Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-03-01
SUBSIDY Y. BILL DEAD.


SUBSIDY BILL D.EAD
: The DEBATE in The SENATE. 4
Subsidy Bill No Longer, Has Right OF
way-No Strong Speeches In Favor
OF the Bill-Even the Party Lash
r.. Failed to Garry the Measure Against
the Arguments OF the oppositioa.
: -. Special Washington. Correspondence
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. Is, 1901.-
The deathknell Of the ship subsidy
bill for the present session was sound
ed on Feb. 16 when the senate BY a
vote of As to 2 passed motion to take
up the oleomargarine bill in it's stead:
Until then the ship subsidy bill held
the enviable position Of the unfinished
business of the senate. This gave. it
priority over everything except appro-
priation bills and conference reports. -.
Since early in December the ship sub
sidy bill has had the right of way.
Senator Frye had declared with dra-
matte fervor that he would not let it
he displaced even by appropriation bills
unless the senate ran over him, by
force. For this, great, favored meas
ure, covering in the estimate of Its pro-
moters the fate Of til. nation on sea
and on land, to be knocked out by q
measly little bill defining the differ
ence between good butter and doctored
lard was, indeed, q fate for Hanna and
Frye and their friends to weep over.
This means that the bilF cannot be
resurrected at this session except for
debate at odd times, when the chances
are that it will be appropriately lam
basted" by its opponents. One of the
funniest things about the discussion Of
the bill is that nearly all of the speech
es made upon it have been against it..
Senator Frye made an argument in it's
favor which did not, in either private
or public opinion, help his reputation
as statesman or an orator. Senator
Hanna made an effort to startle the
country in it's defense, but his effort, in
the judgment Of all competent critics,
fell far short Of demonstration and
was, indeed, considered lame and halt
and weak. Senator. Depew made a
brilliant after dinner speech upon the
general subject, but barely touched at
all upon the specific features of the
bill. Senator Perkins Of California
made very good speech, which ia
vored it in general terms, but most Of
which was devoted to criticism of it's
objectionable features, especially the
provision allowing what he considered
too liberal admission of foreign ships
to American registry.
Among those who have delivered
carefully prepared speeches against
it are Senators Clay of Georgia, Berry
Of Arkansas, Teller of Colorado, Vest
Of Missouri, Pettus of Alabama, Mon
ey Of Mississippi, Bacon Of Georgia,
Jones Of Arkansas, Allen Of Nebraska,
Rawlins Of Utah, Morgan of Alabama
and Cahery Of Louisiana. These are
IL speeches against the bill to four in
favor of it, and one Of the four in IA
vor Of it under much protest: :..-..
Every argument of the speakers in
favor Of the bill was answered: by
those against it. Besides, those oppos-
ing it so riddled it with arguments and
criticisms, with facts and figures, with
premises and conclusions. that it re-
mains with those who have heard or
read the debates but a battered pre-
tense and an unworthy sham. Its op-
ponents have challenged its indorsers
to answer their arguments, but never
challenge has been accepted.
Those favoring the bill have attempt
ed to force it through under the party
lash: They have tried their best to cut
off debate upon it. They prepared it
in the privacy Of star chamber and
brought it forth with an insolent de-
mand for it's prompt passage. They
dogmatically asserted that it would
build up the merchant marine and rev.
olutionize the foreign trade, and then
they began to abuse everybody who in
sisted upon fair debate upon it, call
ing them flibusters and obstructionists
and mossbacks and other things that
are not nice. The opponents have re-
Piled by proving that the session did
not afford time enough to properly
point out the Objectionable features Of
the bill. They have proved that it
was violative of the principles of the
constitution; that it was drafted in the
interest CT bakers dozen of special
beneiciaries who superintended the
Drafting; that it was totally unfair
even to all Of the shipping interests in
that it specially favored a few; that
under the present growing condition Of
the shipping business no necessity for
it exists; that it has been planned, pre-
pared and lobbied in a way calculated
to utterly disgust an unbiased public;
that. in short. it is the boldest, baldest,
most shameless and inexcusable steal
that has shown its head in congress for
many years.
In the face of arguments bringing
out facts such as these and challenges
repeated e,1es':!- hour Of the debate the
advocates of the bill have retained
rhinoceros exterior and have simply de-
maIued a vote. That they have not
obtained vote is small wonder.
Tho ri<rl1t ko