Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-01
SHIP SUBSIDY LOBBY.
ITS CHARACTER AND ITS METHODS
EXPOSED.

ITS CHARACTER AND ITS METHODS
EXPOSED.
Most Persistent Lobby Since Pacific
| Mail ScandaIs-BiH Drawn by It's
| Renefciaries The international
| Navigation Company, Pennsylvania
| Railroad and Standard Oil Compa-
nv Interested In the Deal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-The Hanna
| Frye-Payne ship subsidy bill has been
and still is the most persistentiy ana
continuously lobbied bill that has been
before congress in-many years. Indeed
it is doubtful whether such a lobby as
that back of this bill has been known
of in Washington since the scandals
unfolded by the Pacific Mail steal
shocked the country.
1t is not in any sense secret that
the pending ship subsidy Dill was
drawn by it's chief benefciaries. Under
the kindness of Senators Frye ana
Hanna their benefcent services were
called into requisition for the announc-
| cd purpose of framing shipping bill
; which was to build up the American
merchant marine. They were calico
into the senatorial councils because OF
their interest in shipping and shipbuild-
ing. and it is not natural to suppose
that in taking care of the subject IN
y general they were going to neglect
t their own pockets. They helped 10
S draw the bill, they made 1T, as the
e farmers would say, "hog tight ana
i mule high" in protection to themselves
s and they have been on hand at WASH
ington early and often, If not always,
: engaged in consistent persistent anu
continuous effort to bring to legislative
> fruition the results of their advisory
IF labors.
:. Selections from this committee VINO
- drafted the bill taken in connection
= with their well known presence III
,f washington during most OF the ieglsia
five DAYS in which the bill has peen
- under consideration leave no doubt OF
to their purposes and of their entire ca,
~ nestness to use all means wlthll ieae,
=. TO see these purposes accompiisheu
Prominent among them are: 1ene,a
=. Clement A. Griscom, president OF III
- international Navigation company AM
chairman of this committee; ex-Sena
.. tor George T. Edmunds of Vernon
~ the most capable and the highest price'
lobbyist in the United States, "ho
Ii,ewise leading counsel of the Inter
national Navigation company; Charie
n Cramp the great Philadelphia shiI
builder; c. P. Huntington, whose po"
or with congress is fit subject 1or !.
nance and whose interests since III
,ss death are capably represented Wliiial
rer D C1vde. president, and Thomas Clyu'
om secretary. of the Clyde line; Aaron val
Lch dorbilt secretary of the America
- Stunning league; H. P. Booth pres
led don't Of the New York and Cuba Ma
sed Steamship company; Samuei >. oew "a
as and Edwin W. Hyde, representing u
Ike sbinbuilding interests of Bath, Me
us Alexander r. Smith, former editor
a Seaboard and later secretary Oh
ng, New York commerce commission, ai
Theodore C. Search, president OF u
National Association of Manufacturer
GAIL all honorable men" of coufs
Int none of them, so far as the recof
show. ever accused of neglecting |
own interests.
In opening the senate hearings Sen
for FRYE. chairman of the senate CO..
merce committee, naively said: Il W
aware that to succeed in enacting a
bill into law there must be an asf'
ment of sentiment among the 1fieh
Of such measure; that it would
are homeless to go into congress with the
hes neople entirely divided as to what I
half remedy should be. l then concluo
-ach that | would take the responslDii
myself of naming committee-nec
of sarily of men who owned ships
half built them or ran them or were
and miliar with the conditions OF the III
lade chant marine and it's necessities.
one. then named the committee, from wh
even the names above taken are select
osts After enlightening the uninitiated
ink corning these gentlemen, Senator r
hen added, 81 will say right here that
with committee has been indefatlgaDle
all, this business and has had innumera
ches meetings in New York, Phlladelp
the and Washington" The humor OF
wing statement will be appreciated IN
of norton to the knowledge which
ntire reader hereof has of the situation.
post When the time came to exploit
lard, hill before the congressional commit
leep- of both house and senate, these gen
then men and others came to Washing
|. A and took charge of things. Ihey Il
post the committee rooms and contro
the hearings. Ex-senator Edmul
aight who seemed to be considered sma
than than anybody else, acted as gi
)und. sachem. The committee sat at MS
I'd a and learned" When some doup
near | Thomas of the committee aske'
ee or | ouestion. the chairman of the com
.iven, tee-Grosyeno. on the house side
S at Frye on the senate side-elther II
overn him feel like 80 cents by the crus
Then profundity of his reply or turned
wag- over to Edmunds. generally the
be of for After the advocates of the
Farm had used up all the time OF all
hearings telling what a great THU
was, they were told by the respe'
=. chairmen that they could put IN
:, az ing, to be printed Us part of the
athar ing, anything that they had forge
a.ta or omitted or had not had time to
Of his This open privilege was added t.
VII special requests for further Oct
IS kill ln1orlha.lon "nei 80 .so,sa+;,,, :
land, ed possipie tna' SUI ~ - s.,. :
agri- be OF service VIZ 80 49,
have dorsemeht ny .ne NJ,
male tlemen of the third house sailed