The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-03-28

of the Bill-Evcn the Party Lash
Failed to Carry the Measure Against
the Arguments of the Opposition.
Special Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. rs, 1901
Tue deathknell of the ship subsidy
bill for the present session was sound
ed on Feb. 16 when the senate by a
vote of 40 to passed a motion to take
up the oleomargarine bill in it's stead.
Until then the ship subsidy bill held
the enviable position Of the unfinished
business of the senate. This gave it
priority over everything except appro-
priation bills and conference reports.
Since early in December the ship sub
sidy bill has had the right of way.
Senator Frye had declared with dra-
matte fervor that he would not let it
be displaced even by appropriation bills
unless the senate ran over him by
force. For this great, favored meas
ure, covering in the estimate of its pro-
motors the fate Of the nation on sea
and on land, to be knocked out by a
measly little bill defining the differ
ence between good butter and doctored
lard was, indeed, fate for Hanna and
Frye and their friends to weep over.
This means that the bill cannot be
resurrected at this session except for
debate at odd times, when the chances
are that it will be appropriately lam
basted' by it's opponents. One of the
funniest things about the discussion of
the bill is that nearly all of the speech
es made upon it have been against it.
Senator Frye made an argument in it's
favor which did not in either private
or public opinion, help his reputation
as a statesman or an orator. Senator
Hanna made an effort to startle the
country in its Defense but his effort, in
the judgment of all competent critics,
fell far short of demonstration and
was, indeed, considered lame and halt
and weak Senator Depew made
brilliant after dinner speech upon the
general subject, but barely touched at
all upon the specific features of the
bill. Senator Perkins of California
made a very good speech, which ia
vored it in general terms, but most Of
which was devoted to criticism of it's
Objectionable features, especially the
provision allowing what he considered
too liberal admission of foreign ships
to American registry.
| Among those who have delivered
carefully prepared speeches against
it are Senators Clay of Georgia, Berry
of Arkansas, Teller of Colorado, Vest
of Missouri, Pettus of Alabama, Mon
ey of Mississippi, Bacon Of Georgia,
Jones of Arkansas, Allen Of Nebraska,
and Caffery Of Louisiana. These are
IL speeches against the bill to four in
favor of it, and one of the four in IA
vor of it under much protest
Every argument of the speakers in
favor Of the bill was answered by
those against it. Besides, those oppos-
ing it so riddled it with arguments and
criticisms, with facts and figures, with
premises and conclusions, that 1t re-
mains with those who have heard or
read the debates but battered pre-
tense and an unworthy sham. Its op-
ponents have challenged it's indorsers
to answer their arguments, but never
a challenge has been accepted.
Those favoring the bill have attempt
ed to force it through under the party
lash. They have tried their best to cut
of. debate upon it. They prepared il
in the privacy of a star chamber ant
brought it forth with an insolent de
mand for its prompt passage. They
dogmatically asserted that it would
build up the merchant marine and rev
olutionize the foreign trade, and the1
they began to abuse everybody who in
sisted upon a fair debate upon it, call
ing them filibusters and obstructionist
and mossbacks and other things tina
are not nice. The opponents have re
piled by proving that the session dit
not afford time enough to properl.
point out the Objectionable features o
the bill. They have proved that !
was violative of the principles Of tn
constitution; that it was drafted in tn
, interest of bakers dozen Of specia
beneficiaries who superintendent tn
drafting; that it was totally unfai
even to all Of the shipping interests Il
that it specially favored few; tina
under the present growing condition
the shipping business no necessity 70
: it exists; that it has been planned. pre-
( pared and lobbied in way calculate
to utterly disgust an unbiased public
that, in short, it is the boldest, baldes
t most shameless and inexcusable stef
! that has shown its head in congress fo
many years.
In the face Of arguments bringin
out facts such as these and challenge
repeated every hour Of the debate tn
e advocates of the bill have retained
y rhinoceros exterior and have simply d.
manded a vote. That they have M
obtained vote is small wonder.
The night sessions adopted to fore
u a vote proved a fizzle, a farce, bu
lesque. They did not bring forth sil
gle speech on either side Of the que
!. ton. They were taken up in discus
ing rules of procedure and the method
adopted to force through measul
which stood no chance to pass undo
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