The evening times., 1900-03-17
THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
Text of the New Antitrust Pro.
visions Given Cut.
The Act 10 Protect Trade and Com
mcrcc Against Unlawful Re-
strnints and NonopoIIes Declared
to Ne Applicable ia the Builders
and Owners Under Contract

House Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries which has to draft the bill in ac-
cordance with the action OF the committee
several days ago.
Several OF its provisions are new and
quite interesting especially uhe antitrust
provisions. The bill has beer prepared
with great care and is expected to be
adopted by the committee as
committee bill without alteration
further than perhaps slight chang
es in yerbiage. Representative Gros-
ysn0T. chairman OF the committee who
has been ill fer q week. is expected to be
out on Monday and the bin viii probably
be reported next week The antitrust
provisions are as follows.
Section "a. That the act OF July .. 1890.
entitled. an act 20 protect trade and com
merce against unlawful restraints and
monopoiies. is hereby specifically declared
TO be applicable, in addition 10 its other
applications 20 the builder owners. and
either or both OF them If any vessel en-
tering into any contract provided for by
this act and any such vessel is declags sd
90 be property in the course of trauspOrta-
tion within the intent Of section Of the
aforesaid act OF July >, 1880
section -. hat upon complaint made
20 the Secretary OF the Treasury Jhat Two
or more persons owning controlling. OF
operating vessels registered and entitled
60 compensation under this act which as
gregate in tonnage Oue-third Of the ,o.al
tonnage Of All vessels so registered aUl
entitled TO compensation have entered into
any contract combination. or conspiracy
whatever be the form thereof for the vur-
pose of controlling toe terminal facilities
FOR shipping in any pert or ports Of The
United States or for regulating or inrTea--
ing the rates or fares Tor freight or pas
sengCrs in trade or commerce among the
several States or with foreign nations or
for granting any special rebates or pTivi-
/ lcges TO shippers iu such commerce. or Tor
otherwise pdting any restraint upon trade
OF commerce among the several States ur
with foreign nations the Secretary snail
: Gv q time and place for hearing such
charges and give notice thereof 20 the ger
sons interested. and may require the pro-
ducti0u before him C. any contracts -r pa
pers which hs may deem material in the
! consideration o. such charges. r. after no
/ uce and hearing the Secretary Of the
/ Treasury shall sustain such charges there
upon the right OF the person or persons so
I found violating rbe provisions OF this see
/ tiou. and their assigns. 10 any Compeusa-
I tioE from the United States under this act
shall Immediately cease and determine
section o.. That amy contract. combi-
| nation. or conspiracy. il whatever form
made or entered into. between the persons
[ owning. controlling. OF operating two or
more shIpyaIls iE the United states.
/ which have constructed. are constructing.
/ or are capable of constructing. during any
one year vessels aEgrCgating I'm tonnage
/ oue-tEird OF the total tonnage Of the cew
/ vessels registered. be entitled 10 compen-
| satiCu under this act. for the purpose
I Of limiting or controlling the mum
/ ber tonnage, classes. kind. or iyUe
1 Of vessels to be constructed therein or for
I regulating lu any manner the terms or
| increasing the prices OF construction Of
! such vessels is hereby declared 90 be IIs-
/ gal. and any consolidation. absorption.
sale OF transfer. by TIE persons owning.
/ operating. or controlling TWO or more ship
/ yards o. the United States of the capacity
! aforesaid. of the privileges. franchises. OF
property of such shipyards FOR
I the purpose of limiting OF
/ euppressinR competition among such
[ shipyards and Of placing control Of The
/ terms and conditions Of such contracts for
/ constructing vessels therein under one
/ management is hereby declared 10 be IL
J legal. Upon written complaint, filed with
/ the Secretary Of the Treasury by any per-
| son having q contract or-appHcatiO- for a
/ contract for the construction of new yes
/ sells I'm the United States under the pro
/ visions Of this act. Of a violation Of the
provisions Of this section. the Secretary
/ c. the Treasury shall give notice 10 the
/ interested person or persons Of such COM
! plaint and fix time and place
/ for a hearing upon the charges made
: and may require the person or persons
| against whom the charges are
| made 10 produce before him any
| contracts or papers which he may deem tC
! be material In the decision OF such charges
! If the Secretary Of the Treasury shall find
that the provisions OF this section have
/ been violated he is authorized and directed
/ upon the application Of the person or per-
I sons having contracts or applications fol
contracts Tor the construction Of vessel,
as aforesaid within two years next there
! after. TO grant register as provided by
law as vessels Of the United States to for
| eign-builJ vessels 10 the aggregate tonnage
Of the amount Of tonnage OF the vessels con-
structed Dy the persons so found violating
| the provisions Of this section during III,
I year next preceding such order"
/ such foreign built vessels so register
ed shall be regarded as new vessels. con-
! stIUCted in accordance with The contract or
| application for contract Of such person o.
persons and shall be deemed TO be con-
structed in compliance with such contract
OF application therefor and with the terms
OF any bond provided FOR BY thi.
act. and shall be entitled to all the benefits
and privileges and be subject 10 all the
conditions and obligations applying by thi.
act to new vessels constructed in the Unit.
ed States except that such vessels shall no
enter he COastwise or lake trade Of th,
United States The word person" o.
persons" wherever used in this section
shall be deemed 10 include corporations
| associations and partnerships existin,
under or authorized by the laws Of eithe
the United States Of any State o
any Territory. or OF any foreign country
This section shall not be held to interfer,
with OF prevent the enforcement Of an,
other law Of the United States prohibit
ing contracts. combinations, or conspira
cies in restraint Of trade"
Ships launched prior to January I. 1900
shall receive subsidies for ten years anS
those launched after January l. 1900. shal
| receive full compensation for ten year.
| and . per cent decreasing subsidy FOL
the next ten years. Another new section
| provides:
That all steam vessels under contrac
pursuant 70 this act shall be visited an,
classified from time to time under the di
rection Of the Secretary Of the Navy will
a view 10 their possible use by the Unite,
States as auxiliary cruisers or transports
or for other purposes in time Of war
and the owner Of any such steam
vessel as shall be so cIassiie,
as an auxiliary cruiser shall bind himsel
to so strengthen the deck OF said vessel
consistently with her use for commercis
] purposes as 10 make said deck stronl
! enough 10 carry suitable guns. provided
that a vessel which shall have already bee
| constructed in accordance with the reprfIa