The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-05
THE ship SUBSIDY BILL
Occupies Nearly the Entire Attention
Of the Senate Speaking Against the
Bill.
SENATE.


Washington. February 1.-The senate
met at IL O'Clock today and with the
exception of an hour and a half 1t the
beginning OF the session. devoted the
entire day TO the discussion OF the
ship subsidy bin. Senators Turner and
Mallory we've the speakers in opposi-
ton.
Senator Foraker. OF Ohio, had read
a cablegram from Governor Allen, OF
Porto Rico. saying the legislature had
adjourned after a successful session.
This led to some discussion of the con-
ditions in Porto Rico.
Senator Turner. of Washington, tool
h floor in opposition to the shipping
bill. He made an analysis Of Senator
Fryeis speech. undertaking to show
numerous errors in il. He criticised es-
pecially a statement made by Senator
Frye concerning speed premiums for
the equalizing bounties paid by foreign
countries. He asserted that the expen-
ditures would be IS, 9O6, 900, whereas the
senator from Maine had put it at So
344,00
Senator Frye contended for the COR
r%ectness of his position, but said that
there might be an error in calculation.
senator Turner also charged a dis
crepancy Of $500, 900 in Senator Fryee
figures concerning the annual cost of
carrying the ocean mails
Senator Aldrich mad another effort
to secure action upon h amendments
to the ship subsidy bill offered by
himself. but Senator Mallory, of Flori-
da. announced that he desired to speak
upon the amendment and he declined
to yield for that action.
Senator Mallory hen proceeded with
his speech, which was an arraignment
of the measure in general. He attack
ed the bill on constitutional grounds.
Even ex-senator Edmunds had admit
that bounties are in c~ontravention IF
the constitution, he said.
Senator Mallory quoted Senator Han
ma as saying that the twenty-one knot
and twenty-five knot ships would not
be increased under this bill. From this
admission Senator Mallory argued that
the bill could DO nothing toward pro-
viding auxiliary cruisers, for no slow
vessel could be utilized as a cruiser. He
commended hat the ship building indus
try Of the country is now in a more
promising condition than at any time
since the beginning of the civil war,
| n that it needs no extraneous aid to
| make it a success In the early future.
In conclusion SENATOR Mallory con-
tended hat the subsidy bill would not
be the boon to the American shipping
which it had been promised it should
be. while he believed it would prove
the Inauguration Of a new era in Ameri-
can affairs. in the matter of giving
bounties to Individual enterprises.
Senator Hanna presented and the
senate agreed to h report Of the con-
ference committee making provisions
for the inauguration ceremonies on
March 4th.
The senate adjourned at 6:1O O'Clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The ous spent the day until :
o'clock in the consideration of the post
office appropriation bill. The struggle
over the questions of restoring the ap-
preparation for pneumatic tube service
and of the reduction of railway mai.
pay were precipitated by amendments
offered, but no action was taken.
At 8 O'Clock public business was sus.
pended to permit members to pay trib.
ute to the memory of the late Senator
Davis, of Minnesota.