The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-15
THE ship SUBSIDY BILL
4 Leading Feature of the Coming
Session of Congress.
Will Oppose the Payne
Measure. Which Was Introduced In
the House of Representatives ON
December 4 of Inst Ycnr-ObIcc-
tfOnable Even i'm Amended Form.

| Members of Congress now in Washington
and with whom reporter for The Times
| talked last night are agreed that one of the
! features of the coming SESSION of Congress.
and one which will probably provoke the
longest and bitterest discussion is the Dill
ito promote the commerce and increase
/ the foreign trade of the United States. and
to provide auxiliary cruisers, transports.
and seamen for Government use when
| needed"
| This is the Ship Subsidy bill which was
| introduced in the House by Mr.. Payne on
December !, 1899. The bill was at that
| time referred to the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries. Exhaustive
, hearings were had and the bill. after pass
ing through various Congressional pro-
cesses. was on March 81. 1900, reported
with amendments, committed to the Com
| mittee of the Whole House on the State OF
the Union, and ordered to be printed. The
Democratic minority of the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries YVES op-
posed to the bill, but it was amended so as
to be acceptable to some of them but sew
eral of the minority, notably Messrs. Chan
Ter, Small. and Ransdell could not be in
duced to agree to it even in amended form
1t Is safe surmise, said several Demo-
Gratis last night, that the minority of the
House will oppose with practically its full
strength the whole proposition as set forth
in the BILL and they consider that 1t will
be difficult 10 secure that unity of action
among the Republican members which will
De required to pass the measure.
The Democrats regard the subject mat
ter OF the bill, or the objects proposed
thereby to be accomplished. as political.
They concede that any measure or legisla-
tion or commercial movement among our
people which tends to increase our exports
and build up our depleted merchant marine
is worthy of the most serious and pains
taking consideration on the part of Con-
gress.
II is said that neither Of the Two great
political parties seems TO have aligned
Itself in definite terms upon this
question of compensation or subsidies to
the American merchant marine.
i; is pointed out that during the lo1g
period Of Democratic rule, the American
merchant marine was in prosperous con-
dition. and 1t is also pointed TO as sig
nificant fact that during the two Demo-
cratic administrations since 1880 the per-
centaSe OF American exports carried in
American ships increased slightly with
out aid, while the percentage has steadily
declined during every Republican Admin
istraiion. the decline being especially
marked during the Administration of
President Mckinley.
The relative cost OF American and for
eign built ships will enter into the dis-
cussion very largely. The majority OF the
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fish
cries reported:
at appears 10 be beyond any reasonable
or intelligent dispute that on the whole
the cost of building ships in the United
States has been and is at least 90 10 -
per cent greater than building in the great
shipbuildng establishments of Great
Britain in which a very large proportion
of merchant vessels are constructed and
also that the cost of operating American
vessels has been and is at least 30 FER
cent greater and probably 40 per cent
greater than that of operating similar
vessels under foreign flags, and this is
especially true when we take into con-
sideration what we have not before men
tioned-,hat the increased cost of tho YES
sells is. of course. followed by an m
creased Interest account. an Increased
percentage of deterioration and an IN
creased cost of insurance.
The minority members of the committee
contention that ships NAV be built as
chesnlv bera as elsewhere Thev have said.
..Jt may ha said mon tt,s nues,ion ina,
urder ey;stinp law III, articles which an
for into tho conetrprtion of sb;pe are nd
mitted free of duiv So that orr shipbuild-
o. ar. tre,. ., Inv, e., ,rv nariat Ill rac-
80, a. -, orai,s. M .,a,,e,,
-, 80, - =, ,n,,,anaa,; ~, ,he ,n,;or;,y DO,
him. ,,aaas .,a ,aid ~ ,maricsn ,rnr,,
NO. tb,,r rroatin,, an inenua1itv in the
a-'.. =, a,,rs.r,,.,ian h,,, On IN otbor banj
:. ''s,', - III ,i.,o. -
va. ;s oo,,,tsrbaI"ncea nv ne ,reator Of.
sc;ency ~ o,,r u,orl.,nen and Tho iunroved
,,anhi,Y..r,, az ,bair ai-noraJ AZ to tho coct
- o,,ar.tJ,o .n,a,;c.n chine and referring
-. -. ,,,n ,,aaas or '1aon,nn !, &c nroi,a hIv
tr,,. tho, ,base wages are higher as IN snch
so.,non nc arc Skinned in orr norris for The
foreiyn trade and to engage In the coast
VI. a,5 i,lo t,ada Rut nn,iar section %
., ,ba Or, nj yuna DC 1854 American yes-
eli, ~. ,ar,ni,ted +, shin sa.mon in for
eirn no,ts for the round "trip. which enables
them tn avoid the payment OF the Ameri-
can ra,o of wages
Various remedies during the last decade
have been brought forward 10 The end that
the American merchant marine might be
restored. Many haze contended that q
bounty upon exports of American products
carried in American ships and a discrimi-
mating duty or rebate upon imports trans
ported in American ships would afford an
ample remedy. in tina; it would tend to en-
courage our exports and tend to give a
monopoly OF our carrying trade to our own
ships.
Another plan which has been proposed Is
the repeal OF 'hat provision OF our haNlsa-
sns eued for , wears by many that our e,,