The Washington times., 1901-11-21
OPPOSITION TO
. SHIP SUBSIDIES.
THE PRESIDENT MEMORIALIzED.
New York Reform Club Declares
q Bounty Proposed is Urged
Only by Interests That
Would Benefit.

The President was memorialized yester-
day on the question of shir subsidies. The
opinions of the New York Reform Club
were presented to Mr.. Roosevelt at the
White Horse by Calvin Tomkius, chair
man OF the. committee On tariff reform OF
that organizat ton.
The principles Of ship subsidy were op-
posed. in the main on several grounds.
The memorial asserts that such legsla
tion has admittedly been advised and ac-
lively pressed mainly by those interested
to receive the Government bounty pro-
posed, on conditions which they them
selves have, framed" An exhaustive
presentation of facts is made in sup
port of this statement. The memorial
urges that 'the framing of legislation
therefore be entrusted to our leading ex-
pert interests, the Departments of War,
of the Navy. OF Agriculture, or the
Bureau of Labor, one or more of these, as
the case may be"
Proposed Bounty Payments.
In another specified objection are set
forth the amounts which various steam
ship and navigation companies would re-
ceive from the bounty payments, amount
ing to nine millions per year, provided
by the Hanna Frye subsidy bill. These
figures indicate that 54.5 per cent of the
total amount would have been paid to
the Internal ional Navigation Company out
of subsidies for United States vessels now
running Other single concerns would re-
eeive lesser proportions, ranging as low
as 5 per cent TO the American Mail Steam
ship Company in the same class. Figures
of similar import were given regarding
half-srbsidies to foreign vessels now
running, and full subsidies on ships now
being built in this country. In conclusion
is made the statement:
Amy claim that the bills in question
are in the interest of our export trade,
our commerce, our natural defence, our
navy, our army, our farmers, and our
iaborers, or our seamen, is discredited
by the admitted fact that the measures in
question we're drawn and are pressed by
certain shipowners and shipbuilders, who
would receive the greater portion of all
Government bounty given, and not by any
authorized or fit representative OF our eX-
port or import trade"
The Presidents Numerous Visitors.
If President Roosevelt had received all
his visitors one at a time yesterday he
would have had little opportunity for the !
transaction of other public business, and |
1t would have been necessary to limit |
every interview to about one minute. Tie |
large number Of visitors at the White |
House almost broke the record of the last
two months Many of the visitors, how I
ever, came by twos and threes. or were |
received in delegations of ten or fifteen.
The largest of the delegations came for |
the purpose of talking reciprocity, sub |
ject which is being forced upon the Presi-
dents attention more THAI any other at |
this time. A committee from the National /
Reciprocity Convention, now in session in
Washington, had an interview with Mr..
Roosevelt shortly before / o'clock for the
purpose Of presenting a memorial osten-
sibly representing the views Of the con-
vention in regard to reciprocal trade re-
lations between the United States and
other countries.
The President, in receiving the me-
mortal. told his visitors that he was
deeply interested in the work Of the con
vention, and that he was glad that such
studious attention was being devoted to so
large a subject. He intimated that all
progress toward the extension OF reci-
procity should be made with great de-
liberation and along mcst conservative
lines.
In so doing the President is believed to
have expressed the idea which is upper
most in the minds OF the most influential
members of the Senate and House who
have given careful attention recently to
the much-talked-of subject of reciprocity
under the tariff law.
Oppose Existing Reciprocity Views.
Senator EIkins of West Virginia, who
was one of the Presidents callers, was
most outspoken in his opposition to reci-
procity as it is being generally discussed
by its friends at this time. He said:
81 want TO say that l am against the
view of reciprocity which seems to be
uppermost at this time. / am opposed to
RlI reciprocity that operates against our
home markets. Three Of my objections