Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-03-01
LET SENATOR FRYE EXPLAIN.
Tie Two Million Dollar Lim1
Amendment.

The Two Million Dollar Limit
Amendment.
The much Wanted amendment to
the senate ship subsidy bill purporting
to limit speed compensation" (see bill
as reported by Mr.. Frye to the senate,
page 6, lines 1929 is a grotesque sham.
1t reads:
ssOf which nine millions of dollars not more
than two millions of dollars SHALL in respect of
any one fiscal year, be paid as compensation to
the vessels described in paragraphs eighth and
ninth of clause of this section"
The paragraphs thus affected are
those which provide for subsidy to
ships of speed as follows:
'sEighth.-Twenty knots and less than q knots.
''Ninth.-Twenty-one knots or over
From the report lately made for 1900
by the United States commissioner Of
navigation we find that of United
States steamers of 20 knots speed or
over there are just four in existence
the New York, the Paris, the st. Louis
and the st. Paul-all of them owned by
the International Navigation company
0he Standard Oil and Pennsylvania
railroad concern, of which Mr.. Griscom
is presidenO.
By the same report the commissioner
gave a list of foreign steamers that
might come in under the subsidy bill.
Of these not single one was above
IS knots speed; hence none of them
comes under the eighth and ninth para
graphs of clause b in question.
Moreover, in his report as to ships
under construction abroad for Ameri-
can capital, Commissioner Chamber
lain shows not single one of these
as over II knots speed; hence none of
these comes within paragraphs eighth
and ninth of clause b in question.
Again, the commissioner of naviga-
ton reports as to the vessels intended
for foreign trade under construction
or contract in United States ship
yards. Of this shipping not single
vessel was of over Is knots speed, and
therefore none of it would come under
paragraphs eighth and ninth of clause
b in question.
Finally, on behalf of the promoters
of this bill, Mr.. Clyde testified Jan. 10,
1900 (see House Hearings of that date,
page 80:
eve know from inquiries have made as to
what ships will be built if this bill is passed that
all of the vessels contemplated will be vessels of
moderate speed-none of them exceeding II
knots
too slow to come under paragraphs
eighth and ninth in clause b.
To sum up, the New York, the Paris,
the st. Paul and the ST. Louis, all
| ton company, are the only vessels
either in existence or building or con-
tracted for or probably to be contract
| ed for, should this measure become q
| law, that are or will come under para
graphs eighth and ninth of clause b.
The true reading of the amendment
| reported by Senator Frye therefore is
''Of Which nine millions of dollars not more
than tac0 millions OF dollars (S2, 000 000 shall,
| in respect of any one fiscal gear, be paid as
| compensation to the International Navigation
| company In respect of its four best steamers,
! the Ne,o York, the Paris, the st. Paul and the
| st. LOUIS
Since the highest estimate by critics
| of the amount which these four ships
| could get under the bill as it orig
inally stood was less than $1,000.
900, Senator Frye ought to explain
| why the sum named was so literally
calculated and how the amendment
tends to limit the stupendous jot
which, in behalf of his great passen.
| ger steamers, Mr.. Griscom, through
Senator Frye, is pushing under the
| pretense that he is working in aid OF
| American exports.