Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-05
THREE CENTS PER COPY.

States had permitted its commercial
rivals to seize the pathways OF COM
merce and hold them practically to the
exclusion of this country.
Last year of all the enormous ex-
ports and Imports of the United States,
only per cent was carried in Ameri-
can bottoms. Last year, Mr.. Frye said,
the United States paid to foreign ma
TONS, principally Great Britain and
Germany, 100000 a day for doing car
rying trade work for this country.
FIERCE COMMERCIAL. WAR.
THE world" Mr.. Frye declared, ''has
entered upon fierce commercial war,
and 1t is to be a long and strenuous
conflict. Each nation is seeking the
advantage of its rivals in this conflict
and Is pressing forward to gain that
advantage. Most of the foreign ma
lions are looking for commercial adj
vantage in the east. Russia, France,
Great Britain. Italy and Germany are
paying an aggregate of $1,000 900 per
year in subsidies for the carrying ships
OF the eastern trade"
WHAT 1T COSTS US.
He pointed out that under present
conditions II costs the United States
from 40 to 50 per cent more principally
in wages and food. to operate its ships
than it costs Great Britain, and about
50 per cent more than 1t costs Norway.
and yet the United States is forced to
compete. under such n handicap. with
the encouraged and protected ships of
foreign countries. lie maintained that
export bounties We're impracticable,
and that in the matter OF discriminate
ing duties the United States would en-
counter no less than thirty-one differ
ent treaties. These would have to be
abrogated If discriminating duties are
enforced The abrogation or these
treaties would be an offence to every
nation involved. His figures Indicated
that ships of Great Britain had an adj
vantage of from $3.50 to So per gross
ton over American ships in the ex-
pense of construction and operation
Mr.. Frye explained how the subsidy
| payment was regulated.
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES
Mr. Clay, of Georgia, asked If 1t were
not true that n 21-knot ship would not
draw under the bill 100000 a year.
MIR. Frye replied that the amount
Drawn by such vessel would be about
So, in excess of her coal consump-
ton and handling.
But persisted Mr.. Clay. lis not the
gross amount of the subsidy of the 81
knot ship 100000 a year under this
| bill?"
Mr.. Frye admitted that IL was.
Il understand" said Mr.. Clay, chat
the 10-knot and 12-knot ships, which
carry the agricultural products of the
country, do not receive more than one
third the subsidy OF the fast passenger
vessels which carry no agricultural
products"
And | was showing" responded Mr..
Frye, that the low speed vessels were
the ones which received the actual ben
ehts from the subsidy, and not the fast
passenger ships"
The senate, Mt 1856 p. M. held brief
executive session, after which it ad-
journed.
THE HOUSE.
The session of the House to-day was
| prieI. The real work will begin to-
morrow. when the House will take up
the consideration of the army reorgani-
"atioh plti which MIR. Hull. chairman Of
inc committee on military affairs re-
ported to-day. He explained the ur-
gent necessity for immediate action.
The objection 10 the swearing in Of
MI Connor. of Iowa. the successor OF
senator Dol!iVer. which was raised by
MI Bailey. OF Texas. yesterday. was
| removed to-day by the presentation of
new set OF credentials from Gov
ernor Shaw, and he took the oath.
Three bills were passed under the
! CAL OF committees, the most important
being enc TO provide for the detail of
not To exceed 100 retired army officers
and zoo non commissioned officers as
mil,ary instructors in the public
! schools of such cities as adopt n svs-
tenn of military instruction. TIE
others were ITO prevent the failure OF
| military justice" and TO egalizc an
issue OF S250,0O0 of bonds by Pima
| county, Arizona.
The resignation of Mr.. Devries. of
| Calliornia. who is now a member OF
the board OF general appraisers,-w
laid before the House
The speaker announced the nppoint-
ment of Mr. Davis. of Florida. as n
member of the committee on merchant
marine ana fisheries.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
Mr.. Hull. OF Iowa. chairman of the
military affairs committee. reported
the army reorganization bill. The VOL
| untecrs under the present law he soid
must be mustered out July |. and every
| one must feel the imperative need OF
| providing for new army. He asked
unanimous consent that the bin be
taken up tomorrow. Mr.. Sulzer OBJ
| jected
| THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
n resolution providing for memorial
exercises in The hall of representatives
on the occasion of the celebration OF
the centennial anniversary of the
rounding of the government at Wash
iEgton, December 10. was adopted. AT
1875 p. IN. the house adjourned.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
Washington. Dec 1.-The COMMITTEES
on appropriations of the house to-day
completed the legislative. executive
and judicial appropriation bill. The
committee expects to be able to OBJ
tain consideration for the bin to-mor-
row The bin carries SEA 49G.5OS. being
| s90S,0Ol less than the estimates and
S259.i96 more than is carried by the
| present law. The whole number of SAL
aries provided for in the bill rs 756 less
| than the number estimated for and an