Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-26

pOseu.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald, of Massachus-
sets, the ranking Democratic member
of the House Merchant Marine Com
mission, made the following statement
to-day regarding the position o I the
Democratic minority on the shipping
subsidy bill:
Il think that when the report SUBJ
mitted by the Democratic minority on
the shipping subsidy bill is presented.
1t 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 as their Republican brethren, the
chaotic condition of the American mer-
chant marine at the present time. and
they are just as anxious to remedy the
condition OF affairs. The present bill,
formed by the Republican majority,
while it is vastly superior to the origi-
nal measure presented in the House
and Senate, is yet far from satisfac-
tory. The present shape of the meas
ure 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 Democratic
members that various portions should
be amended. Two practical amend
ments, however, which have been asked
for by the Democratic members, and
to the support of which 1T least three
OF the Republican members volunteer
ed-enough to make a majority in the
whole committee, were defeated
through the insistence of the shipown-
ers' trust and the dictation of Senator
Hanna, who told the Republican MEM
bers that under mo consideration could
either of the amendments be attached
to the bill. ,
The first was a provision to extend
the time during which Americans could
purchase foreign vessels for another
year. This policy is outlined and fav.
ored in the report OF Secretary Gage.
In advocating this amendment before
the committee, / stated that I saw no
reason why the privilege of buying for
eign ships, which involved at the same
time the building OF an equal amount
Of tonnage In American ship yards.
could be restricted to the few persons
and corporations, who, being on the
inside and knowing that this bill prob
ably would become a law, have
purchased foreign vessels and
thereby secured a monopoly of this
right. II 1t is a wise provision to al
low the purchase of foreign vessels be-
cause of the added work that would
accrue to American ship yards, II seems
to me that it would prove still more
advantageous to allow more foreign
vessels to be purchased for a year at
least on account of the tremendous in
crease that 1t would call for In build
ing American ships in American ship
yards.
The second provision, allowing
Americans to purchase foreign ships
wherever they pleased, to place them
under the American flag and operate
them without any subsidy, wa like
wise defeated. 1t 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 Of the world, picking up
cargoes wher they can. and 1t Is admit
ted on every side that this method OF
doing business furnishes vast oppor-
tunities of profit making to the par
ties interested. The British shipping
to-day, the increase Of which has been
SO favorably commented on by the
promoters of this bill, is largely be-
tween foreign ports. and why Ameri-
cans when 1t does not Interfere with
the payment of Subsidies. as would
be the case If this amendment was
added to to the bill, should be deprived
of the opportunity of investing capital
in these ships, as well as increasing
the opportunities of flying the Ameri-
can flag, employ seamen and build up
American merchant marine, is more
thar l can understand. There are
various other features in the bill that
are obnoxious which will be pointed
out when the Democratic minority
members make their report"
The Weather.