The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-12
DEBATE WITHOUT RESULT
Senators Make No Progress on the
Ship Subsidy Bill.
A Great Amount of Time Spent in
Calling the Roll for Quorum-Nr.
Gallery Makes Long Argument
Against the bounty scheme - Mr..
Frye in IL Temper Over the Delay.

The Ship Subsidy bill received five
hours attention from the Senate yes
terdly without any result being attained.
Mr. Caffery occupied nearly the entire
afternoon with 4 strong argument against
the measure and the Democrats saw TO it
that the Republicans were on hand to
hear the address. Five roll calls were
had on quorums and Mr.. Frye angrily
announced during the afternoon that If
the obstructive tactics were continued,
there would be no River and Harbor bill.
This was laughed at by Mr.. Jones of Ar
kansas as it is well known that the Re-
pubIicans are as deeply interested in the
River and Harbor bill as are the Demo-
Gratis.
When the Naval Appropriation bill had
been disposed of yesterday morning Mr..
Hanna moved that the Senate take up ths
Ship Subsidy bill Mr.. Jones called for
the yeas and nays and the result. which
was on strict party lines. was 3S yeas
to /" nays, as follows:
Neas-Aldricil, Allison. Bevcridge, Burrows,
Garter, Chandler. Clark, Cullom, Deboe. billing
ham, Dolliyer. Elkins Fairbanks Foraker Fos-
ter FRYE. Hale, Hanna, Ilansbrough. Hawlcy,
! kins Platt of Connecticut Pritchard Quarles,
I shoup. Wetmore. Nolcott--S3.
Nays-Bacon. Bate, Berry, Gallery, Clay,
Cockrcll Culberson. Harris Jones of Arkansas,
Pctticrew. Rswlins, Teller, Sest-lS.
Mr.. Caffery then made long argument
against the bill.
He claimed that the bill was in the in
terest of private navy and a favored
few and that the American seaman would
be given no incentive to ship on an Amer-
can vessel.
Mr.. Hanna denied this and said that un-
der this bill the American seaman would
get double the wages paid BY any other
nation.
Il suggest the absence Of a quorum"
said Mr. Jones of Arkansas There are
just ten Republican Senators present
How many Democrats are there? >" ask
ed MIR. Hanna.
Thirteen" said Mr.. Tlllman.
That's an unlucky number" chuckled
Mr. Hanna.
Yes" said Mr. Tiilman. rising to his
feet. You'll find that it is very unlucky
for you
The roll was called and fifty-three Sen
ators responded
Mr.. Jones then made suggestion to the
Senate. He said that for an hour Mr.
Gallery had been speaking and that about
seven Republicans had heard him.
There is something behind this indif-
ference" said he, and / see no hope that
this bill can be passed by both the House
and Senate at this session. / think the
majority of the Republicans believe this
and hence this Indifference to the measure.
With this in view, / ask that the Senate
be discharged from further consideration
of the Subsidy bill and that we take up
the Antitrust bill. which has been re-
ported from the Judiciary Committee"
Mr.. Chandler said that under the Iule,
the motion must go over until today.
Mr.. Jones accepted this explanation.
and gave notice that he would call up
the Antitrust bill then. thus placing
the Republicans on record
Continuing Mr. Gallery said that il this
bill became a law II would sail down into
history and result in placing the Demo-
cratic banners on the dome of the Capt.
toll
when" asked MIR. Aldrich.
In about ten years. replied Mr.. Caf
fiery.
Mr.. Caffery took up the bill by sections
and pointed out the scheme in each He
referred to the measure as "a sham and
humbug"
Mr. Bacon then called for q quorum. The
roll was called and forty-five Senators re-
sponded after long wait for quorum
and hunt by the eant-at-Arms.
Mr. Gallery spoke for half hour longer
when Mr Daniel suggested the absence
Of a quorum. The roll was called and
forty-nine Senator's responded.
Mr. Frye then occupied the centre aisle
and ga notice that If the Democrats
persisted in calling for quorrms they
would get no River and Harbor bill at
this session.
In that case will see that the Senate
takes a recess until that bill is reported"
said Mr.. Jones of Arkansas.
MIR Frye then left the chamber.
Nr Caffery proceeding. charged that
the bill was absolutely a party measure,
in that the Republicans were all whipped
into line TO vote for it.
At 4.30 O'Clock there was another call
of the roll Mr.. Bacon saying he only
saw six Republican Senators in the cham
her. and that one Of them was just about
to leave. The roll was responded to by
forty y-seyen Senators. two over a quorum,
and Mr. Caffery went on with his speech
against the Subsidy bill.
He dwelt upon the capacity Of the
American shipbuilders to build ships as
cheaply as ships can be built in foreign
countries, and he declared that in view
OF the fact, the demand for subsidy was
utterly groundless. He stood, he said,
where the Commiss oner of Navigation.
Mr. Chamberlain. stood in 1884 in the
days OF that gentleman's guileless inno-
cence-in favor of the absolute repeal of
all the laws prohibiting American regis
try OF foreign ships bought or built by
Americans.
He declared his conviction that "this
| bald. bold grab OF the peoples money to
fill the pockets of shipbuildeTs and ship
owners is robbery under the forms OF law
and absolutely unconstitutional and void"
Without finishing his speech, Mr.. Caf-
ferry stopped for the day and the bill went
over without action.
| a resolution was offerei by Mr.. Spooner
| and was agreed to directing the Secretary
of the Treasury TO report the number ami
tonnage of American vessels engaged in
foreign commerce; the number now en-
gagged in the coastwise trade that could
enter the foreign trade under the pend
ing bill; and the subsidy which each ves-
sci would receive also the number OF for
eign built vessels which would be auJ hor-
ized to come under American registry,
the amount of subsidy which each OF them
would receive and the number Of foreign
ships contracted TO be built, which would
| obtain American registry. The bill to
| reduce war revenue, with the House dis
agreement to the Senate substitute
| laid before the Senate and the conference
| asked for by the House wes agreed to.
| Senator'S Aldrich. Allison and Jones OF
| ferees.
At $40, the Senate went into executive
| session and afterward adjourned.
THE SENATE RoUTIkE.
Mr.. TIIln,nn's Attack ON the Naval
Appropriation Bill.
In the Senate yesterday the Naval APP