New-York tribune., 1900-02-08
SHIPPING BILL AMENDED.
CHANGES MADE TO MEET OBJECTIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE ]


Washington Feb. TN order 20 obviate objec-
tions which were considered reasonable TO the bill
to promote the commerce and Increase the foreign
trade OF the United States the Committee on Com
merce in the Senate and the Committee Mer-
chant Marine In the House have prepared and viii
report number Of amendments to the original bill
One Of the amendments IS 70 meet certain obtec-
tions raised by behalf OF the agricultural
interests and OF certain manufacturers as well
OF the shipowners engaged in the foreign export
trade by means OF vessels OF large tonnage and
great freight carrying capacity but OF lower speed
than fourteen knots hour. There about
ten such vessels building in American ship
yards. and If the bill becomes a law the number
VIII probably be trebled within two three years
These vessels have a speed OF from eleven
thirteen knots. and OF freight carrying
pacity Of from $500 10 $500 tons each Some OF
them are for the New-York and South American
trade and the rest for the trade between the Pa
cine Coast and South America and the Orient
The amendment referred to provides that
steamship, unless her tonnage shall exceed two
thousand gross tons shall be entitled to compensa-
tion for speed Vessels OF eleven knots and less
than twelve knots speed TO receive four-tenths
OF one cent ton speed compensation: vessels OF
twelve knots and less than thirteen knots. six
tenths Of one cent. and less than fourteen knots
eight-tenths OF ton vessels over four
thousand gross tons are TO receive only the speed
compensation allowed in the original bill for those
over three thousand tons and vessels In order TO
receive the highest rates Of speed compensation
must be Of more than ten thousand gross tons in
stead Of over eight thousand
There was a fear also. and the objection
urged with considerable force, that the ocean
greyhound" class Of vessels of large tonnage and
great speed would receive an undue proportion OF
IHe toIal speed compensation. and amendment
has been inserted in the original bill which limits
their totaI compensation in any fiscal year 10
s2O0OO, or 2 20 per cent Of the largest sum that
viii be appropriated in year. This viii secure
10 the slower and principal freight carrying yes
seis an adequate share Of the whole appropriation
and the two amendments together will disarm
much OF the criticism that has been expressed in
behalf Of the producers and by some manufactur-
ers, with whom quick TRANSFORMATION IS not so
nlueh OF an OBJECT as are regularity OF eommunica
ton and reasonable rates Of freight
FARMERS INTEREST IN THE RT1r
So far as the American farmers are concerned
the last two objects mentioned are or nrf-ns IN,
portance. and unless the Western Republican R-7-
resentatives in Congress are greatly mistaken n
large majority Of their agricultural constituents
favor the enort TO secure National legislation 70
build UP the American merchant marine nor fo-
the benefit Of any special class but for the benefit
of all the people who are interested in the exDor+
and import trade of the United States themselves
included 1t is realized by the friends OF the bill that
concerted effort is being made by its opponents TO
array the agricultural interests as well as the
labor organizations against it. but they assert
tnat this effort Is not receiving much encourage
ment
committees are designed TO exclude from the ben
ehts OF the act all vessels which do not have TO
meet the competition Of foreign vessels and 10
make clear the fact that vessels carrying carsoes
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts with a
railway transshIpmeut at the sthnus are TO be
treated as in domestic trade, and not entitled 70
compensation under the act
Another amendment provides IN substance that
foreign vessel. the greater part OF which was
owned BY Americans January / 1900 may be
natonalized, but equal amount of tonnage must
De built by or for the owner in an American ship
yard The foreign built vessels so brought under
the American flag shall be entitled TO only one
half the amount OF compensation TO which an
American built vessel of the same class and ton
mage is entitled and shall not be entitled 10 that
until equal amount Of tonnage shall have been
built in the United States by respective owners
thereof The other amendments are to guard
more carefully various other provisions OF the
measure and bring all its parts into harmony with
one another.
In order to show what amount OF compensation
each American built steamship viii be entitled to
under the act II is necessary to add 70 II cents q
gross ton for each 100 nautical miles sailed up 70
15O0 miles. both outward and inward and one cent
for each additional 100 nautical miles the following
speed compensations for vessels of different ton
mage: