New-York tribune., 1901-02-06
THE FRYE SHIPPING BILL.
WHAT 1T DOES AND DOES NOT DO

FROM WnRr6B a s5tGe + MnryTn in The E:gsT Of
Boston Journal.
the form Of graded subsidies from the National
treasury not TO special steam lines a few
favored corporations but to all American citizens
Who own ships or wish 10 own ships in the foreign
slowed upon sail ships. upon slow steamships and
upon fast steamships; Every Al American vessel
every foreign built ship at least majority inter
est in which was held on February l, 1899. by
must acquire full title to the ship before they
5nH, 1u hOSt our nag and they must give bonds to
country Moreover: their foreign built ships will
built ship. American owners of home-built ships
must build here vessels equal to % per Of
compel all shipowners who receive a subsidy to
create new tonnage Thus. more business for Amer
Increase in the American merchant fleet is certain.
exceptional cases, have crew at least one-fourth
American: must carry certain number of Amer
= Government purchase or charter in at
nrn ralr price hxed II necessary, by impartial ap-
pTalsers subsidized ship must also, II required.
convey the United States mails without further
THE SUBSIDY DETAILS
Two kinds Of subsidy offered by this bill
The mileage subsidy IS payable to all ships, sail
or steam. Careful calculations based actual
ships and actual voyages show that It will almost
exactly accomplish it's purpose of giving American
ssips n protectlon equivalent to the htgher range
eign subsidies the Frye bill offers a second sub
shy 10 steamers. based upon both their tonnage
and their speed. This subsidy. so estimates have
proved, affords even. average COmpensa ton for
foreign subsidies. and more.
The total expenditure under the bill is limited 10
100000 year. OF which not more than 20 per cent
shall so to Atlantic trade and least 80 per cent
70 Pacific trade. II there ships there receive
II When the American merchant feet under this
stimulus increases that 5000 eO will not suffice
20 pay the original subsidy rates they 10 be
reduced pro rata among all the ships receiving
subsidy. Ships in existence on January l. 1902,
are to enjoy the subsidy for ten years, and no
have subsidies for twenty years. But after ten
years the passage OF the bill sub
sldies are 20 he granted. By that time II Is be-
eved that American shipowning and shipbuildng
for the foreign trade. now so fearfuly depressed.
viii be set sure road 10 enduring prosperity
WHAT THE BILL DOES NOT DO.
This i'm brief Is what the Frye bill does. What
II does not do is equally important. In the first
place. tho hin does not. has been perststently
asserted. give the bulk OF the 100000 appropria
t:ou 20 the fast twenty and twenty-one knot At
l1uuc ereyhounds OF the international Navigation
Company. Il Is expressly stipulated that mot
than g 00.U00' shall be paid TO these fast
mail craft. leaving seven-ninths OF the appropria
tion absolutely 10 the slower and more capaciOus
cargo vessels.
The Commissioner of Navigation has made
Ella aborate calculation Of the amount OF the sub
sidy which would be left toward the other
penses OF the ship when the coal and fire
bills paid. in every class. from the ten knot
tramp 20 the twenty-one knot greyhound.