The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16
BOTH URGE OBJECTIONS
Wisconsin Man Says It IS a
Gift to Ship Owners.
Senator Teller Delivers Speech
Against the Measure and Elkins
and Hanna Argue in Favor
of the Scheme.

Washington, March 15.-Differences Of
opinion on the Republican side appeared
in the Senate debate on the ship subsidy
bill today.
MIR. Allison Qowa) indicated. that he
was not quite satisfied with the measure
as it stands now and gave notice of
amendments he proposed to offer to it,
limiting the time Of its operation and
limiting also the amount Of money an
nually to be paid from the treasury on
account Of 1t.
He was followed by Mr.. Spooner (Wis.)
who took exception to some provisions of
the measure He was not at all certain
that the bill would accomplish the great
results which its advocates claimed for
it and he urged that before It's enact
ment into law, definite information upon
that point ought to be furnished to Con-
gress,s He did not care TO vote for
measure making an appropriation that
not only would not accomplish definite re-
suits but which might be simply
largesse to ship owners. He gave notice OF
an amendment which he proposed to offer
providing that the bill might be amended
or repealed by Congress without. how
ever, impairing any contract made under
It's provisions. This would be q notice,
he said, that the subsidy would sot be
safe foundation upon which to build
largely.
Earlier In the day, Mr.. Teller Coli
made speech in opposition to the
measure and was followed by Mr..
Elkins CIV. Va.) with u brief address In
support of 1t, although the West Wis
ginia Senator admitted that Ne would
much prefer the adoption of the policy OF
discriminating duties.
Mr.. Teller read from the report OF the
Commissioner of Navigation to prove
that the ship building industry was not
languishing and In need Of the assistance
of bounties.
Mr. Hanna said that during the last
year or two American ship yards had
been very busy, but he said they had
been busy in the construction of ships for
the coastwise trade almost exclusively.
The difference between the cost of opera
ton of ships in this country and Europe
at present made an Investment in Ameri-
can ships Improbable. The ship build
ing industry was not in healthy condi-
ton, he said.
Mr.. Elkins CIV. Va.), a member OF the
Committee on Commerce. supported the
pending bill. He directed attention to
the fact that the United States was pay
ing $780, 900 day TO foreign ship owners
for the carrying of our commerce. II we
had American shipping to carry our I'M
ports and exports, s200.O00,O00 annually
would be saved to the American people.
IL this money were expended among ours
own people at least 800, 600 600 year could
be expended in American ship yards which
would extend the influence of our busi-
ness men and accrue generally to the
benefit of American labor. Personally he
believed that the old policy of levying
discriminating duties was the best for
the upbuilding of the American merchant
marine.
A Joint resolution authorizing the Sec
rotary Of War to loan tents to the Texas
reunion association to meet at Dallas
April % 1902 was passed.
Mr. Bacon (Ga.) gave notice of an
amendment which he proposed to offer to
the subsidy bill providing that no contract
under the bill shall be binding upon the
Government until it should have been
admitted to and approved by Congress.
Mr. Bacon urged that the Postmaster
General ought not to be made responsible
for making of such contracts. Mr. Bacon
said if a bill to provide increased compen-
sation for mail lines between this coun-
try and South America were pending be-
fore the Senate. he would support it. He
was opposed, however, to bonuses. the
effect of which would be to give compen-
sation to those who did not need it,
Mr. Bacon had inserted in his remarks
q table showing the exports of American
products from the port of Boston for ten
months. the object being to show that
the bulk of those products was carried
in slow vessels. much in vessels under
900 tons burden These vessels, he con-
tended. would receive little or no SUBJ
sidy Similar tables were presented for
the ports of Savannah. Galveston and
other places. Mr.. Bacon asserted that
therefore, the subsidy would go to a few
favored large class mail steamships
which did not carry commerce of the
country
A bill appropriating $4,000 to establish
p marine hospital at Savannah. Ga, was
passed.
Mr. Allison then stated. as he said a
few objections. which he had to the sub
sidy bill as 1t now stood. He had had, he
continued, some difficulty in ascertaining
precisely what the measure proposed to
do. The measure, he said. provided no
limitation to the time the contracts made
under it should be in force. He gave no
tice of an amendment providing that An-
der the bill the Postmaster-Generall
should not make contracts after July |.
extend beyond July l. 1920 He gave no
tice of another amendment he proposed
to offer. providing that no vessel should
he entitled to full compensation under
the act until she shall have cleared from
4 port of lie United States with at least
80 per cent Of her cargo capacity. and
that the subsidy paid such vessels should
be reduced in proportion to the reduction
of her cargo below so per cent of her
capacity
Mr.. Allison believed also that there
ought To he limitation upon the aggre-
gait, amount OF subsidy to be paid an
nuallv under the bill. He suggested an
amendment limiting the amount of mail
r.v under the bill for each year until
1917. to $5.Ool0Oo annually and after that
date to IS. o0oO00 He said il no limitation
vcre Axed in the matter Of prices he did
not doubt that By next October telection
ksusl the publlc would be told that the