The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-01-23
Ship Subsidy Bill Still Pend.
ing.

Washington, Jan l; The ship
subsidy bill will again become uDfio
ished business in the senate on Jau
81, just six weeks before the end Of
the session In these elk weeks the
senate must pass l3 big appropria
tioo bills. For the subsidy bill to
become q law, action by the house
will be necessary and it is doubtful
whether this can be obtained without
radical amendments Indeed, careful
investigation has led to the assertion
that the bill, as at present drawn,
would be defeated in both the senate
and the house on square test vote
This assertion as to the house, how
ever, may be taken with grain of
salt, as the Republicans 80 we'll un
derstand the methods of forcing their
men to vote for Legislation to which
they are really opposed
The latest plan to force the bill to
vote is the threat to hold up the
rivor aud barbor bill until efter the
subsidy bill has teen passed. While
in talkative mood today one Of the
gentlemen most prominently identi-
fed with the bill, unguardedly stated
that it was the purpose Of his friends
TO use the river and harbor bill as a
club Yes be said. eve are
hearing that the Democrats of the
south as we'll SO few of our friends
in the north, are opposed to the
shipping bill, but wait nntil the river
and barbor bill reaches the senate,
and you will then see them change
eheir attitude When they know
chat unless q subsidy bill is passed
Ghere will be no river and harbor bill
their opposition to the former will
not be 80 st:ong' As matter Of
fact, howiver, any delay in the river
and barbor bill will hurt the friends
Of the subsidy bilI quite as much as
its enemies
A more effective plan is acknowl
edged to be that of tacking the
subsidy to the river and harbor bill
Action of this class is admitted to be
| altogether vicious a0d is absolutely
forbidden by the rules of the house
The senate, however. can do what it
pleases and if it i. should adopt the
plan mentioned, the house would
have to consider it's action The
chances, however, are that the secret
Republican enemies of the project in
the senate would block such an
attempt while claiming to favor the
subsidy bill
Meanwhile. desperate eforte ere
beicg made by Senator Hanna to ere.
ate sentiment throughout the coun
try that will be favorable to the bill
In this city press bureau has been
organized for the purpose Of supply
ing newspaper correspondents with
information bearing on its progress.
Another has been mailing by the ton
literature favoriBg it. and third has
been directly in correspondence with
leading members of business, fnan
ciai and commercial exchanges urg-
ing action iu its support
Where the money for this work
comes from is not stated Such
bureaus cost enormously, and there
is much curiosity to know what
disinterested citizens are financing
it. Senator Hanna, it will be remem
bered, declared recently that the
only organized body in reference to
the 5ill was that of the foreign steam
ship companies, which be alleged had
raised large SUN to defeat it,
Meantime Republican newspapers
which have not yet been overawed
continue to publish disagreeeble crit
icisms of some of the provisions Of
the subsidy scheme The New York
Press. for instance, quotes from a
letter written by Senator Frye to the
New York Tribune, in which the
senator states with refreshing frank
ness that the pending subsidy bill
"wili enable the American company
to pay a dividend of 33 per cent !"
The Press observes that Ito figure Up
a 81 per cent dividend on steamship
company's capital stock and ask
congress to appropriate. without in
vestigation, the money to pay it, is a
form of party beggary