The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-17
Senate Closes Debate on the
Shipping Bill.
Gallinger Says It's No Worse
Than Other Steals.
CALENDAR is CLEARED.
The Circumstance is Considered
Worthy of Remark.
River and HarbOr Measure Dis
cussed in House.

Washington March 17.-The senate
convened at IL o'clock today, this being
the day on which the final vote upon
the ship subsidy bill is to be taken.
BY agreement the voting the bill and
all pending amendments is to begin at
8 p. m, speeches on the measure to be
limited to Is minutes, except that Mr..
Frye, in charge of the bill, was granted
80 minutes in which to reply to argu-
ments made against the bill
resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of board to investigate the
project of constructing an interoceanic
canal across the isthmus of Darien was
reported unfavorably by the inter-
oceanic canals committee and was in
definitely postponed.
Pending discussion of the subsidy bill,
the following bills were passed: APP
propriating $4,000 for a public build
ing at Colorado Springs, Colo, granting
the Central Arizona Railway company
a right OF way for railroad purposes
through the San Francisco mountain
forest reserve, granting to the Universe
ty of Utah additional lands adjacent to
its site, appropriating 100000 for pub
lie building at Laramie, Wyo., for the
acknowledgment of deeds and other in
struments in the Philippine islands and
Porto Rico, affecting lands situated in
the District of Columbia, or any terri
treSpaSserS or intruders from entering
the Mount Rainier national park, state
of Washington; appropriating $4,000 for
, the purchase of the Francis B. Hoffman
manuscript of the historical register,
United States army from 1883 to 1901.
AS the last public bill on the calendar
was passed Mr.. Hale remarked that in
all his experience he had never before
known the last public bill on the calen-
dar to be reached and disposed of. ut
is an indication that the senate is doing
business said he.
The ship subsidy bill then was taken
up and Mr.. Gallinger On. H.) spoke in
favor of it, He said he was not troubled
about the constitutionality of the pro-
posed law or the charge that the sub
sidy is gift to private interests. If it
shall prove to be a gift said he. it
would be no worse than other Iegisla-
ton that has had the support of some
senators who seem to be greatly dis
tressed over the pending measure.
He then referred to the large annual
appropriations paid southern railroads
for fast mail and the river and harbor
appropriations.
The capacious and rapacious NAV
of the Mississippi river will be opened
said he. land will take in millions of
public money
Mr.. Patterson (Col) discussed brief
ly his proposed amendment to prevent
the employment of Chinese seamen on
subsidized vessels He said the amend
ment had the approval of the American
Fed6raI1On OF LABOR ana the 1nLerna-
tional Seamen's union. American labor
had been driven from employment on
ships on the Pacific coast by Chinese
labor.
Mr. Money CNfiss) said it had been
claimed that the American people were
losing $160,000,0 600 a year because that
amount was paid to foreign bottoms for
carrying our commerce. AS a fact the
United States had lost nothing, as it
simply paid reasonable rate for serv-
ices rendered.
Mr.. Vest spoke in favor of his free
ships amendment and in support of the
proposition to apply the antitrust laws
to ship owners who enter into a con-
spiracy in restraint of trade.
Mr.. Frye declared that ten years ago
England carried So per cent. of the
ocean trade of the world, while now
England carried only 53 per cent. of
that trade. Great Britain, he said. was
losing the worlds carrying trade
In response to some of the arguments
advanced Mr.. Hanna spoke briefly. He
insisted that it was a loss to the Amer
lean people to pay $15e, Oo0,0 900 or $780,
commerce, for under just laws perhaps
90 per cent. of that amount would re-
main in the hands of Americans. The
American merchant marine had gone
down and down until it cut a sorry fig
ure among the nations of the world.
In the course of a reply to a state
ment made by Mr. Hanna. Mr.. Clay
(Ga.) declared that one cent per gross
ton all that was necessary 10
of construction and opera ton of Amer
lean ships and the construction and
operation OF foreign ships, yet the pres