Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-06
SENATOR FRYE TALKS
ON THE SUBSIDY BILL.
SAYS THE MAXIMUM OF THE SUB
SIDY is ARBITRARILY FIXED
AT $o,OOO,O0O.
ADMISSION OF FOREIGN SHIPS
TO AMERICAN REGISTRY AND THE
BENEFITS OF THE SUBSIDY,
SUBJECT TO CRITICISM.

tention principally to a technical ex-
PLANTATION of the various provisions of
the measure, explaining with especial
care that provision which would ad
nit to American registry foreign built
ships. From several sources his at
tention was directed to this provision
and it was evidently one upon which
much OF the forthcoming debate will
rest.
Aside from the speech of Mr. Frye
no business of importance was trans
acted in legislative session.
Bills were passed permitting Captain
H. B. McCalla and Commander w. C.
Wise, of the United States Navy, to
accept decorations from the Emperor
of Germany.
The resolution introduced yesterday
by Mr.. Pettigrew calling for informa-
ton as to the postal frauds in Cuba
was referred to the committee on re-
lationS with Cuba.
The Senate then, at 1925, on motion
OF Mr.. Lodge, went into executive SEES
sion, remaining behind closed doors
until o'clock.
The House bill for the celebration of
the establishment of the seat of ma
bional government in the city of Wash
ington was passed without discussion.
Consideration of the ship subsidy bill
was then resumed. Mr.. Frye, (Maine),
concluded his speech begun yesterday.
Mr.. Frye said the amount of the sub
sidy could be no more than $4,000 G0
per year. That limit, he said, was fix
ed definitely in the BIZ
so far the cost to the government
is concerned he added, sit will b.
really no more than S7,5Oo,o0, as the
subsidy ships are required to carry
United States mail free of cost to the
government. There was absolutely no
truth in the remarkable statement that
$30,OO0,0G0 and S5O,OOO,OO0 and even as
high as S1o0,OO0,OOO a year would be
the cost.
The limit of 100000 in the sub
sidy would not be reached for 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 $9,O00,000 is reached, the
subsidy would be pro-rated so all YES
sells would be on precisely the same
plane and would receive perfectly i'm
partial treatment.
Referring to a provision of the pend
ing bill requiring all ships to take
freight up to a certain percentage of
their carrying capacity, Mr.. Frye said
it would prevent vessels like the Amer
lean liner st. Louis from participating
in the benefits of the act. He an
nounced therefore that tomorrow he
would propose to the committee on
commerce an amendment equal to so
per cent of their carrying capacity
when leaving a port of the United
States for foreign port. That would
so distribute the products to be carried
as to do no injustice to anybody.
Discussing that provision of the bill
which enables foreign built ships to be
brought under the American flag and
to enjoy portion of the proposed
subsidy under certain restrictions, Mr..
Frye said it had been asserted that
1000 tons of foreign vessels would
come in at once under the provision
as it now stands. He said II was his
purpose to offer a substitute for the
present provision 80 that it could be
determined definitely just how many
foreign vessels would be admitted to
American registry.
Mr. Hale interrupted his colleague
to direct his attention to memorial
of ship builders which he had receiv-
ed. He said he was in sympathy with
the general provisions OF the bill but
admitted he was troubled by that pro-
vision which enabled foreign built
vessels to be brought under the Amer
lean flag to enjoy the proposed sub
sidy. He had received, he added, a
strong protest against this provision
from the measure signed by forty or
fifty ship builders in the course of
which the statement was made that al
ready parties are engaged in foreign
ship yards in the construction of yes
sells which were to participate in the
proposed subsidy.
''It is said" added Mr. Hale, that
the bounty for foreign built ships will
amount to more than 100000 year.
do not think my colleague would
look with favor upon any such PROPOSE
ton as that"
Mr.. Frye said there was only one
trouble with the statement made IN