The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-06
SENATOR FRYE's sPEECH.
Provisions of the shipping Bill Ex-
planned at Length.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Senator Frye at
to-day's session of the Senate concluded
his speech on the ship subsidy bill. He
devoted his attention principally To a te-h-
meal explanation of the various provisions
of the measure, explaining with especial
care that provision which would admit
to American registry foreign built ships.
From several sources his attention was d.
rected to this provision. and il is evidently
one upon which much of the forthcoming
debate will rest. Aside from the speech
OF Mr.. Frye no business of importance was
transacted in legislative session.
When the session opened the credentials
or Samuel D.. McEnery and Murphy j. Fos-
ter as senators from Louisiana and George
r. Wetmore, from Rhode Island. were re-
ceived.
Bills were passed permitting Capt. b. ii.
McCalla and Commander w. G. Wise, or
the United States navy, TO accept deco<a-
tons from the Emperor of Germany
The resolution introduced yesterday by
Mr.. Pettigrew calling for information as 10
the postal frauds in Cuba was referred to-
the committee on relations with Cuba.
The Senate at 1928. on motion of Mr.,
Lodge, went into executive session. re-
naming behind closed doors until ? o'clock.
The House bill for the celebration of the
establishment of the seat of national gov
passed without discussion.
Consideration OF the ship subsidy bill was
then resumed. Mr.. Frye, concluding his
SDttCn DtSuH AtcltfOdls Sdlu lut dilouUt
of subsidy could be no more than s9.0O0.0o0
per year. That limit. he said, was fixed
definitely in the bill. $50 Tar as the
cost to the government Is concerned" he
added. lit will be really no more than
s., 500. 0O0. as the subsidized ships are re-
CURED TO carry the United States mails
free of cost to the government There
was absolutely no truth i'm the remarkable
statement that $50. 900. 900 and S0.000.0 600. and
even as high as 100000. 900 a year would be
the cost. The limit of nine millions I'm the
Subsidy would not Dp reached Tor at least
five years. as within that period there
would not be enough vessels to draw the
full amount of the subsidy. When the
limit of nine millions is reached the sub
sidy would be pro rated so all vessels would
be on precisely the same plane and would
receive perfectly impartial treatment
Referring TO a provision of the pending
bill requiring all ships to take freight up
II a certain percentage of their carrying
capacity. Mr.. Frye said IL would prevent
vessels like the American liner st. Louis
from participating in the benefits of the act
He announced, therefore. that tomorrow
h. would propose 10 the committee or COM
nerce an amendment equal 10 80 per cent.
o. the carrying capacity when leaving a
port Of the United States for a foreign
port. That would so distribute the products
10 be carried as TO do no injustice TO any
body.
Discussing that provision of the bill which
enables foreign built ships to be brought
under the American flag and TO enjoy a por-
ton of the proposed subsidy under certain
TESIT MI IIlt ftAa II ~ OEtA
serted that 10000 tons of foreign vessels
would come I'm at once under the provision
as il now stands. He said IL was his pur-
pose 10 offer a substitute for the present
| provision so that IL could be determined
definitely just how many foreign vessels
would be admitted TO American registry.
Mr.. Hale interrupted his colleague 10 d.
rect his attention TO a memorial OF ship
builders which he had received. He said
he was in sympathy with the general pro-
visions OF the bill, but admitted he was
troubled by that provision which enabled
f~oreign-built vessels TO be brought under
the American flag 10 enjoy the proposed
subsidy. He had received, he added, a
strong protest against this provision OF the
measure signed by forty or fifty ship
builders. in the course OF which statement
was made that already parties are engaged
In foreign shipyards I'm the construction OF
vessels which were TO participate In the
proposed subsidy. 1T Is said" added Mr..
Hale. that the bounty for foreign-built
ships will amount TO more than S,oo0.00 a
year. / DO not think my colleague would
look with favor upon any such proposition
as that
Mr.. Frye said there was only one trouble
with the statement made I'm the protest.
and that was that IL was not true. Under
the provisions of the pending bill said he.
'.owners OF f~oreign-built ships cannot draw
a cent Of bounty until they construct I'm the
shipyards OF this country an amount OF
tonnage equal TO that which they have
brought from abroad He believed a pro-
VISION IOT tnt duIllScibu VI loItiBn-Dulll
ships under proper restrictions was wise.
because il would insure to the United
States a respectable feet of merchant ves-
sells within a reasonable time. The success
OF the venture by which the New York and
Paris had been admitted 10 registry had in
drced him TO insert I'm the pending measure
the provision for the ADMISSION OF a certain
fixed number OF foreign-built vessels 10
American registry under similar r~estric-
tions. He did not believe that another ship
wouIu be admitted 10 American registry ex-
cept those specifically provided for I'm the
pending measure.
In conclusion Mr.. Frye referred 20 what
he termed the wild and insane crfticism'
of the measure. criticism which. he said.
was based upon no fair or accurate knowl-
edge of the provisions OF the bin.
ON motion Of Mr.. Platt. OF Connecticut.
the Senate. az 3:45 p. m. held a brief ex-
ecutive session and then adjourned.