Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-02


washiRgton correspondence:
Senator Frye is concededly the best
posted man in the Senate on maritime
subjects, as il is to them, probably
more than to any other national ques-
lions that he has devoted more of his
.ttes !son during his more than a quar-
Ger o. a century in Congress. Being
chairman of the Committee on Com
nerce of the Senate these questions are
constantly forcing themselves upon his
attention in the most practical Of ways,
mad it is his decision that Is often de-
gssive for or against measure affect
8ug these subjects. Not alone is he re-
Raarkably well versed in all of the de-
aails ihat appertaip to our shipping
xp0n the ocean, In the foreign trade, but
he is quite as well posted concerning
asmr vast co.istwise and inland com
raeTce During each session of Con
Srcss. moreover, he is obliged to famii-
sartze himself with the details Of the
commerce of each river and harbor of
ahe country, in order to intelligently de-
eide upon items in the river and harbor
improvement bill.
lis not too much to say. In these cir
xumstances, that Senator Frye is YER
atabie human commercial and maritime
encyclopedia 1t is this, Of course, that
gives great weight to his expressions,
and the greatest weight to his opinions.
81 Is seldom, If ever, that he is found
lacking in any of the myriad details
affecting the vast commercial and
maritime interests for which his posi-
afon requires that he shall take the lead
IN leglslating, And 1t Is not remark
able, in these partlc liar matters, that
hfs colleagues in the Senate should re-
pose the most implicit confidence in
his Judgment, and generally accept his
sSdgment as their own. When to this
Rnay be added the remarkable fact that
he has never yet reported i bill favor
ably from his Commerce Committee TO
the Senate that has not been passed by
That body, some idea Of the extent Of
ais Influence among his colleagues may
be obtained.
So. 1t was, that when Senator Frye
eess 10 speak in the Senate, a day or
two after the short session began, on
ahe shipping bill that has been before
ihe country because it has been before
Congress for the last three years. his
colleagues gave the closest attention to
all that he said. The extent of the de-
smiss OF the subject may be understood
when II is known that the Senator con-
stunned several hours on two successive
Gays TO say all that he wished to say
concerning the recent history leading
zp 10 the shipping bill, and in making
plain every Hetail Of the measure. The
memory of no man can 90 back to
Ame when Senator Frye delivered a
more thorough, analytical, exhaustive.
aetniled and convincing speech on the
great subject OF our merchant marine
ahRn ia his last great effort In the Sen.
ate
That the people OF the country are
stdu reading and digestlng his speech
Is shown conclusiyely In the demands
apon aim for copies Of 1t. Certa 4 Sen.
ators and representatives have asked
Tor several hundred copies, each. In or
der 10 place them In the hands OF their
influential constituents, and il Is safe
~ say that the general knowledge the
eossnfry over regarding our maritime
conditions and needs will be infinitely
more widespread and accurate as a re-
snit Of the delivery of that speech than
It has ever been before Feeling that
asse readers Of these letters would like
20 have word or two from the Semi
sor aa the subject of his shipping bill.
sought him out, and asked him what
De could say. In condensed form. that
could be readily grasped ana UNDER
stood by the busy millions. To this he
sepiIed as follows
THE people win be for or against the
Dill, rs theii minds are satisfied upon
TIVE cardinal points, namely % VIII IL
xheapen the cost Of carrying our ex-
perks, and 81 VIII ii be benefit 10 tIra
Whole nation. On the 6rst point. an
sonyineed that from the very start
American ships will be compelled Ia
carry our foreign commerce more
Sheapiy than foreign ships do now, 70
srest from them any Of that business
The benefit of this goes right back h
che producers, whose products ara
worth more or less as the cost of trans
9ovtatiou to the consumer is cheap OF
Scar. We may be sure. then, that the
producers. and by this mean the farm
xrx. the men employed ia The mills. IN
ne mines and in the factories, will al
EeeeiEt direct personal benefit But
&se advent Of American ships viii be
sure to precipitate q war Of freight
,ates with the foreign ships that now
10 our carrying, and here 1t is that !
aeei sure there viii be a reduction. fot
years, Of fully - per cent in our pres,
est freight rates-a reduction that will
Gean a saving of fully S50.O00,00o q
year TO the American people iu this one
sem alone This makes the expeudl
sure Of 50, COO COO as an aid to our ship,
a mere bagatelle by comparison.
AS to the second point: Our forelgI
.sommerce. now worth two and a hal
bilious of dollars year. is a nurser.
Ter seamen employed on foreign shiI
one cost of which latter. and the COS %
sseir maintenance is paid for by tn
.2gsericsn people. Both these ships an,
these men may be used against tn
gaited States, II this country become
Involved with the nations whose flag
,arey iy. To the extent that we. by on
8sgleet enable our rivals to build thel
SaIps and 10 run them at our expense
We Deprive our own people Of the EN-