The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-18
SPOONER is AMONG THEM
Allison Also and Elkins Damns With
Faint Praise.
IT IS RAKEO BY The MINORITY REPO7
Even We're a Subsidy Needed It IS Not Con-
gresS' Business TO Take he Peoples
Money TO Prop up Private
Interests
lRy the Associated Prose-

Washington. March -DlneftHGc 81
opinion on the Republican side appeared
Iin the senate debate on the ship subsidy
Bill today. Mr.. Allison, OF Iowa, indi-
Gated 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 annually to be paid from the
treasury on account of it.
He was followed by Mr.. S~pooner, Of
Wisconsin. who took exceptions to some
provisions OF the measure. He was not
at all certain that the bill would accom-
plish the great results which its advo-
Gates claimed for it. and he urged that,
before its enactment into law, definite
Information upon that point ought 10 To
furnished to Congress. He did not care
to vote for a measure making an appro-
~priation thai not only would not accom-
plish definite results, but which might
be simply a large largess to ship oHn-
ers. He gave notice Of an amendment,
which he proposed TO offer providing
that the bill. might be amended or re-
pealed By Congress without, however.
impairing any contract made under its
provisions. This amendment would be q
notice, he said. that the subsidy could
not be a safe foundation upon which to
build largely.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Teller, of Colo
RADIO, made a speech in opposition -
the measure, and was followed by Mr..
Elkins. of West Virginia, with a brief
address in support of it. although the
West Virginia Senator admitted that he
would much prefer the adoption of the
policy Of discriminating duties.
Mr.. Bacon. (Georgial. 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 submitted to and approved by
Congress.
In the course Of some remarks in sup
port of the amendment. Mr.. Bacon urged
that the Postmaster General ought not
TO be made responsible for the making
of such contracts. 1t was such a dele
cation of authority by Congress as he
did not think would be approved by the
American people
Discussing chiefly the general purpose
Of the bill, Mr.. Bacon said that the word
subsidy had no terrors for him. II a
bill to provide increased compensation
for mail lines between this country and
South America, for instance, were rcnd-
ing before the Senate, he would support
1t. He was opposed. however. to bonuses.
the effect of which would he to give com
pensation 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 sho.v
that the bulk of those products was car
RED IN slow vessels. much in vessels
under LOCO tons burden. The vessels
he contended. would receive little or no
SUBSIDY. Similar tables were presented
tor the ports Of savannah, Galveston and
other places Mr.. Bacon asserted
threfore, thar the subsidy would go tn
a few favored large class mail stoam-
ships, which did not carry the commerce
of tho country.
Mr. Allison stated as he said. i few
objections which he had to the subsidy hfII
as It now stood. He had had. he can
tlnEed some difficulty in ascertafriur
pleelSelH what the measure proposed 10
20 and his difficulty had not dimjnfshoa
as the debate bad proceeded. The meas
urc in its operation ought 10 have an
END - well as a beginning. yet it rro-
VtGcd no limitation TO the time the con
tracts made under it should he in force
lie gave notice, therefore. Of an amend
ffent providing that under the bill The
postmaster General should not make con
tracts after July 3. 1910. and thar Tho
contracts should not extend beyond .Tplv
/, l'2o. He gave notice OF another
amendment he proposed to offer providing !
mat nc vessel should be entitled 10 full
compensation under the act unless she
Sh%h have cleared from . port Of tho
United States with at least 80 per cent
Of her cargo capacity.
Mr.. Allison believed also that there
ought % be a limitation upon the aggro- |
gate amount OF subsidy to be paid an
nually under the bill.
Mr.. Spooner Wisconsin,. said that win
the general motives Of tho bin M eo.a
american could now find himself ia o.no-
sltioa. The desirabiIity that American |
"Ioiucts should be carried in an tmerf-
can merchant marine was apparent to
aIl. Personally. ne long ago had formed
ne opinion that the true method of the
revival Of our merchant marine was bv
the leTying Of discriminating duties. b1t
our hands had been tied by treaties which
prevented the leyying Of such duties. #
the tni7ed States should d~enounce those
treaties harm might follow but he did
- - hthGig' % the doctrine that the
United States forever was t. be bound -
treaties with our competitors. The mas
sage 81 pending bill would produce retail
ialIon and the retaliation caused ~ the
abrosation of the treaties would differ
only IN name. He said he would not have
voted for the bill Of last year.
Lis Investigations induced him to dourt
whether the pending bill would accom-
iIlsh the results hoped To- bv its adrc-
Gates He said i had hen confauard