The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-15
CHANGING THE SUBSIDY BILL.
The Measure Amended to satisfy Re-
publican DIScontent.


The fate of the Ship Subsidy bill is still
in doabt. The bill. even as amended. does
not meet the views OF all the Republican
members. and number OF amendments
| will be offered at the next meeting. The
amendments prepared by Mr.. Grosvenor
| provide for an increase OF the tonnage
limit from / 500 tons to 1000 tons. Sub
! sidies are provided for ships of eleven
| knots at four-tenths of a cent; twelve
| knots. six -tenths of cent and thirteen
] knots, ut cighttenths of cent per gross
| ton. per hundred nautical miles sailed.
! In a statement aceompan, Ing the bill
| Mr. Grosvenor says; The reason for these
two amendments is that after considering
1 the evidence given at the hearings, It
| seems desirable to make provisions for
| speed compensation to the extent stated
| for vessels of eleven twelve and thirteen
knots speed and at the same time to in-
crease the size requirements of the ves-
sells which are TO receive speed compensa-
ton. Both these changes are made in the
! interest OF the vessels Of moderate speed
and large cargo capacity. which are spe-
cially relied upon to convey our products
across the Pacific toythe new markets in
the Orient"
The next class is raised from 1900 tens
and over to 1900 tons and over. with a
speed of seventeen knots to nineteen
knots. and the next class from S,000 tons
and over to 10000 tons and over. with a
speed OF twenty and twenty-one knots and
over
1t is prcsided that of the So .OOO. 900 an
nually available for subsidies not more
than %. 0o0 Coo shall be paid to vessels of
over twenty knots.
Sections are Inserted to prohibit ships
engaged in coasting trade from receiving
compensation under the act. One OF these
includes in the prohibited class: "A vessel
on a voyage carrying any passengers or
cargo destined for any port or any place
the Pacific Coast of the United States
from any port on the Atlantic or Gull
Coast of the United States to any port or
place on the rsthmus of Darien or any port
or place in Central America or Mexico, and
vessel on a voyage carrying any pas
sengers or cargo destined for any port or
place on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast OF the
United States from any port on the Pacific
Coast OF the United States to any port or
PLACE on the Isthmus OF Dsrieu or any
port or place in Central America or Mex
leo.
The date Of American ownership of for
eign vessels to participate in the subsidy
is changed to January l. 1900. from Janu-
airy l. 1888. The provision that so per cent
OF the stock OF corporations owning foreign
built vessels shall he held by Americans
prior to. january l. 1890. to allow their
ships TO receive subsidies. is changed TO
read a majority of the shares.
Three of the Republican members of the
committee declare they will not vote for
the bill in its present shape. and will offer
amendments radically changing the pro
visions Representative Minor OF Wiscon- |
sin one Of the trio, will propose reduc- |
fion of the perioI OF subsidy for each ship |
from twenty to ten years, the payments to |
be either graded or uniform for that term |
His objections to making the period twenty |
years are that il would be of too great at- |
vantage to existing lines, because vessels I
which were built later would receive pay
ments only for fractional portions OF the |
twenty years. This he contends would
work to the disadvantage OF the very OBJ
ject sought by the bill namely. the build
ing OF new vessels. Therefore he pro-
poses that the payments for each vessel
shall continue for ten years regardless of
the date OF starting.
Another vital objection by Mr.. Minor to
tue tweuty-year term is that the life of a |
vessel is approximately the same period |
aud in the latter part of the term, when |
The ship had naturally deteriorated in value
and safety. would receive the same bounty
as a new up-tO-date. or perhaps as the
amount OF bounty is limited by receiving !
Il would bar the new ships from bounty al
osether. By limiting the twenty-year pe-
-iod for any one ship to ten years. Mr..
Minor thinks the bill would accomplish the
lbject fCJ which it was intended the
;timulatiOu of American shining