The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-09
MR. FRYRS SHIP
SUBSIDY BILL.
Measure introduced in the
Senate Today.
AMERICAN REGISTRY NOT REQUIRED
No Distinction Made Between Fast
and Slow Going Steamers-EE-
feet on the Foreign Mail Ser
vice-Otaer Provisions,

Senator Frye today introduced his new
ship Subsidy bill N form 1t differs radf-
caIly from the Ship Subsidy bill o. the
past two sessions. 1t Is much shor,er and
simpler, and is divided into four titles.
and fifteen sectlcns-in all about 300
words.
The new bill does not provide American
registry fer foreign ships owned by
Americans. 1t makes 10 distinction be
tween fast and slow steamers. except as
the former may obtain mail contracts IN
der the act Of 1891. 1t contains no spe-
eifc requirement for export cargo. On the
ground that it would be a violation or at
tempted evasion of treaties. with the
United States, and further on the ground
that it is unnecessary because the subsidy
rate IS so low that ample export cargo
must be carried in order TO escape loss
Effect on Foreign EuiI Service
The first title Ocean Mail Steamship
is devoted to amendments to the ocean
mail act of 1891. Under the pill the
Postmaster General is required to con-
slider the national defence and the mari
time interests of the United States, as
well as postal interests, in providing for
the transportation OF American ocean
mails The purpose Of this amendment is
to free the United States from depend
ence upon British, German, and French
GuxiIiary cruisers for its ocean mail ser
vice, and TO substitute purely American
system.
The present limit of ocean mail con-
tracts, ten years, is increased to fifteen
years to correspond with the limit Of
the recent German and French contracts.
Classification OF Steamers.
The present obsolete and unscientffc
classification of mail steamers provides
only four classes knot steamers Of
S.090 tons. 15-knot steamers of 1000 tons.
14-knot steamers of 2.5O0 tons. and T.
knot wooden steam rs of 1900 tons The
new bill provides seven distinct classes,
and is based On the progress of ship
building and mail requirement abroad
during the past ten years
Corresponding with the new cIassifca-
tfon in vessels are changes in the rates
of mail pay. The present rates-S4. g. 81.
and 67 certs-were fixed by the House of
Representatives in 1891 The bill passed
by the Senate that year fixed the rates
at $6, So, $3.50, and 81 Experience has
shown that the present rates are too low
for the faster mail steamers and too high
for the slower.
The Frye bill restores the old Senate
rate of Sc for twenty-knot steamers, in
ereasing from 5000 to 10000 tons, the
minimum size, and the rate of 50 for six
teen-knot steamers, provided the size is
increased from 5000 tons, the present
minimum. to 5000 tons, the modern Brit
ish and German mail size.
Pay Reduced for Smaller Steamers.
The bill leaves at the present rates, or
reduces mail pay for slower and smaller
steamers. t drops altogether the obso- |
lete wooden steamer OF only twelve knots /
as no longer eligible for ocean mail ser
vice. The rates fixed by the bill are max |
imum rates. Mail contracts are open TO /
competition and will be awarded at rates /
as much below the maximum as will Sc
cure an American mail service.
The proposed maximum mail rates per |
gross ton per hundred nautical miles are:
Over 10000 toD--20 knots, II cents; 10 |
knots, 2.5 cents. Over 5000 tons-1S |
knots, 90 cents; Il knots, 2.1 cents; Is /
knots, 10 cents; Is knots, Ii cents. Over /
2, GOO tons-14 knots, Is cents.
Rates fo= mail steamers to the West
indies, Central America, and Mexico can