The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-05

WASHINGTON, .. G.. lau. 1.-The
Shipping subsidy bin win be taken up
BY the senate and house Committees
within fsw days Il Il probable that
one ofithe Notable tights Of the session
win be made Rgainst s, although
friends OF TIE measure have smoothed
its way already as far Is possible. The
bin vas introduced u the senate by
Iir. Frye and In the house BY represen-
tatiye Payne, former chairman Of the
committee on merchant marine and
fisheries, very early in the session.
senator Frye. chairman Of the com.
mittee on COMMERCE. said yesterday
that be hoped 70 begin hearings on the
bill very soon. BE could not say how
extensive those hearings would be, but
opportunity would be given for q thor
oueh understanding Of the measure.
"The bill, he said. win undoubtedly
be reported feyorably from the COM
mlttee."
"po you look for It's passage BY the
senate at this sesslon?" the senator
was asked
..That Is probable" he answered
The house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries has not been or
ranIsed vet. but General Grosvenor
win soon ix q day for the meetings.
which win rot CONFLICT with the meet
tnes Of the committees on rules and
ways and meaps, he being a member
also Of both Of these. The subsidy bill
q the only one Of Importance before the
committee and, win receive early con-
slderation.
support From Interior States
The wen laid plans to enlist the sup
port OF representatives from the inter-
for states for the bill have been APP
parent. The President recommended
the enactment Of some law to encour-
age American shipping in his annual
mes age, bnt this has been followed by
n careful selection Of the members Of
the committee on merchant marine and
fisheries. General Grosvenos was
transferred to the chalrmanship, which
Representative Payne vacated to be-
come head Of ways and means. BE
was known to be In hearty accord with
the administration, and a friend Of the
subsidy measure. The states along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts also desire
such LEGISLATION, and while they are
Wen Represented on the committee,
other members have been chosen from
districts clear across the northern tier
Of states. Representative Minor, Of
WISCONSIN, who was a member Of the
committee some years ago, was placed
back there, and Representative Stew
ems, OF Minnesota. is now member.
Michigan was given a representation In
Mr.. Joseph W. Fordney, and Ohio now
has two members. The Pennsylvania
member Is Representative Young, and
the washington State member is Rep
resentatlye Jones. Representative Hop
kinS, the second Republican Of the CONF
Inittee. comes from Illinois. Massaehu-
sets has two members. Republican
and a Democrat, and Maryland one Re
publican member. California, LOUISE
ana, New York and New Jersey are also
represented on the committee.
A brief study Of the committee shows
that all these states have, in one way
or another, great transportation inter
ests.. The transcontinental lines to the
north were ardent advocates of the bill
at hearings given last winter. Most of
these lines are anxious to promote their
steamship routes, which cross both the
Atlantic and Pacific, touching at the
coast terminals of the railroads.
Argument for Cheap Transportation.
The argument of cheap Transports
tlon for grain and other agricultural
products Is being used by the advocates
Of the measure upon members of all
the large agricultural states in the
interior Of the Union. It is claimed
that, with the establishment Of great
lines Of American steamships, freight
rates win be lower and markets will
be better in Europe.
The struggle over the bill from now
on will be an interesting feature Of the
session. for there is large and infuen-
tiai body OF senator's and members who
win resist Its passage stoutly. The
most active fight win be I'm the house
where the Democrats are likely to OPP
pose the bill as party. and where the
Republicans may be unwilling to act as
"a unit Az last resort, an effort may
be made to bind Republicans by a
caucus, but there are great many
who would be reluctant to vote Tor the
measure. even under the snap Of the
party whip.
The bills before the senate and house
are Identical in language and provls-
Ions, but they are somewhat different
from the bills that were introduced by
Senator Hanna and Representative
Payne at the last session Of Congress.
Senator Frye's committee made several
changea. particularly as relating to the
registry Of foreign-bullt ships. It is
probable that the bill viii be reported