The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
TO AMEND HANNA'S BILL.
several Changes Decided Upon by
Leading Republicans.


a conference of Republican Senator'S.
most OF whom are members OF the steer
ing committee. was held last evening at
the residence of Senator Allison. The OBJ
ject oil the conference was to discuss va
rious proposed amendments to the Ship
Subsidy bill. designed for the purpose of
making 1t acceptable to the Republican
senators as body, so that the bill, as
amended. may be brought up as a unani-
nous party measure and pressed to vote.
The situation in the Senate in regard to
the Ship Subsidy bill is this:
A majority of the Republicans under the
lead of Senator Hanna and Senator Frye,
Chairman OF the Commerce Committee,
who reported the bill, are anxious to bring
1t to vote. Other Republican Senators,
including some of the most influential, are
willing that a subsidy bill should be
passed, but they do not support the Frye
Hanna bill as 1t stands. They have there
fore submitted a series OF amendments
which they hope will be reported from the
Commerce Committee and adopted by the
Senate. The Democrats as a body oppose
the passage OF any subsidy bill. but they
concede the right of the Republicans to
control legislation and will make no fac
ious opposition. contenting themselves
with going on record in opposition to the
bill. Some Senator's, however. led by
Messrs. Pettigrew and Butler, are deter
mined to filibuster against the passage OF
subsidy bill of any kind. and as yet no
direct assurances have been received from
them that they will allow the bill to come
to a vote under any circumstances. 1t is
thought, however. by leading Republican
Senators that IL they can agree among
themselves upon amended bill tie fill
busters may be persuaded to allow tae Dill
to come to a vote The proposed amend
ments were considered at the conference
last evening, and were practically agreed
to by those present. Today they Will be
submitted to Senators Frye and Hanna and
the other advocates of the bill, and II ac-
cepted by them the steering committee
will make a determined effort to have the
amended measure considered Immediately
after the Army bill is disposed of.
One of the amendments that the Repub-
lican Senators will urge seeks to elm
mate from the benefits of the proposed
mail subsidy the fast line ships that al
ready receive large sums from the POST
office Department for carrying the mail.
They will, however, be eligible to the
competition for the subsidy for freight
carrying. This suggested amendment
would reduce the amount Of the subsidy
by about 81, 500, 600. Other amendments pro-
vide for limiting to ten years the time for
which the subsidies are to run and by
striking out that language OF the bill
which it is now held Will prohibit certain
classes of steamships from competing for
the benefits of the subsidy SO as to put
all on an equal footing.
All of these amendments are said to be
distastefuI to Senator Hanna and the 9TH
er Senator's especially interested in the
bill reported from the Commerce Commit
tee. but it is evident now that they must
accept these concessions to the desire OF
the Republican Senators or abandon all
hope of passing the bill at this session.
Before the Senate met yesterday there
was a conference of steering committee,
Senators in the room of the Appropria-
tions Committee and the general situa-
tion of affairs in the Senate was earnest
ly talked over. The delay In reaching
vote on the Army bill. due. several Sen
tors said, in a large measure to the lack
of skill displayed by those in charge OF
It, was generally condemned and de-
termination reached to have the bill dis
posed of within the next day or two. 1t
was the opinion of the conference that
many OF the important amendments
adopted In the Senate against the pro-
tests of the Committee on Military Af-
fairs will be defeated before the bill
reaches third resding or If not they will
be stricken out in conference. The amend
ments abolishing the capteen system and
providing that volunteers shall be eligi-
BILE to appointment in the regular service
up to and including the grade of captain
are the cause of the gravest dlssatisfac-
tion and IL is thought that the action Of
the Senate with regard to both of them
Will be overturned.