The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-16
THE ship SUBSIDY BILL
More Arguments in Favor of Its
Passage by Congress.

tiOnai Gotten Growers AssOcia-
tion, Makes Statement Before
the Committee on Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries of the House.
Consideration Of the Ship Subsidy bill
was resumed today by the House Commit
! tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Former Senator Edmunds presented rea-
sons why the bill should be favorably re-
ported, and W. F. Thurber OF New York
also spoke in favor Of it,
Mr. Thurber said he viewed the legisla-
tion proposed not from the standpoint or d
| shipbuilder or a shipowner He considered
a ship the missionary Of trade, each ship
working for its country just as railroads
work for their terminals 1t was as un-
reasonable said Mr. Thurber. that the
United States should entrust the distribu-
tion Of its products 10 foreign ships as it
would be for one department store TO en-
trust the delivery Of its goods to the
wagons Of competitors
John c. Hanley, President Of the National
Cotton Growers Association and Executive
Agent Of Allied Agri isulturaI Associations.
presented his views 10 the committee on
, the bill. He said IL part:
We desire to impress you with the i'm
/ portance Of the industry Of agriculture,
whose interests our association represent.
The majority OF the citizens Of this nation
are engaged in the industry Of agriculture.
directly or indirectly, and represent about
| IS 600 900 people The wealth invested in
/ agricultural property is more than all 9TH
er interests combined. representing about
| $50. 600. coo 600. We produce from The soil
annually about $4.00O.00O.000 Of wealth.
We are interested in the extension o. ex-
port trade, because cur products repre-
sent : per cent Of the entire export or
S6J6. geo In the year 1898
The direction which We desire 70 ex-
tend our trade Is in the Pacific and Asiatic
countries, because this Is the trade which
We must get % absorb our vastly in
creasiug crops as the value OF our export
trade sets the price on the entire crops
raised by the demand thus created. We
must secure or revise our treaties with
4 static countries that will permit US 10
extend our export trade With them. This
We must insist upon as the first step 20
secure an extension Of our export trade.
We desire that American ships be built
/ p
/ agricultural products. We are in favor OF
suhsidizing American ships for the freight
that is actually carried TO foreign markets
irrespective Of speed or capacity.
We are willing that an appropriation
OF $1,000 coo be set aside annually Tor this
purpose, and Jay rate Of 4 cents per ton
per 100 miles for ali freight actually car
red on outward trip. We are opposed 70
paying a DO. nty on imports as it neutral
10 a
a subsidy e american ships for speed and
capacity. as iaSt feature would defeat the
very object for which this bounty or sub
sidy was granted. as we would give 70 the
very vessels that engage in the passenger
traflc 90 take citizens out OF the country
10 spend their money abroad without TAX
ing along large and bulky freight cargoes, !
as no ocean greyhound could AFFORD TO
carry freight al the high rate Of twenty
one knots per hour. as IL would cost more
than the subsidy would give.
we are in favor OF extending this AID
to tramp ships who Go the great bulk OF
ocean carrying and who are the .egIla-
tors OF carrying charges at sea We are
opposed 10 the Frye-Payue bill because IL
will give AZ once to those big ocean liners
on the Atlantic the bulk OF the s. 600 600
contemplated In the bill because Of the
speed and capacity clause. without giving
any guarantee whatever that one ron OF
extra export trade would be added 10 that
We have already on the Atlantic. Il looks
20 Us as though this s. 00O 600 would be
absorbed by that per cent Of our com
raerce for the trade already ours o. the
Atlantic
I'VE desire 70 encourage small ships as
well as large ones TO be builJ. and 90 not
want 10 give a monopoly OF such building
10 large building plants, but 70 increase
the small ship building plants and permit
the competition thus established 20 regu-
late the iron and steel trust in their sui
cidal policy OF raising the price Of ship
building material 10 a point that drives
them out Of the country to be built. thus
losing il 10 labor as we'll as the industrial
trade OF this nation.
we are intensely interested and in
earnest that some legislation be enacted
that will be in the interest Of agriculture.
We desire that the industry of agriculture
shall be the primary one. and in so far Gs
this is obtained. we are willing to permit
other interests enjoy a measure Of this
aid even though they have long enjoyed
the protection of tariffs and bounties in
the past
This most important point in the in
tetrest Of agriculture in connection with
this bill deserves your earnest and most
thoughtful consideration as any agency
that will reduce freights on the Atlantic or
European countries Aus IN ESTABLISHING the
market price on agricultural products in
the markets of the world. and sets the
price By which all competitive countries
against the United States can sell their
products which reduction in price Civ Is
to the consumer. and is taken out of the
price OF products OF the producer without
giving him eny relief whatever as il
leaves it optional with the consumer to list
the order with any one OF his competitors
seeking to sell in European markets.
''On account of our peculiar position in
the Oriental trade we are favOrably stu
ated as controller of the condition of the
Asiatic market and We are in a position
to set the price in AsiaJic countries that
will become in a. measure the masters OF
the situation as being in a position to meet
all competition and secure the bulk of the
trade at prices that would he both re-
numerative and profitable"
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.