Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-07-12
THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL,
MEASURE HAS BADLY DIS CONCERT
ED THE DEMOCRATS.
In Attempting to Make Party Capital
Out of the Shipping Bill They show
Themselves to BE About Evenly Di-
vided For and Against 1t.

uc lcduefS III congress
have been making elaborate prepara-
tions to make the shipping bill a cam
! paign issue. They have attempted to
terrorize the Republicans into aban-
| donment of the bill at the present ses-
sion at least. 1t is not known how
much the foreign shipping lobby is
willing to contribute to the Demo
cratic campaign fund if the bills con-
sideration is deferred until the short
session. Postponement, say the for
eiGn shipping lobby, means the bills
defeat.
| a $500, 100000 year business is the
stake. If Democratic threats of fill
clustering are effective enough to in
duce Republicans to postpone the con-
sideration of the shipping BILL the for
eign shipping lobby. their free trade
allies and Democratic dupes will each
have carried their point.
Democratic success up to this time
is the more amazing, as their own
| disorganization on this question is dis
closed. 1t would be imagined that
they would be united in opposition to
the bill, if intending to make a cam
, paiSn issue of it. Just the reverse is
the case. They are about evenly di-
vided for and against it, This is
shown by the two minority reports
that have been filed by the Democratic
members of the House Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries Committee. The
first report filed was signed by Messrs.
William Astor Chanlcr. of New York;
John II. Small. of North Carolina, and
Joseph L. Rnnsdell, OF Louisiana.
Their report advocates aid
and opposes free ships. Their sug-
geSted amendments to the bill are not
OF a character to seriously minimize
its effectiveness.
The other four Democratic members
Of the House Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee who signed the
other report are Messrs. John +. FitZ-
gerald, of Massa chusettS; Marion De
Nries of California; Thomas Speight.
of Mississippi, and William d. DAILY. of
New Jersey. Their support opposes
subsidies and in effect advocates free
ships. Their report, said to have been
written by an attorney of the foreign
upon the only American steamship line
ngaged in the transatlantic trade.
The odium attaching to the Demo
rats who are fighting the battle of
the foreign shipping lobby in Con-
gresS, and who advocate the purchase
of ships built abroad, instead of their
construction in the United States, pre-
sents them in very sorry figure.
They will be infinitely more busy in
defending their own attitude on this
question than they can be in assailing
lat of the Republicans and large
contingent of their own party associ-
ates. The Democratic leaders had
made desperate efforts to prevent a
public disclosure of their differences,
out the courage of nearly oue-half Of
the minority made further conceal
ment Of their condition impossible.
The Democratic members of the COM
mittee who advocate government aid
by Independently filing their report
in advance of the submission of the
other minority report. forced the sign
ers of the latter to lamely limp last
into the public eye. Their hopeless
division shows how utterly impossible
it will be for them to make a success
ful campaign issue of the shipping
question.
If Democrats attack government
aided shipping, Democrats who have
the best OF the argument may be quot
ed in answer. Republican ammuni-
ton with which to rcfute Democratic
attacks of this character need not be
used-it is furnished by the more hon
est and courageous OF the Democrats
themselves.
This is Il situation which seems al
most providential for the united Re-
publicans. They seem to be assured
Of the votes of Il large contingent
possibly one-half of the Democrats in
the House in favor II the ship sub
sidy bill, if it is brought up for pas
sage now. Such an opportunity has
not been presented in a generation
and may never again occur so favor
able.
The same situation exists In the Sea
ate. The Democrats there are unable
to prepare, much less present, a mi
nOrity report in opposition to the ship
subsidy bill. 1t is we'll and publicly
known that a number of Democrats
will speak and vote FOR the bill. What
the Democratic leaders desire to avoid,
ut all hazards, is the effect it will
have upon their party followers that
will surely result from the discussion
in the Senate of the ship subsidy bill
at this session, TO disclose n substan-
tial contingent of their own party as
sociates in advocacy and voting for
that bill
If Republicans can be coerced, intim- |
idated or cajoled into postroning the
consideration of the snip subsidy bill
at the present session, the Democrats !
may be able to conceal their own
weakness in divided opposition to the !
ship subsidy bill in the Senate. A lit |
tie incident has clearly demonstrated |