New-York tribune., 1900-01-24
SHIPPING BILL ADVOCATED
THE MEASURE THOUGHT TO STAND A
GOOD CHANCE OF PASSAGE AT
THIS SESSION.

[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIRUNEl
Washington, Jan 2S.-The advocates of free ships
making some ingenious arguments before the
committees which have under consideration the
bill to promote the commerce and increase the for
eign trade of the United States. By no means the
least ingenious OF these submitted to the House
Committee Merchant Marine and Fisheries to-
day by Osborn Howes of Boston. He did not ap-
pear out and out free ship man. but advo-
Gated an amendment to the pending bill. which
would allow American citizens who should buy for
eign built vessels TO enter them for American reg
istry. but permit them to receive the subsidy
premiums to be offered or permit them to en-
gage in the coastwise trade. His speech was
earnest, but his plan. even as alternative pro-
vision which the ground which he urged
IT, did appear strike members of the majority
of the committee favorably. In fact Chairman
Grosvenor expressed the opinion that II adopted it
would defeat the chief purposes of the pending
measure, OF which the extension of the
shipbuildng industry in the United States. OF
course Mr.. Howes obliged to admit that foreign
built vessels exclusively employed in the foreign
trade other than that of the United States, and
owned and controlled by American capital, now
have the privilege of flying the American flag by
virtue of consular certificate although debarred
from American registry and the privileges OF Amer
ican built vessels in the between domestic
and foreign ports Mr. Howes protested in effect
that he did desire admit the whole free ship
animal into the domestic stable. but only to open
the window so that he could insert his head and
feed at the American trough.
Mr.. Hopkins. of Washington appeared in behalf
of American owners who building steamships
or low speed but of large tonnage and freight
carrying capacity, for trade between Atlantic ports
and the west coast Of South America and Hawaii.
These are eleven krot vessels and under the bill
as reported. they would receive only the same
premium sailing vessels although they would
make long voyage about twice as quick as
sailing vessels. They regarded as desirable in
the trade between Atlantic and Pacific ports and
Aslatic ports, and 1t IS understood that twenty
OF them are now building or under contract the
Pacific Coast for that trade, and also for the
trade between Pacific ports of the United States and
European ports 1t is strongly desired by all these
interests to have the bill modified provide
for American built steam vessels of large tonnage
and lower speed than fourteen knots hour. which
Is the minimum rate provided in the bill differ
entiated from sailing vessels. 1t is probable that
amendment to cover this point will be found in the
bill when it is reported to the House
The bill introduced by Mr.. Frye in the Senate and
that offered by Mr.. Payne in the House of Repre-
sentatives identical in their and pro-
Visions and are in all respects the same except
as TO the date when they shall take effect. the
bills favorably reported in the LVth Congress fror
the Senate Committee Commerce and the House
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
spectively. after exhaustive hearing by both
mittees.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILLS
In view of the fact that the bills will soon be
Drought INTO Dotn DranCheS with faVOraD!e recon-
mendatons. and with strong prospect Of the en-
actment of the before the expiration Of the
present session. the following summary their
provisions will be Of interest:
Section l directs the Secretary OF the Treasury
from and after July l. 1900 TO enter into contracts
with the owners (beng citizens OF the United
States of vessels registered in the United States
and engaged In the foreign trade which shall be
entered in the United States from any foreign
States the trade between which ana the Atlantic
iulf and Pacific ports Of the United states shall
happen not to be confined to vessels of the United
states. Ior the payment TO said owners tor
period OF twenty years compensation. as follows:
ross to Tor ecb on, ~ b,,,EeS E g a Sttr,I r3iies E nd
ward bound. and cent gross ton for each addi-
uonal one hundred nautical miles sailed
Steam vessels suitable for carrying the United
States mails and as auxIliaries in time of
other need shall be entitled to additional compen-
sation for each one hundred nautical miles sailed.
based on gross tonnage and speed as follows:
Vessels over fifteen hundred tons-fourteen knots
ana ana less than @ 10 knots cent a ton; fifteen knots
knots or more. l2-l0O cents ton. Vessels over
three thousand tons-seventeen knots and less than
teen knots more, $40 cents a ton Vessels over
Enois or 0r S cents toh twentyone
No vessel shall be entitled TO compensation under
tions A foreign built vessel admitted tn S,IICa ia
lean registry pursuant to the proviso5s of 70 th
shal be entitled to compensation at only one-haIf
sation paid in respect of any one fiscal year shall
not exceed 50 0O 900. any excess In the amount
earned Will be deducted pro from the total
compensation due each contractor during said fiscal
year. "
At least one-fourth of each vessels crew shall be
American citizens or persons who have declared
their intention TO become such by taking out their
hrst papers. but an exception may be made in case
OF an emergency to make up crew. A documented
vessel or the United States cat least third of
whose crew ts composed of American citiZens( on
gagged In deep sea fishing for three months during
twelve consecutive months shall receive bountS
OF SZ gross ton for such period. citizen OF the
United states serving as a member of a necessary
ana proper crew OF such vessel shall receive =
employed In the voyages Of said vessel '
GRANTING OF REGISTRY
The Secretary OF the Treasury is authorized on
the appncation OF the owners OF snCh
vessel TO grant registers to the following described
Vessels; flrst 70 such foreign built Steamships
as were, on January !, 1899. engaged in an estab1
hshed freight or passenger business or both Trop,
a. port OF the United States and have receit;ad ~
shaH be ht to receive the Glass Al and were aleo
actuaIly owned by and representing American cant
tal or foreign corporation association of whfcb
Dy American citizens, upon such Amerirap 0u,na-
or owners obtaining a full and compIete tronsfarr
OF ana utIe TO such steamships from the forsiep
corporation or association owning the same Sc
3nd 10 such foreign built steamships as shall have
Deen under construction or before Ian,,ar.
1873, ana comply with the conditions nrescrtbaS
the nrst paragraph of the section. Droyida5
the American owners before the hrst resS;
tlle vessel described in either paragraph eiya 6oi
or $40 a ton to build within ten wears T., tbe d-'.
gate gross tonnage at least equal 10 the sgsssse
gross tonnage of such foreign bIilt vessa1 800
the new vessels shall be subject 10 the SAM p uut