
contests of the session. Many representa-
tives of large american shipbuilders and
shipping firms are already at the Capitol,
in the interest Of the bill. Senator Hanna
and Representative Payne have expressed
their confidence ia its passage.
In the House il will be probably the first
bill reported from the Committee on the
Merchant Marine and Fisheries, TO which
it was referred on the opening day of the
present session
The bill is Ito promote and increase the
foreign trade of the United States and TO
provide auxiliary cruisers. transports. and
seamen for Government use when neces-
sary"
Under this bill the Secretary of the
Treasury is authorized and directed to con-
tract with the owner of any American YES
sci engaged in foreign trade for the pay
ment for period OF twenty years the sums
following:
On each entry of a sail or steam vessel,
not exceeding sixteen entries in any twelve
consecutive months. l l-2 cents per gross
toll for each one hundred nautical miles
not exceeding | 500 nautical miles sailed
outwartf bound, and 1 1-2 cents per gross
ton for each one hundred nautical miles
not exceeding 1,500 nautical miles sailed
homeward bound. and 1 cent per gross
ton for each additional one hundred nauti-
cal miles sailed
Steam vessels which may be suitable for
carrying the mails of the United States and
as auxiliaTies 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 compensation
already provided, receive compensation
per gross ton for each one hundred nauti-
cal miles sailed, at the following rates,
namely:
Vessels over ]. 800 gross tons-Fourteen
knots and less than fifteen knots. l cent
per gross ton; fifteen knots and less than
sixteen knots, ] lie cents per gross ton !:
sixteen knots or over 2-l0 cents per
gross ton.
Vessels over 5000 gross tons-Seventeen
knots and less than eighteen knots ! 40
cents per gross ton; eighteen knots and
less than nineteen knots. l clio cents per
gross ton; nineteen knots or over, S-IO
Vessels over 5000 gross tons-Twenty
knots and less than twenty-one knots. ,
cents per gross ton: twenty-one knots or
over. $40 cents per gross ton
1he mileage upon which compensation
shall be paid shall be determined by the
direct customary route from the last Port
of departure al which cargo, passengers. or
mails shall have been taken in the United
States for and carried TO a foreign port or
a port belonging to the United States at
which cargo. passengers, or mails shall
have been discharged or taken. and rom
such aforementioned port by the direct
customary route 10 the first port OF arrival
in the United States at which cargo, pas
sengers, or mails shall have been dis
charged. If during the voyage the vessel
shall discharge or take cargo, passengers. s.
or mails al two or more foreign ports, or
ports belonging TO the United States, the
distance by the direct customary route be-
tween such ports shall also be included in
the mileage upon which compensation
shall be paid.
An unusual feature Of the bill is chat
following it is an argument containing
alleged reasons why il should te.ome a
law 1t is set forth that the fundamental
and principal reason and purpose OF the
United States aiding and encouraging cur
own MISUNDERSTANDING To create it when it
does not exist TO the extent neces sary 10
the defence and advancement of our just
iuterestS-and promoting its capacity TO
carry our surplus productions OF every kind
to the countries and peoples that need or
wish them as We'll as TO add to the st. ength b
OF the nation in times toften coming sud
denlyl when our power and immediate
means of self-defence may be taxed to the
utmost, are stated in the preamble of the
bill
If the. preamble is true. the necessity
for legislation ef this character is demon
strated. unless il be shown that our present
condition is due to the fault of American
shipbuilders and shipowners, or to the pay
ing of too high wages by manufacturers
and others employing the labor of our peo-
ple II will scarcely be pretended that
either of these alternatives exist. The
condition of our commerce during mSny
years is shown in the very instructive re-
ports Of the Commissioner of Navigation
for 1897. 1898, and 1899, and also in the e
ports OF the Secretary of the Treasury for
1898 and 1899
The substance of the Hanna Payne bill
is set forth as follows:
lin order to obtain the earliest possible
action pursuant TO the policy of the United
States. the bill provides for bringing un-
der our flag and the protection of our laws
the few foreign built ships now actually
owned and contracted for by American citi-
zeus and in which and in their trade
American capital has been and is actually
invested These ships have been built and
their trade established under a foreign
flag. because the ships could not be built
and fitted out here and operated at
cost that would enable them successfully to
compete with the ships and trade of for
eigners. aided as they have been, are, and
will continue to be in various ways, by
their own Governments.
The American registry of these foreign
built ships is conditioned upon their owners
building here and putting into our own
trade at the earliest practicable time new
vessels of a tonnage fairly, proportionate
to that of the admitted ships.
None of these foreign built ships, or of
the new ships so to be built here are per-
mitted to engage in our coasting trade; but
they are permitted to engage in trade with
such other ports belonging to the United
States as ships under foreign flags are
permitted to trade with.
"All the owners of American trading
ships now existing are required to under
take the construction of new tonnage fairly
to that of the ships claiming
the benefit of this act.
"All these ships are required to carry
the mails of the United States free Of
charge
''All the new ships must be built so as