New-York tribune., 1901-12-14
Mr.. FRYE ON SUBSIDIES.
HIS NEW BILL EXPLAINED-INTEND
TO MEET OBJECTIONS TO HIS
FORMER MEASURE.
Isr TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIsUNE.l

Isr TELsGRAYH TO THE TEIBUNE.l
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Frye to-day
favored The Tribune with an explanation OF MS
new Ship Subsidy bill. He said:
In my opinion, the bill under consloeratlSULi S
in the last Congress was the Lest one lor lIe
purpose sought ever introduced. 1t would nave
secured at the earliest possible time the restola
tion Of our ships the ocean, especlaliy Tue Tue
establishment of new lines out Some cl ~ ~
features were objected to quite seriously pS tIe
friends of our merchant marine whose oplh-
ions are entitled TO respect. In oraIIlns tns
new bill 1 have undertaken, SO far as | could
without destroying the efficiency Of the Dill 10
answer these objections ,,:h
In 1891 1 reported from the Senate Commit
tee on Commerce two bills, one the Postal sup
sidy the other the Mileage Bounty DILL 6oti
passed the Senate. The Mileage Bounty Din
was defeated by two or three votes IN the HOUSE, @
the Postal Subsidy In which the rates had peen
adjusted with great care by me, was reduceo
one-third and the bill was returned to the Sen
ate the last day of the session, too late Ior con
ference so il was permitted to become a law
1t has now been in force ten years, ana IL mas
been proved by experience to be 1neiIectlNs' 1 ie
shifting in the establishment of no lines OF any
importance other than the American Lane, WHICH
was secured only by admitting two Of that COM
panys foreign built ships, with an aereeiiieii'
TO build two more Of like tonnage mere
To revive our merchant marine and increase
our export trade the establishment OF resuitl
lines between our ports and those OF the Woiia ia
is an imperative necessity. These lines bulio
up the trade which the tramp ships never couI9
do To secure lines, finally concluded 10 ailleI1u
practically the rates as fixed in the senate piIl
of 1891 increasing. however, the tonnage IA
order TO meet present condluons, anu ,tr The
classes, making seven instead OF ioul, liz nv
rates fixed in the present bill are pracucahy
identical with those in the bill of 1871
Shins which may receive postal contracts must
he of the highest classification, of speed from
fourteen knots upward; they must be conslru@ct- @
ed under the inspection of the Navy Depalez par
r,7ent. thev must be made capable OF belns uSed
as cruisers in time Of war; they must oe . uiuSI
American officers; they must carry American American
seamen. from one-quarter 10 ol.e-ldi, I +he condi
tions imposed in the existing postal contract
The bill then provides for a mileage bounty
of ono cent ton for every one hundred miles
sailed from a port Of the United states 70
foreign port and back or course. no t5tIa stLp -
ceiying the postal contract will be entlueo 10
any additional pay. There is no cargo carrying
clause because it is entirely unnecessary, 10, !oI
the ships must carry cargo 10 i've, c1ausa
the subsidy provided. Besides sucn Clause @
verv likely would be unconstftutlonal' anu Ger
tainly would be in contraventlon Oh d huill"ei
of our commercial treaties.
For all ships other than those receiving poscal
contracts there are no contracts pIoVIueu ioi
in this BILL but 1t is left in the power % - -
eress to amend or repeal it at any time 1t
pleases IF the bill should become law ana De
a success there would be no danger OF any
IIre it should be amended or repeated 1hele i: -
no limitation of the amount to be eXpenueu IN
anv one year, because that amount al an tiiIes ne
Is within the jurisdiction OF Congress 10 hA- he
shine receiving the mileage bounty are SUBJECT
to all the requirements and limitations as 10
officers sailors, etc. Of the old Dill anu Tie ca
listing law. It'll. zhi,.
The bill does not admit any foreign oulit snlPs
IN American registry, does 1t require the
duplication Of any American snip 10 receive INC
lie ea horntv It encourages the owners or
such ships to build more tonnage. by granting
one-ouarter of a cent more bounty Tor nFe years ears
on vessels constructed by them herea1ter. ~ Lns
biu also provides for the deep sea fisheries with
i;i-e nrovisions as those contained in the bill OF
last session. -, +,,,+
II will prove a success, and fall 10 see now
anv reasonable objection can be urged against
restore us to our proper position on the oceans
of the world.