New-York tribune., 1900-12-25
FATE OF THE SUBSIDY BILL
CHANCES STRONGLY AGAINST PASSAGE
AT THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS.
SENATOR HANNA STILL HOPEFUL. BUT
OPPOSITION GAINING GROUND.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

| if the supporters of the bill were unable TO set
| a vote before the holiday recess Of Congress al
| the probabilities would be against It's passage
| in anv form at this session. so that in the ao-
| sence OF a special session Of the LNl1tn CoH-
gress it was not likely that any Government
aid to the shipping interests OF the couhtS
could be extended for fully year. or until the
regular meeting of the next Congress in Decem-
Der. 1901 What two weeks ago appeared 10
| be a probability can now be considered almost
a certainty Senator Hanna, the most active
supporter Of the bill is still hopeful OF getting
favorable action IT before this Congress ex-
pires on March f. but his hope is not shareo
in great degree by many Of the other friends
of the measure.
When it is recalled that in the first week or
this session Senator Hanna told a friend that if
he did not get action on the bill before Congress
took its holiday recess it was not likely TO be
passed at this session. it cannot be we'll under
stood on what he bases his hope of success
The opposition to the measure is quite as strong
and determined now as it when Mr. Hanna
spoke despairingly of its success. Indeed, the
enemies of the bill tactically in a stronger
position at present than they were at first, as
will be shown further on. In the hope of molli-
flying the opposition, Mr. Hanna has taken pains
to let it be publicly known that the supporters OF
the bill willing to accept amendments which
would reduce the measure nearer TO the form
demanded by its enemies than was originally
contemplated by the promoters OF the bill. Some
amendments already have been offered and re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce, of which
Senator Frye is chairman and others will be
offered and similarly referred soon after the ex-
piration of the holiday recess. II is regarded as
possible that some of these amendments will be
stringent and severe that there will be split
in the Committee Commerce, as the result OF
which majority and minority reports will be
ox1IA H.
acty to the liking of the opposition. because it
would lay the groundwork for long and bitter
struggle that would be much more apt to post
pone than to force action the bill at this ses-
sion.
OPPOSED BY WESTERN REPUBLICANS.
But aside from this purely speculative aspect
of the situation is the virtually settled fact that
a powerful cotere of Western Republican Sen
ators led by no less influential person than
Mr.. Allison chairman of the great Appropria-
tions Committee, are resolved to beat the bill
so long as it contains even the sembance OF feat
ures that are Objectionable to them. In the House
there is also an influential group OF Western
Republicans, led by Mr.. Burton, who represents
Mr.. Hannas district who are uncompromisingly
opposed to the present bill Indeed, it is by no
means certain that Speaker Henderson himself,
who is a lifelong friend and fellow townsman
Of Senator Allison, is not numbered with the
enemies of the measure.
An interesting II not significant phase of the
attitude of the House is that almost without eX-
ception every Democratic member from the
Eastern seaboard is committed to the support
OF the bill in its present form. and doubtless
would vote against it If it should be amended
in any material detail. Thus It is evident that
the division on the bill is sectional rather than
partisan or political However 1t is possible that
if the bill should run the gantlet in the Senate
It's friends could sweep aside all Republican op-
position in the House through caucus action
Therefore. 1t is important only to analyze its
prospects in the Senate.
II il were not that Senator Allison has prom
ised the outspoken opponents of the measure to
shunt the Senate off from final action at this
session if they would so consume the time until
the holiday recess that a vote could not be
forced. the prospective condition of the legis-
lative calendar is so unfavorable to the bill
to make its future very dark. For example, not
one of the dozen more appropriation bills
has yet received the consideration of the Senate.
and in accordance with the terms of the orig
inal proposition. these bills, which always have
the right of way over everything else, could be
so manipulated for the remainder of the session
as TO prevent Mr.. Hanna from getting vote on
his Shipping bill.
THE SENATE'S TINE FULLY OCCUPIED.
But at least one other necessary measure
the Army Reorganization BILLS to be put
ahead of It, It is conservatively estimated that
one third of the remaining portion of the session
will be devoted by the Senate to the considera-
ton of the Army bill If there were nothing else
besides this measure and the appropriation bills
to be considered, the entire time of the Senate
from its reopening, On January g. to final ad-
iournment, on March 1, could be consumed, TO
the complete undoing of Mr.. Hanna's bill. The
fact that Senator Hanna insists that the Ship
ping bill will get through at this session with
out material modification is it is gener-
ally conceded, the most favorable sign of it's
success 1t is still thought that Mr.. Hanna's
confidence Is inspired by knowledge that Presi-
! dent Mckinley has not yet been convinced by
it's opponents that the bill is not in line with
National welfare and necessity. Senators Nc
MILAN Spooner and Thurston arc said recently
| to have pleaded with the President to speak the
| word that would put an end TO the bill, but
what effect their talk has had the judgment
| of the President is not yet known.
WHY SENATOR HANNA rs HOPEFUL.
Another factor of great potency that is gen
| orally supposed to be working for the bill
| is that the conflicting shipping interests have
composed their differences and are unitedly
exerting their influence for the measure 1t is
believed that what chiefly has brought them to-
gether was the award last week by the Navy
! Department of contracts for warships ag-
gregating about $50.000,000. 1t is explained
that before these contracts were awarded the
shipping industry of the country in the
| Subsidy bill a profit mainly to the American
Line, of which Clement A. Griscom, of Phila-
dephia, is the directing genius, but that the
letting of so much Government work in block
has encouraged the hope and quickened the
energies of the general shipbuilding industries so
| as TO harrnoniZe interests which heretofore have