The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-10-26

measure, for the reasons above outlined,
we had TO take the only alternative
left, and decided to study the merits
of the Frye-Payne bill, and see in what
direction 1t was against the farmers
interest, and make an attempt to anne nd
the bill If possible.
With this end in view appears al at
Washington last January before CON
gressional committees and opposed
the bill as a representative of tss
farmers associations for the follow
ing reasons:
Farmers Objections to First Subsidy
Bill.
L. Agriculture is the greatest in-
dustry OF the nation, and is repre-
sented through our national agricul-
tural associations.
2. About 3S,OO0,O0O people in the
United States engaged in agriculture.
y. The wealth OF agricultural prop
erty Is greater than many interests
combined representing about 100000
600 100000.
4. We produce from the soil annually
about $4,000, 900 100000.
b. We are Interested in the export
Trade and its extension because we
furnish about 20 per cent OF the en-
tire export trade of the nation, anu
amounting to $S5S, ZOO, 100000. in agri-
cultural products in 1898.
The direction which We desire
TO extend our export trade is the Pa
cific or Asiatic countries. Because this
is the trade which we must get to
absorb our vasly increasing crops, us
the value OF our export trade set the
price on the entire crop raised, by the
demand thus created.
z. We must secure or revise our
treaties with Asiatc countries that
will permit us to extend our trade with
them.
8. We desire that American ships
be built that will extend our export
trade agricultural products).
.. We favor substituting American
ships for the freight that is actually
carried to forign markets irrespective
or speed and capacity.
10. We are willing that an appro-
priation of $4,000, 100000. be set aside
annually for twenty years for this
purpose, and pay a rate of cents
per ton per 100 miles for all freight
actually carried on outward trip.
IL. We are opposed to paying
bounty or subsidy on imports on re-
turn trip, as it neutralizes the tariff
~. We are in favor of extending
this aid to tramp ships who 90 the
great bulk of ocean carrying, and who
are the regulators of freight rates at
sea.
13. We are opposed to the Frye
Payne bill because it will give at once
to the large ocean. liners on the AT
lantc the bulk Of the $4,000, 100000. be-
cause of the speed and capacity
clause, without giving any guarantee
that one pound OF extra export trade
would be added to what we havcal-
ready on the Atlantic.
IA. We favor dividing the subsidy
equally between the Atlantic and Pa
cific ocean trade.
10. We favor encouraging the es-
tablishment of small ship build ing
plants and the building of small ships,
and slow ships, as well as fast
ships.
16. We are intensely interested
and in earnest that some Legislation
be enacted that will benefit agri-
culture. We desire that the industry
of agriculture shall be the primary
one, and in SO far as this is obtained
We are willing that other interests
shall enjoy measure of this aid, even
though they have enjoyed the protec-
ton of tariffs and bountieS in the
past.
These were the objections we de-
clared against the bill, and thought
at the time that they were fatal to
ever compromising with the shipping
interests who were radically opposed
TO these amendments.
However, with the aid of several
Northwestern members on the senate
and house committees who had charge
of this bill we succeeded in securing the
following amendments OF value to tn
farmers interests.
Amendments Secured.
L. Amending the bill compelling
ship to carry at least one-half of its
registered capacity in cargo.
2. Providing $4,000, 100000 for the
Pacific trade. We want this increased
to $4,6OO,OOO,OO.
3. 1t gives slow or Tramp ships bet
ter compensation for speed.
4. ltreduced the compensation for re-
turn or inward trip 20 per cent.
We want to abolish all compensation
for return trip.
b. Reduced compensation from 20
years Iull compensation To 10 years.
and reduction for the remaining 10
years.
q. Makes all ships class A l..
z. 1t prohibits Standard Oil and coal
carrying and oil tanks ships from any
compensation.
8. 1t applies Sherman antitrust law
to all vessels or lines, depriving them
OF any subsidy during the balance Of
time, If they combine TO raise freight
rates on land or sea.
8. 1t compels all vessels who come
In under this bill to enter into ia
agreement with heavy bond to dupl-
cate or build another ship of equal
size or tonnage as the one admitted to
American registry. This will be sure
TO increase the building of new Amer.
lean ships before any subsidy will be
paid to any vessel. This is what the
farmer wants-Amercan ships.
10. 1t gives to foreign built ships
one-half of the compensation given
TO American built ships, and compals
them to build an equal amount ships
or tonnage in America before it gets
any compensation. This also will give
US additional American built ships.
This is what the farmer wants
American ships.
Additional Amendments