New-York tribune., 1900-12-05
SHIPPING BILL TAKEN UP.
EXPLAINED AND ADVOCATED BY SEN
ATOR FRYE.
A START MADE IN THE PROGRAMME FOR A
BUSINESS SESSION OF CONGRESS.
or TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNB.I

IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTBuNE.I
Washington Dec. 4.-The Senate plunged TO-
day into the legislative tasks which the ReSub-
Hcan leaders in that branch have set for the
short session. taking up for consideration by
vote OF 3s to 20 the so-calIed Payne-Hanna Ship
ping Subsidy bill This measure. a hich seeks 20
revive the ocean carrying trade OF the United
States. has been beaten by its advocates into
shape in which IL viii doubtless prove acceptable
&c the great majority of the Republican members
In both branches. Last year on it's introduction
IN the House ii encountered persistent OppOsi-
tion both In and out Of the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and the effect OF this criticism
was seen in the multitudinOus changes made in
it's details in the course OF the session AS the
bill stands II has been shOrn OF certain OBJ
JectiOns which have been urged in the past
against subsidy legislation. and its advocates
believe that it Offers no aid 20 American ship
builders and shipOwners which cannot be 1Usri-
fed on the broadest grounds OF NationaI polleJ-
AS chairman OF the Senate Committee on Com
merce and father OF most legislation framed n
Congress IN the last decade TO protect and slim
uate American shipping and maritime interests.
it fell to Senator Frye. Of Maine. TO make the
opening speech in support OF the Payne-Hanna
bill The Maine Senator. who has exercised
the functions OF President in the upper branch
of Congress uninterruptedly since Vice-PresidsnS
HObarts DEATH had made no set speech previous
ly in this Congress, and the marked respect in
which his Judgment is held as well as the great
authority conceded to him on all questions OF
navigation and foreign commerce. disclosed
in the attention given his speech by both Re-
publican and Democratic colleagues. His appeal
for the passage Of a measure which should re-
store even partially the prosperity once enjoyed
by the American carrying trade made with
out oratOricaI flourish. but with convincing skill
and directness. Mr. Frye has shipping statistics
at his Gngers' ends and illuminate even a
dull inquiry into the handicaDs under whioh
American ship builders and owners labor in
competing for the ocean carrying trade with
flashes of entertainment. His speech to-day
was thoroughly admirable in style and state
ment--one Of the best. in fact, on this subject
that has come from this brOadminded and ac-
eomplished legislator and statesman
SENATOR FRYE's ARGUMENT.
In beginning Mr.. Frye said that this great mari
time Nation placed in position humiliatins
beyond expression by the present condition OF It's
merchant marine. With bOundless seacOast, un-
paralleled and unapproaehable natural resources
shipbuilders the equal of any in the world, the
greatest exports in the world, and every other
argument in its favor, the United States had per-
mitted commercial rivals TO seize the pathways
of commerce and hold them practically 70 the
exclusion of this country. Last year. OF all the
enormous exports and imports Of the United States
only per cent carried in American bottoms
Last year the United paid to foreign nations.
principally Great Britain and Germany, Saou0 a
day for doing carrying trade work for this country
He could not how any Senator or other OBJ
server could be blind this condition In the war
with Spain the United States was forced 70 search
the seas for auxiliary cruisers and transports.
the only reason for sucn condition being that IL
had sacrificed its carrying ships.
THE world" Mr. Frye declared. has entered
upon fierce commercial war. and il is to be long
and strenuous conflict. Each nation is seeking the
WNfa anrAf
ing forward to gain that advantage. Most Of the
foreign nations are looking for commercial advan-
tages in the East. Russia. France. Great Britain.
Italy and Germany are paying an aggregate or
$5O00O0J year in subsidies for the carrying ships
of the Eastern trade" He pointed out that under
present conditions il costs the United States from
20 10 so per cent more principally in wages and
food 10 operate ships than il costs Great Brit
ain. and about 50 per cent more than it costs Nor
way. and yet the United States is forced to com
pete under such a handicap with the encouraged
and protected ships of foreign countries That was
of the reasons why the United States was IN an
humiliating position TO its merchant marine
Mr.. Frye discussed at some length the question
OF export bounties and discriminating duties MAIN
tanning that export bounties were impractieaoie'
and that in the matter OF discriminating duties the
United States would encounter no less than thirty
different treaties. These would nave 70 De
abrogated if discriminating duties enforced
The abrogation of these treaties would be an Of
fence to every nation involved. "Our relations with
European countries to-day" said he. "are most
amicable Do you think it wise to disturb these
relations this time2'
AT considerable length Mr.. Frye discussed the
origin of pending bill and referred 10 the COM
mittee OF twenty-five prominent Americans which
had drafted the original Subsidy bill The pending
measure he explained. had been amended ma
terially and radically by the Committee on Com
merce. None of the original COMMITTEES Of twenty
five had favored free ships. and Mr.. Frye said he
could reason why any man should favor
them. He referred TO the shpyards Of the United
States and expressed the opinion that a great
maritime Nation ike this might as well be without
a Constitution TO be without shipyards-
HANDICAP ON AMERICAN sHIPOwNERs.
Mr. Frye showed how much greater was the cost
OF building and operating ships under the American
nag. II these expenses were not greater. he said.
there would be no excuse for the pending bill and
It's foundation would fall He therefore presented
an array OF figures to prove that IL not only costs
construct American ships. but more TO
operate them after they are built His figures In
dicated that ships OF Great Britain had ad-
vantage OF from 81 90 TO s. ton over AmeFi-
can ships in the expense of construction and op-
Grafton He related The incident cited by Mr. Clyde.
Of the Clyde steamship Company. before the Com
b O q o-3ti -. ',d ~, sxscT si,,iIrp iIp Ssa,
under the American hag The expense OF Oper-
Grating the American ship between the same ports.
Mr.. Frye also referred TO the line OF vessels run
They came into competition with a line or Spanish
ships exactly similar in size and speed The span
the American ships. and Souid make money eagry
ing freight at S ton while the American vessels.
Mr. Roach was forced 10 sell the line OF vessels.
and Mr.. Thurber and the other purchasers OF the
ships eventually lost their entire Investment
THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES
Mr. Frye then took up that section OF the bin
which provides the amount Of subsidy 10 be paid.
Fha