The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-01-25
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
women.

The chip subsidy bill is now befor'
the national senate. Senator Frye ex
presses the utmost confidence that il
viii pass, Notwithstanding the earnes
efforts for its defeat being made by
the lobby of foreign shipping interests
Senator Elkins. OF West Virginia, /:
a cordial supporter Of the measure and
in a recent interview gave the following
unanswerable defense of the bill:
II am very strongly in favor of the
pending bill, for both state and national
reasons. My natural prediction for
my own bill has been willingly set
aside. and, not only that, but l am sat
isfied that the bill now before the sem
ate contains the best thoughts and
ideas OF those who are most competent
TO Judge as to the subject in all its de-
tails and best qualified to frame a meas
ure relating to it. fully realize also
the great Importance OF legislation on
this subject without delay. and there
fore this is no time for squabbling over
details or personal rivalries among the
friends OF the grand object in view.
The broad principle Of protection is
here involved to its fullest extent, and
10 rally to its support will be not only
the duty of the Republicans, but also
a sincere pleasure In the present case,
because this measure contains so many
features that are especially inspiring
10 Americans. and holds out so many
prospects OF advantage TO the whole
American public.
so far as am concerned. l am
heartily in favor of the bin and shall
work for it and fight for 1t. My own
state is particularly interested in it. b.
cause the European markets are clam
oring for our coal and OIL and in re-
spending to these dema- ds we are great !
iy hampered and retarded by a lack
Of adequate transportation facilities. |
know personally Of two large com
panies in the state which have been |
greatly restricted in their operations !
lust because Of this fact. and they will |
each build line Of cargo carrying
vessels if the bill is passed, and thus
afford means for supplying the foreign
markets with the coal and oil products
Of West Virginia. without question; in
fact, the state may be said to be unani-
nous for the bill
These are purely business reasons,
of course, but then there are also the
sentiments of patriotism and national
pride to be considered. It is repugnant
to Americans to reflect that more than
nine -tenths Of our export freights are
carried by foreign ships. and that in
time Of war as we'll as in time of peace |
We should have to depend on foreigners |
for the bulk Of our traTs sportation facl !
tiles. II Is humillating to national pride |
to read the history Of the decline of |
cur once pow werful merchant marine. /
and TO see its present condition as com |
pared with its past and with the pres
ent needs Of the country This lecad-
ence Of the merchant marine is rot |
only exasperating to the patriot. it is
also source Of practical danger TO the
community. and grossly uneconomical
from a business point Of view.
why should we continue to nay cut
year after year many millions # dol
lars to foreigners for services in car
rying our goods across the ocean. when
all this money might be kept at home
among our own people? All that IS
necessary for this is to have the Amer
lean ships. and in order to have the
ships n Is necessary 10 PASS this bill |
The resultant impetus to American in
dustrial activity will. am confident,
be wonderful and unexampled
"The argument for the bill from a
naval standpoint has been frequently
presented, and It is a very strong one
Any one can see what an advantage
a strong merchant marine would be to