The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-12-13
new SUBSIDY BILL
DIFFERS RADICALLY FROM THE
BILLS OF THE LAST TWo
SESSIONS.
IS MUCH SHORTER AND SIMPLEX
DOES O PROVIDE FOR AMERICAN
REGISTRY OF FOREIGN
VESSELS.
TO PROMOTE SH!PBUIlDINu
IS MICH SHORTER AND SIMPLER
PROM0TE SHlPBUIlDlNG
| OBSOLETE WOODEN STEAMSHIPS
ARE DROPPED OUT CON-
pLETLLY.

Washington, Dec. ll.-oendloI ciSS
Yesterday introduced the new ship
subsidy bill. 1t differs radically IN
form from the ship subsidy bill OF the
past two sessions. 1t is much shorter
and simpler. and is divided into our
titles. It does not provide American
registry for foreign ships owned py
Americans. 1t makes no distinction
between fast and slow steamships, ex-
cept as the former may obtain mail
contracts under the act of 1891. 1t con-
tains no specific requirement for ex-
port cargo, on the ground that 1t would
be a violation or attempted evasion OF
our treaties, and further Is unnecessary
because the subsidy rate IS SO low that
ample cargo must be carried In order
to escape loss.
The first title, ocean Mail Steam
ships" is devoted to amendments TO
the ocean mail act Of 1891. Under the
bill the postmaster general Is required
to consider the national defense and
The Maritime interests
Of the United States as well as postal
interests in providing for the transpor-
tation Of American ocean mails. The
purpose OF this is to free the United
States from dependence upon the Brit
fish, German and French auxiliary
cruisers for it's ocean mail service and
to substitute a Iurely American syS-
tenn. The bill drops the obsolete wood
en- steamships Of only twelve knots as
no longer eligible for ocean mail ser
vice. The rates fixed by the bill are
maximum rates. Mail contracts are
open to competition and will be award
ed at rates as much below the maximum
as will secure an American mail SER
vice.
The second title, General Subsidy"
contains the general subsidy for all
vessels, steam or sail. which are not
under mail contracts. This general sub
sidy is uniform, l cent per gross ton
per 100 nautical miles for not exceeding
Sixteen Entries In One Year.
This amount is sufficient, according
to the latest figures, to equalize the diff
ference In American seamen's wages
and In the cost of building ocean
steamships in the United States and
Great Britain referred to in President
Roosevelt's message and Secretary
Cages report. To promote the building
of new ocean vessels an additional al
lowance of one-fourth Of a cent per
gross ton is made for Ave years. Any
vessel to receive this general subsidy
must carry mails If required; must
train in steamship or engineering one
American youth for each 1000 tons.
The owner must egree to hold the ves-
sci at the service of the government il
required for defense, the pay for such
service to be appraised by a repre-
sentative of the government. These
requirements are taken substantially
from the ocean mail act of 1891. Any
vessel
To Receive Subsidy
must be Glass Al and at least one
fourth of the crew must be Americans.
A vessel going to a foreign port less
than 150 miles from the United States
or making less than half its voyage
on salt water is not entitled to subsidy.
The third title, Deep Sea Fisheries"
provides an annual bounty of 81 a ton
for deep sea fishing vessels and of 81 a
month for American citizens when en-
gagged in deep sea fisheries.
The fourth title, General Provis-
IONS" provides that a vessel shall re-
ceive only >ne form Of subsidy. and
That q vessel which has received a SUBJ
sidy shall not be sold to a foreigner ex-
ceps oy consent OF h secretary Of the
4reaeury.
The president shall designate heads
.: departments to provide regulations
TO carry out this bill. The bill was re-
1erred to the committee on commerce.