The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-18
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE
ALL OF MIR. ALLIsON'S AMENDMENTS.
EXCEPT ONE. INCORPORATED.
Life of Contracts Limited to July 1,
1920, and Subsidies Must Not
Exceed SS.OOO.OOO a Year.

WASHINGTON. March 17.-After pro-
lOnged debate the Senate to-day passed the
ship-subsidy bill. the final vote upon the
measure being 81 to 81 Senators Allison
and Dolliver. of Iowa. Spooner and Quarles.
Of Wisconsin, and Proctor and Dillingham;,
Of Vermont, Republicans. voted against
final passage of the BILL and Senator Nc
Laurin, OF South Carolina voted for it.
some amendments 10 the bill were adopted.
but they were all agreeable 20 those in
charge of the measure. the friends Of the
bill voting down all other amendments.
With the exception of amendments offered
by Mr.. Allison and accepted by Mr.. Frye,
limiting the time of the operation OF con-
tracts made under the provisions Of the bill
10 July l. 1920. and providing that the
amount of the expenditure under the mail
subsidy paragraph should not at any time
exceed Ss.OOO.OOO annually, none Of the
amendments agreed TO materially affected
the bill as it was reported from the COM
merce committee.
The voting on amendments began at 3
o'clock. and such food OF them Of
fered that a final vote upon the BILL. as
amended. was not reached until just before
6 o clock Amendments offered by Mr.
Vest. OF Missouri. providing for free
ships and for the application of the pro-
visions of the antitrust law to the ship
ping industry, were rejected. as was the
amendement proposed by Mr.. Patterson,
OF Colorado. providing that no Chinese
person should be a member OF the crew OF
a subsidized vessel Mr.. Pettus. Of Ala
hama. offered an amendment providing that
the total expenditure under the bill should
not exceed 100000 in any one year. 1t
was adopted in committee OF the whole. but
later. in the Senate. was rejected by a
decisive vote.
The Senate agreed to an amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Spooner providing that Con-
Sress should have power 10 amend or re-
peal the act without impairing any con-
tract made under its authority
Mr. Hanna. of Ohio, offered and the
Senate adopted. three amendments apply
ing directly to the acquisition by Mr.. j.
PierpOnt Morgan and his associates of the
Leyland line of British ships. They provide
that no fOreign-built ship shall participa te
in the proposed subsidy. that nothing in
the act shall be construed 10 prevent Amer
lean citizens or corporations from holding
or operating foreign ships in the ocean
carrying trade. and that no foreign-built
ship Of any line thus acquired by Amer
lean citizens shall be admitted hereafter
10 American registry.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The title of the bill passed by the Senate
is TO provide for ocean mail service be-
tween the United States and foreign ports
and the common defense. to promote COM
merce and TO encourage the deep-see fish
cries
Title 1 Of the measure. az passed. deals
with ocean mails steamships and their
subsidies The postal subsidy act of 1891
IS SO amended as 10 direct the postmaster
general 70 enter into contracts for not less
than five nor more than fifteen years with
American citizens for the carrying of mails
ON American steamships to such foreign
points as will best promote the postal,
commercial and maritime interests Of the
United states. the mail service on such
lines to be equita bly, distributed among
the Atlantic. Mexican gulf and Pacific
ports. and the contracts 10 be made with
the lowest responsible bidder.
The vessels employed in the mail service
shall be American built and owned and
oficered by American citizens During the
nrst two years One-fOurth OF the crew must
be American citizens. during the next three
years one-third must be American citi-
zenS and during the remaining life of the
contract at least One-half must be Ameri-
steamships OF iron or steel and divided into
the following classes. according TO speed
First class. twenty knots or over: second
class, nineteen knots; third class, eighteen
knots fourth class seventeen knots: fifth
class. sixteen knots: sixth class, fifteen
knots. seventh class. fourteen knots Ali
steamships Of the first four classes shall
be constructed with particular reference
90 prompt conversion into auxiliary naval
cruisers and shall be OF the highest rating
known 20 maritime commerce.
no ~ of f1rrnro ~ 81
service 10 be paid per gross registered ton
for each one hundred nautical miles sailed
from the port OF clearance in the United
States 20 the port Of entry in the United
States. according 10 the route required by
the POstOfice Department. shall not exceed
the following. Steamships of the first class
. 2-17 cents: second class, 5-1O cents; third
class. , $40 cents: fourth class. 1-lO cents
NTH class. I 9-iO cents, sixth class. a-lc
cents. seventh class. 5-l0 cents. The rates
or compensation 10 any Nessel carry ing
mails TO a foreign port in North America
shall not exceed 20 per cent. OF the maxi
mum rates esta blished-
Mail steamships are required 10 carry as
apprentices one American-born boy Tor eaCh
loo tons gross register He ShaIl De euu5 @
Gated tn seafnanshtp and engineering ana
rank as a petty Offlcer.
Title or the bill provides for the general
subsidy 10 be paid IL directs the secretary
OF the treasury 10 pay TO the owners OF
any vessel i'm the United States duly regis
tered and engaged in the foreign trade OF
the United States a compensation amount
Ing 10 I cent per gross registered TON IoT
each one hundred nautical miles sailed
not exceeding sixteen entries III any oHe
year: and each entry, not eNcee9lis
sixteen in any one year. for a perlou OF
nve years from the date of registration
o. vessel OF one thousand gross tohs'
wSt- shall be completed after the pas
sage OF this bill. One-fourth OF ! cent pc,
gross ton for each one hundred nautcal
miles sailed. in addition 20 the aDoNt ILL., III
toned compensation The bill speclhts
certain vessels which shall not receive Coin-
pensatfon under its provisions. among s tntiii
being vessels engaged in the coast"ise
trade exclusively
Each subsidized vessel II requlreu -
aa<sg memhpr of It's COInldIy