The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-03-03

With the Orient That he expects thai
1, win develop rapidly and to larg,
proportions is shown by the fact thai
he has ordered built several larg,
steamships to carry freight to and
from Puget sound and the Orient ii
connection with his railway,
That Mr Hm is as much interested
in the growth OF the American mer.
chant marine as he is in the growth
OF business for his railway. may bt
suspected from the fact of placing his
orders FOR steamships in British yards
Under these circumstances the fact
that Mr.. Hin does or does not approve
Of the shipping subsidy bill may per-
haps have less weight than it would
under different circumstances.
However the objections to the orig
inal Payne Hanna subsidy bill. which
it was asserted were unfair to the Pa
oiic have been removed. a new bill
has been framed by members OF the
house committee on commerce, among
whom is Representative Jones OF
Washington, which it is believed will
meet the objections to the original bill.
and prove acceptable to the Pacific
coast interests.
Perhaps the most popular feature o
the new bill is that which prohibits
the benefits OF the b.ll being enjoyed
by what are called tank steamers"
owned or chartered by the Standard
oil Company and used solely for the
transportation OF oils. They are not
engaged in general freight business.
bnt for the transportation Of the pro
ducts of the corporations which own
the vessels, and are clearly not entitled
to any subsidy.
Another important amendment is
introduced for the purpose OF stimu-
lating exports, and that is that the
subsidy is conditioned upon the steam
er CARRYING a certain amount Of
freight from this country. This ex-
pcrsation, in order to receive the sub
sidy. necessitates the finding of a mar
bet and viii increase the demand for
American products.
Important emendations are made re-
garding the speed OF vessels. in order
to encourage the builiing of freight
carriers rather than ocean greyhounds
and passenger ships. Another provis-
ion limiting the subsidy to ten years
for vessels ALREADY built will encour-
age the building of new vessels. An
other wise provision, TO prevent the
running to secure the subsidy of ves-
sells that should be in the boneyard, is
that every ship enjoying the subsidy
shall maintain an Al classification.
New vessels. will receive compensation 4
for twenty years.
If President Hill can show that more
than 80 per cent of his new steamships
IS owned by American capital, he may
bring them under American register
when the whole amount is owned by
American citizens, so long as such
ownership remains, provided the ships
are under construction when the law
becomes effective.
There can be no objection TO this bill
by the producers or shippers OF the
Pacific coast. The new bill has been
drawn for the purpose Of eliminating
he features in the original bill which
were Objectionable to them. as op-
7osed to their interests. 1t is now fair
to all sections, and so far as benefit
ms producers by encouraging exports.
s preferable to the original bill. as it
s in other directions.
The interests of all are for the build
ns up of the American merchant ma
inc, which will increase our exports,
'educe freights to farmers and other
PRODUCERS, give employment to thous-
lnds Of American mechanics and sail
rs, and gave to this country many
Millions annually which are now paid
o foreign shipowners.
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