The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1901-01-31
MOST STUpEhD0US JOB
Real Purport of the Ship Sub
sidy Bill Amendment.
PROVES TO BE A GRoTEsQUB SHAM.

II Provides That Two M,l.ion Dol
lars Shall he Paid to the Standard
OIL Steamship Line-This Under the
Cloak of Aiding American Agricul-
ture.
This much vaunted amendment to
the senate ship subsidy bill purporting
to limit speed compensation" (see bill
as reported by Mr.. Frye to the senate,
page @, lines 1922 is grotesque sham.
1t reads
or which so,Oo0,o 900 not more than $4,000, 900
shall, in respect of any one fiscal year. be paid as
compensation to the vessels described in para.
graphs and Of clause b of this section.
The paragraphs thus affected are
those which provide for subsidy to
ships of speed as follows:
Eighth. knots and less than 21 knots.
Nnth.-Twenty.one 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
tlt ANCN lol h' thS thC ~. AsouiS
and the st. Paul-all of them owned by
the International Navigation company
(he Standard Oil and Pennsylvania
railroad concern, of which Mr.. Griscom
is prnsidenb.
BY the same report the commissioner
gave list of foreign steamers that
might come In under the subsidy bill.
OF these not single one was above 18
knots speed; hence none of them comes
under the eighth and ninth paragraphs
of clause b in question.
Moreover, i'm his report as to ships
under construction abroad for Ameri-
can capital Commissioner Chamberlain
shows not single one of these as over
II knots speed; heuce none of these
comes within paragraphs eighth and
ninth of clause. b in question.
Again. the commissioner Of naviga.
tion reports as to the vessels intended
for foreign trade under construction or
contract in United States shipyards.
OF this shipping not single vessel
was of over Is knots, and therefore
none Of 1t would come under para
graphs eighth and ninth of clause b in
question.
Finally. on behalf of the promoters o.
this bill Mr.. Clyde testified Jan. 10,
1900 (see house hearings of that date,
page 34):
We know from inquiries we have made as to
what ships will be built II this bill is passed. that
all Of the vessels contemplated will be vessels Of
moderate speed. none Of them exceeding II knots
too slow to come under paragraphs s
and in clause b.
To sum up. the New York. the Paris,
the st. Paul and the st. Louis. all own
ed by the international Navigation
company, are the only vessels either In
existence or building or contracted for
or probable to be contracted for should
this measure become law that are or
will come under paragraphs 8 and 8 of
clause b.
The true reading Of the amendment
reported by Senator Frye. therefore. is:
or which nine millions Of dollars not more than
two millions Of dollars (s2, 900. .0oO) shall, in
spect Of any one fiscal year, be paid as compensa-
lion to the International Navigation company in
respect Of its four best steamers, the New York,
the Paris. the St. Paul and the st. Louis.
Since the highest estimate by the Re-
form club or any other critic of the
amount which these four ships could
get under the bill as 1t originally
stood was less than $2,0O0,000, Senator
Frye ought to explain why the sum
named was so literally calculated and
how the amendment tends to limit the
stupendous job which in behalf of his
great passenger steamers Mr.. Griscom,
through Senator Frye, is pushing un.
der the pretense that he Is working In
aid of American agricultural exports,
of which. as is admitted on all hands.
these ships can carry little If any
John De Witt Warner In New York
Evening Post.