West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-01-24
SHIP SUBSIDYLOB
ITS CHARACTER AND ITS METHODS
EXPOSED.

Most Persistent Lobby since Puctnc
Mail scandais-Bul Drawn by Its
Beoenciaries - The International
Navigation Company, Pennsylvsnia
Railroad and standard OIL Compa-
ny Interested In the Deal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1I-The Hanna
Frye Payne ship subsidy bill has been
and still Is the most persistently and
continuously lobbied bill that has been
before congress in many years. Indeed
II is doubtful whether such lobby rs
that back of this bill has been known
OF In Washington since the scandals
unfolded by the Pacific Mail steal
shocked the country.
IL is not In any sense secret that
the pending ship subsidy bill was
drawn by it's chief benenciaries. Under
the Kindness OF Senators Frye and
Hanna their benchcent services were
called into requisition for the announc-
ed purpose Of framing shipping bill
which was to build up the American
merchant marine. They were called
into tho senatorial councils because OF
their interest In shipping and shipbulld-
ing. and II Is not natural to suppose
that In taking care OF the subject In
general they were going to neglect
their own pockets. They helped 10
draw the bill. they made II. us the
farmers would say. hog tight and
mule high" In protection to themselves.
and they have been on hand nt Wash
ington early and often, IL not always.
engaged In n consistent. persistent and
continuous effort TO bring to legislative
fruItion the results OF their advisory
labors.
Selections from this committee who
drafted the bill taken In connection
with their well known presence In
Washington during most OF the legisla-
tive days In which the bill has been
under consideration leave no doubt OF
their purposes and OF their entire ear
nestness TO use all means within reach
to see these purposes accomplished.
Prominent among them are: General
Clement a. Griscom, president OF the
International Navigation company and
chairman OF this committee: ex-Sena-
tor George #. Edmunds OF Vermont,
the most capable and the highest priced
lobbyist In the United States. who is
likewise leading counsel OF the Inter
national Navigation company; Charles
III. Cramp, the great Philadelphia ship
builder: G. =. Huntington. whose pow
er with congress Is nt subject for ro-
nance and whose interests since his
Il "A. ~. A.. Ifnt
T.. Clyde. president and Thomas Clyde.
secretary, OF the Clyde line: Aaron Van
derbilt. secretary Of the American
Shipping league; III. r. Booth. presi-
dent OF the New York and Cuba Mail
Steamship company; Samuel S. Sewall
and Edwin w. Hyde, representing the
shipbuilding interests OF Bath. Me-;
Alexander X. Smith. former editor OF
Seaboard and later secretary OF the
New York commerce commission, and
Theodore c. Search. president OF the
National Association of Manufacturers.
"Ali. all honorable men," OF course,
but none OF them, so far as the records
show, ever accused Of neglecting his
own interests.
In opening the senate hearings Sena-
tor Frye, chairman OF the senate COM
merce committee. naively said: II was
aware that TO succeed In enacting any
bill into law there must be an agree
ment OF sentiment among the friends
OF such measure; that II would be
hopeless to go into congress with these
people entirely divided as TO what the
remedy should be. l then concluded
that ] would take the responsibility
myself OF naming a commlttee--neces-
sarily OF men who owned ships or
built them or ran them or were ia
miliar with the conditions OF the mer-
chant marine and its necessities" He
then named the committee. from which
the names above taken are selected.
After enlightenIng the uninitiated con-
corning these gentlemen. Senator Frye
added, II Will say right here that the
committee has been indefatIgable In
this business and has had innumerable
meetings I'm New York. Philadelphia
and Washington" The humor of this
statement will be appreciated In pro-
portion to the knowledge which the
reader hereof has Of the situation.
When the time came to exploit the
Dli OciOIt tne cobBTehSiOnAl committees
OF both house and senate, these gentle
men and others came TO Washington
and took charge OF things. They filled
the committee rooms and controlled
the hearings. Ex-senator Edmunds,
who seemed TO be considered smarter
than anybody else. acted as grand
sachem. The committee sat at his feet
and learned" When some doubling
Thomas OF the committee asked a
question. the chairman OF the commit
iee-Grosvenor on the house side and
Frye on the senate side-either made
him feel like 80 cents by the crushing
profundlty Of his reply or turned him
over to Edmunds, generally the lat
'er. After the advocates OF the bill
had used up all the time OF all the
hearings telling what a great thing II
was. they were told by the respective
chalrmen that they could put I'm writ
ing. to be printed as n part OF the hear
Ing, anything that they had forgotten
or omitted or bad not had time TO say.
This open privilege was added 10 by
special requests for further detailed
Information wherever Il was consider
ed possible that such information could
Ho ~ crrrf~. xuttl. tf.f. 80 T..