Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-05
SUBSIDY DISCUSSION
begun IN THE SENATE.
SENATOR FRYE, SPONSOR FOR THE
BILL, DELIVERS AN
ADDRESS
LASTING AN HOUR AND A HALF.
THE BILL GIVEN THE ADVANTAGE
tOUS POSITION OF UNFINISHED
BUSINESS.

earnest to-day and material progress
was made. What was popularity
known as the ship subsidy bill, was
made the unfinished business of the
Senate, instead of the Spooner Philip
pine measure, and the discussion of it
was opened by Mr.. Frye, of Maine,
chairman of the committee on COM
merce, from which the measure was
reported. He addressed the Senate to-
day for more than an hour and half.
Recognized by his colleagues as an
authority upon the subject, he was
accorded close attention. He had not
concluded when the Senate adjourned.
The great crowds of yesterday were
absent, and business on the floor pro-
ceeded during the day precisely as it
would in mid-session.
AS soon as the session opened the
credentials of Senator-elect Dolliver,
of Iowa, were presented and he was
sworn in.
When the unfinished business
known as the Spooner Philippine bill,
was laid before the Senate at 2 o'clock,
MIR. Frye having previously yielded
the gavel to Senator Gallinger, moved
that the Senate proceed to the con-
sideration of the bill ito promote the
commerce and increase the foreign
trade of the United States and to pro-
vide auxiliary cruisers. transports and
seamen for government use when nee
essary," better known as the ship sub
sidy bill. The effect of the motion
was to make the subsidy measure the
unfinished business. Mr.. Jones (Ark.)
demanded the yeas and nays. The
motion prevailed, 3S to 20.
Mr.. Frye, the sponsor for the bill, ad-
dressed the Senate in explanation of it.
His statement was elaborate and at
times eloquent. This great maritime
nation, he said, was placed in posi-
ton humiliating beyond expression by
the present condition of our merchant
marine. With a boundless sea coast,
unparalleled and unapproachable nat
"a dl l0oOuICSS ouIp uulIuClo CuC CAudl
of any in the world, the greatest exports
in the world and every other argument
in our favor, the United States had per-
mitted its commercial rivals to seize
the pathways of commerce and hold
them practically to the exclusion Of this
country.
Last year of all the enormous ex-
ports and imports Of the United States,
only 9 per cent were carried in Amer
lean bottoms and the United States
paid to foreign nations principally
Great Britain and Germany $500, 900 a
day for doing carrying trade for this
country. He pointed out that during
the war with Spain the United States
was forced to search the seas over for
auxiliary cruisers and transports be-
cause we had sacrificed our carrying
ships
"The world" Mr. Frye declared, has
entered upon a fierce commercial war,
and it is to be a long and strenuous
conflict Each nation is seeking the
advantage of its rivals in the conflict
and is pressing forward to gain that
advantage. Most Of the foreign ma
tions are looking for commercial adj
vantage in the east. Russia, France,
Great Britain, Italy and Germany are
paying an aggregate of S5OOO,OO0 per
year in subsidies for the carrying ships
of the eastern trade.
He pointed out that under present
conditions it costs the United States
from 40 to so per cent. more, princi-
pallv in wages and food to operate
it's ships than it costs Great Britain,
oh than I
costs Norway, and yet the United
States. said he, is forced to compete
under such a handicap with the en-
couraged and protected ships of for
eign countries.
Mr.. Frye discussed at some length
the question of export bounties and
discriminating duties, maintaining
that export bounties were impractic-
able and that in the matter of dis
eliminating duties the United States
would encounter no less than thirty
one different treaties. These would
have to be abrogated if discriminating
duties ere enforced. The abrogation
of these treaties would be an offense
to every nation involved.
Our relations with European coun-
tries to-day" said he, ARE most amic-
able Do you think it wise to disturb
these relations at this time?"
Mr.. Frye said he could see no rea-
son why any man should favor free
ships as a remedy. In this connection
he referred to the ship yards of the
United States and expressed the
opinion that a great maritime nation
like this might as we'll be without
constitution as to be without ship
yards.
Mr.. Frye showed how much greater
was the cost of building and operat-
ing ships under the American flag If
these exports were not greater, he
said. there would be no excuse for the
pending bill and its foundation would
fall. He presented therefore, an array
OF figures to prove that it cost not only
more to construct American ships. but
more to operate them after they were
built than foreign ships. His figures
indicated that ships OF Great Britain
had an advantage of from $3.50 to S.
per gross ton over American ships in