The age-herald., 1900-02-18
LITTLE HOPE FOR
 THE SUBSIDY BILL Measure Only Has One Majority
 in the Committee. GR0SVENOR WILL AMEND One Point of Objection is That Under the Bill Now Proposed Subsi-
 dies Can be Drawn for
 Twenty Years
GR0SVENOR WILL AMEND

Washington, February 17.-(Special)-A prominent member of the senate commt- tee on commerce that is considering the ship subsidy bill, said to-day that his com- mittee would consider that measure a full committee this week. but he doubted if If it would be able to report it to the sente without another meeting The bill has up to this time been In the hands of a sub-com- mtttee. The senator also said that he had no doubt but that the bill would be passed by the senate at this session regardless of rumors to the contrary. As to its prospects in he house he knew nothing. Another sem a,tor, also a member of the commerce com mdttee, said he thought the bill was prob ably all right in the senate, but he thought it could not pass the house this year.tSill another senator, who has been especially interested fn the proposition to encourage American shipping through subsidies, ex- pressed it as his opinion that the bill was In bad shape, as far as legislation at this session was concerned. The difficulty seems to be, aside from differences of opinion among members of the house as to the pro- visions os the bill, that there is some fear that such a measure will not help the re-
 
 campaign, and tt is the habit of politicians to be wary and often very cautious when an election is approaching. Their courage oozes remarkably as the day for an elec- tion approaches. The chief fear they have is that the appropriation of nine millions for twenty years will be regarded as extrava- gant, no matter how desirable such legisla- tion or any Legislation for the encourage ment of our shipping might theoretically seem to be.
 Meeting With Difficulties
 The bill is meeting with serious difficult ties in the house committee on merchant marine and fisheries. Four republican mem- bers of that committee are entirely opposite to it in its present form. That leaves seven republicans anxious to report 1t. Two of the six democrats on the committee think the bill should be reported. That makes mine to eight in favor of a favorable report.
 In a house so close as the present one, With the opposition to the measure coming from republicans in the central west, it is rather dangerous to report it with only one majority in the committee. It is expected that Chairman Grosvenor of the committee will within a few days propose some amend- ments ito the bill. Just what they will be cannot now be ascertained.
 One point of objection is that under the 'D1ll as now uraWn Cne SuDSluleS are 10 cOH- tinue for twenty years This would permit subsidies to be drawn for one ship for twenty years. In other words the governs ment would be gradually purchasing the vessels, and as it grew older there would be no reduction in the instalments to be paid for it. and at the end of the twenty years the government would still not own the boat.
 It is proposed. and it would seem with very good reason, to provide that no vessel shall draw a subsidy for more than ten years. TGlts would to an extent do. away with the objection noted, and tend to en- courage tte building of new vessels to re- place the old ones, when the time for their drawing subsidies had about ended. Another objection to the house bill-and | the senate committee seems anxious to obviate it as far its bin is concerned@s | that it does not give enough encourage l ment to the ten,- eleven and twelve knot l vessels, which are elf particular value in | carrying freight. The idea seems to be that | too much attention is paid to speed and too | Mttle to freight capacity.
 It Is presumed that Grosvenors amend- 1 ments will seek ito overcome these obiec- | tions That even with such amendments, | the bill can~pass both houses at this session seems altogether improbable. Next session with the pres dential election out of the way | it should fare better.