Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-01

Failed to Carry the Measure Against
the Arguments of the Opposition.
Special Washington Correspondence
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. %, 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 40 to 2 passed motion to take
up the oleomargarine bill in its stead.
Until then the ship subsidy bill held
the enviable position of the unfinished
business of the senate. This gave 1t
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
be 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 the nation on sea
and on land, to be Knocked out by
meaay little bill defining the differ
ence between good butter and doctored
lard was, indeed fate for Hanna and
Frye and their friends to weep over.
This means that the bill cannot be
resurrected at this session except for
debate at odd times, when the chances
are that 1t will be appropriately Tam
basted" by it's 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 1t.
Senator Frye made an argument in its
favor which did not, in either private
or public opinion, help his reputation
as a statesman or an orator. Senator
Hanna made an effort to startle the
country in Its 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
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 a very good speech, which ia
yored it in general terms, but most Of
which was devoted to criticism Of its
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
. 1t 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 Caffery 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 OF
: read the debates but battered pre-
pUHuurs 71trve ruU1etgeu Trs Inddrser
I to answer their arguments, but neve
a challenge has been accepted.
Those favoring the bill have attempt
ed to force it through under the part.
E lash. They have tried their best to GU
, off debate upon it. They prepared i
e in the privacy Of star chamber ant
:. brought it forth with an insolent de
$ mand for it's prompt passage. The,
l. dogmatically asserted that 1t would
build up the merchant marine and rev
olutionize the foreign trade, and thel
they began to abuse everybody who In
L sisted upon a fair debate upon it, call
d ing them filibusters and obstructionist
b, are not nice. The opponents have re
e piled by proving that the session di
n not afford time enough to properl,
. point out the Objectionable features O
= the bill. They have proved that
was violative Of the principles of tn
constitution; that 1t was drafted in tn
interest of a bakers dozen of specia
benefciaries who superintended tn
e drafting; that it was totally unfai
s even to all Of the shipping interests Il
e that it specially favored few; tina
is under the present growing condition O
is the shipping business no necessity 70
% it exists; that 1t has been planned, pre-
IS pared and lobbied in way calculate
II to utterly disgust an unbiased public
! that, in short, 1t is the boldest, baldesl
= most shameless and inexcusable stea
= that has shown its head in congress 70
: many years.
e In the face Of arguments bringing
e out facts such as these and challenge
2. repeated every hour Of the debate tn
j. advocates of the bill have retained
l. rhinoceros exterior and have simply dc
manded vote. That they have no
obtained vote is small wonder.
le The night sessions adopted to fore
lie a vote proved a fzzle, farce, bur
e lesque. They did not bring forth sin
e gle speech on either side Of the ques
n ton. They We're taken up in discuss
y ing rules of procedure and the method
adopted to force through a measure
: which stood no chance to pass unde
Il the regular course of procedure. Afte
several nights Of this sort Of thing
: which disguised senators and only
S amused the galleries, the. subsidy peo
J, pie, with characteristic effrontery, as
h sumed q virtue in abandoning these
d night sessions and pleaded most diplo
matically with the opponents to agree
upon time to close the debate anG
take vote. The opponents replied
81 that it would be time enough for this
e, when an attempt was made to answer
l. at least some Of the speeches in which
fI,aps ln1 Lei, lNll