The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

regulating in any manner the terms or
| increasing the prices of construction of
| such vessels is hereby declared to be He
| gal; and any consolidation, absorption.
| sale. or transfer, by the persons owning.
| operating. or controlling two or more ship
yards of the United States OF the capacity
| aforesaid of the privileges, franchises. or
property of such shipyards for
the purpose OF limiting or
suppressing competition among such
! shipyards and of placing control Of the
| terms and conditions OF such contracts for
| constructing vessels therein under one
management is hereby declared to be il
legal. Upon written complaint filed with
| the Secretary of the Treasury by any per
son having contract or application for a
contract for the construction of new YES
sells in the United States under the pro-
! visions of this act, OF violation of the
provisions of this section, the Secretary
Of the Treasury shall give notice to the
interested person or persons of such com
plant and fix 4 time and place
for a hearing upon the charges made
and may require the person or persons
against whom the charges are
made to produce before him any
contracts or papers which he may deem TO
be material in the decision of such charges
If the Secretary of the Treasury shall find
that the provisions OF this section have
been violated he is authorized and directed
upon the application of the person or per-
sons having contracts or applications for
contracts for the construction OF vessels
as aforesaid within two years next there
after, to grant register. as provided ny
law as vessels of the United States 10 for
eign-b built vessels to the aggregate tonnage
of the amount Of tonnage OF the vessels con-
structed by the persons so found violating
the provisions of this section during the
year next preceding such order.
Regarded a. New Vessels.
Such foreign built vessels so register
ed shall be regarded as new vessels, con-
structed in accordance with the contract or
application for contract Of such person or
persons and shall DE deemed to be con-
structed in compliance with such contract
or application therefor and with the terms
Of any bond provided for by this
act. and shall be entitled TO all the benefits
and privileges and be subject to all the
conditions and obligations applying by this
act to new vessels constructed in the Unit
ed States except that such vessels shall not
enter the coastwise or lake trade of the
United States The word person or
persons, wherever used in this section
shall be deemed to include corporations,
associations and partnerships, existing
under or authorized by the laws of either
the United States or any State or
any Territory, or of any iCrsign country.
This section shall not be held to interfere
with or prevent the enforcement OF any
other law Of the United States prohibits
ing contracts. combinations, or conspira-
eies In restraint of trade"
Ships launched prior to January /, 1900.
shall receive subsidies for ten years and
those launched after January /, 1900, shall
receive full compensation for ten years
and per cent decreasing subsidy for
the next ten years. Another new section
provides:
That all steam vessels under contract
pursuant 10 this act shall be visited and
classified from time 10 time under the di-
rection OF the Secretary OF the Navy with
view TO their possible use by the United
States as auxiliary cruisers or transports
or for other purposes in time OF war:
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,