The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-07
LET SENATOR FRYE EXPLAIN.

Amendment.
The much Wanted amendment to
the senate ship subsidy bill purporting
to limit speed compensation" (see bill
as reported by Mr.. Frye to the senate,
page 6. lines 1929 is grotesque sham.
1t reads:
"Of which nine millions Of dollars rot moro
than two millions Of dollars shall, in respect Of
any one fiscal year, be paid as compensation to
the vessels described in paragraphs eighth and
ninth of clause b Of this section
The paragraphs thus affected are
those which provide for subsidy to
ships of speed as follows:
"Eighth.-Twenty knots and less than q knots.
'Ninth.-Twenty-on knots or over.''
From the report lately made for 1900
by the United States commissioner of
navigation we find that of United
States steamers of 20 knots speed or
over there are just four in existence
the New York, the Paris, the st. Louis
and the st. Paul-all of them owned by
the International Navigation company
the Standard Oil and Pennsylvania
railroad concern, of which Mr.. Griscom
is presidenD.
BY the same report the commissioners
gave a list Of foreign steamers that
might come in under the subsidy bill.
OF these not single one was above
IL knots speed; hence none Of them
comes under the eighth and ninth para
graphs Of clause b in question.
Moreover, in his report as to ships
under construction abroad for Ameri-
can capital, Commissioner Chamber
lain shows not q single one Of these
rs over IL knots speed; hence none Of.
these comes within paragraphs eighth
and ninth Of clause b in question.
Again, the commissioner Of naviga-
ton reports as to the vessels intended
for foreign trade under construction
or contract in United States ship
yards. OF this shipping not a single
vessel was Of over 1s knots speed, and
therefore none of it would come under
paragraphs eighth and ninth of clause
b in question.
Finally, on behalf Of the promoters
of this bill, Mr.. Clyde testified Jan. 10,
1900 (see House Hearings Of that date,
page 34):
I'VE know from inquiries we have made as to
what ships will be built this bill is passed that
al OF the vessels contemplated will be vessels of
moderate speed-none Of them exceeding II
knots''-
too slow to come under paragraphs
eighth and ninth in clause b.
To sum up, the New York, the Paris,
the st. Paul and the st. Louis, all
owned by the international Naviga-
ton company, are the only vessels
either in existence or building or con-
tracted for or probably to be contract
ed for, should this measure become q
law, that are or will come under para
graphs eighth and ninth of clause b.
The true reading Of the amendment
reported by Senator Frye therefore is:
"Of sehicb nine millions Of dollars not more
than tsoo millions Of dollars p2 200, ooo) shall,
IN respect of any ono fiscal year, be paid a.
compensation to tho International Navigation
company IN respect of its four best steamers,
tho Neso York, the Parts, the ST. Paul and tho
st. Louis"
Since the highest estimate by critics
OF the amount which these four ships
could get under the bill as it orig
inally stood was less than $1,000
600, Senator Frye ought to explain
why the sum named was 30 literally
calculated and how the amendment
tends to limit the stupendous Job
which, in behalf of his great passen-
ger steamers. Mr.. Griscom, through
Senator Frye, is pushing under the
pretense that he is working in aid OF
American exports.