Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-26
THE SHIPPING SUBSIDY BILL
Democratic Position Stated by Representa-
tive Fitzgerald.
Desire the Inclusion of Amendments
Regarding Purchase of For =.
cign Vessels.

Representative Fitzgerald Of Massachu.
sets. the ranking democratic member Of
the House merchant and marine commit
tee, has made the following statement re-
garding the position of the democratic MI
nority on the shipping subsidy bill:
Il think that when the report submitted
by the democratic minority on the ship
ping subsidy bill is presented 1t will be
found that the members OF that minority
are in favor Of proper legislation 10 build
up the merchant marine OF the country.
The members OF the democratic minority
realize. as well as their republican breth-
rem. the chaotic condition of the American
merchant marine at the present time. and
they are just as anxious to remedy the
condition of affairs.
The present bill formed by the republic
can majority, white II is vastly superior
to the original measure presented In the
House and Senate, is yet far from salts
factory. The present shape of the meas
ure and the many good features that have
been added TO the bill since its first intro
ductfon can be charged up to the insistence
of the democratic members that various
portions should be amended. Two practi-
cal amendments, however, which have been
asked for by the democratic members, and
to the support of which at least three OF
the republican members volunteered
enough to make majority in the whole
committee-were defeated through the in
SlStenct OF the snip owners trust ana the
dlctation of Senator Hanna, who told the
republican, members that under no con-
sideration could either Of the amendments
be attached to the bill
Purchase of Foreign Vessels.
THE first WIS a provision to extend the
time during which Americans could pur-
chase foreign vessels for another year. This
policy is outlined and favored in the re-
port Of Secretary Gage. In advocating this
| amendment before the committee l stated
that 1 saw no reason why the privilege OF
buying foreign ships which involved at the
same time the building OF equal amount
of tonnage in American ship yards, should
be restricted to the few persons and cor
porations who, being the inside, and
knowing that this bill probably would be-
come law, have purchased foreign ves-
sells and thereby secured a monopoly of
this right. II 1t is wise provision to al
low the purchase of foreign vessels because
of the added work that would accrue to
American ship yards II seems to me that
l. would prove still more advantageous to
allow more foreign vessels to be purchased
for a year at least on account OF the tre-
mendous increase that IT would call for in
building American ships in American ship
yards.
THE second provision, allowing Ameri-
| cans TO purchase foreign ships wherever
they pleased, to place them under the
American flag and operate them without
any subsidy, was likewise defeated. 1T is
British and Norwegian capital is invested
every year in the purchase of all kinds OF
vessels, which operate between the differ
ent ports in the world. picking up cargoes
where they can. and IL lis admitted on
every side that this method of doing busi-
ness furnishes vast opportunities OF profit
making to the parties interested The Brit
ish shipping today, the increase of which
has been 50 favorably commented on by
the promoters OF this bill, is largely be-
| tween foreign ports. and why Americans.
when it does not interfere with the pay
ment of subsidies, as would be the case IL
this amendment was added to the bill.
should be deprived of the opportunity OF
investing capital in these ships, as well as
increasing the opportunities of flying the
American flag, employ seamen and build
| up the American merchant marine, is mora
| that | can understand
There are various other features in the
| bill that are obnoxious, which will be
| pointed out when the democratic minority
| members make their report.