The Washington times., 1902-03-05
Explains His Advocacy of the
Present Measure.
DEEP SEA FISHERIES BOUNTY
Senator Frye Quotes Messages of Pres
idents Urging Legislation to Build Up
the Merchant Marine - Mr. Clay to
Speak Today.

The Senate spent an hour or more on
the steamship subsidy bill yesterday lis
tening to a continuation Of Mr. Frye's
speech.
When the bill was called UP at 2 o'clock
Mr. Clay announced that MIR. Vest. who
was to have spoken in opposition to the
measure yesterday, did not desire to do
so, but would speak today. He stated
that the debate on the bill on the Demo-
cratic side of the chamber would not
consume much time. and asked that the
bill go over.
CONTINUED His Remarks.
Senator Frye stated that if no Democrat
wished TO speak he would add few re-
marks to his speech of Monday.
1T is knowu' he went on to say, that
l favored very strongly the bill of last
session, and there may be some surprise
felt at my now advocating a bill entirely
different" He stated that he has not
changed his opinion at all, and that he
believed now that for the purpose de-
signed there never was a better bill than
the one Of last session. He expressed
the opinion that it would have done more
for the restoration of the mercantile
marine than any other bill that could be
drawn ~.
But 1 recognize the fact that among
the friends of such restoration there were
serious objections to some of the pro-
visions of that bill." he said, "and it is
TO meet these objections that the present
measure has been drafted
Large Freight Carriers.
Senator Frye made the statement that,
contrary to the opinions expressed by
some opponents to the ship subsidy plan,
the fast mail steamships are large car
riers of freight.
The four ships now receiving postal
subsidies from the Government" he said,
each carries an average of $4,000. 900 a
year of freight. They carry goods in con-
centrated form and perishable goods, like
fresh meats and fruits. chiefly"
He pointed out that this amount of
freight is larger than can be hauled by
slow freight ship of 10000 tons burden
carrying wheat. This he cited as a refu-
tation of the plea that the liners are
really passenger steamers only and not
actually an important part of the mer-
chant marine.
Deep Sea Fisheries Bounty.
Mr.. Frye also made a plea for the
bounty to the deep sea fisheries, which
he had neglected to mention on Monday
He stated that these fisheries have con-
tributed many thousands of sailors to the
navy for the United States wars. and that
more have been drafted from this source
than from all others combined.
Addressing himself especially to the Re-
publican side of the chamber, Mr. Frye
said:
This bill is q logical response 20 the
demand and principles of the Republican
party" In quoting messages of a long
line of Republican Presidents favorable
to the building up OF the merchant ma
rine, he read such an expression from
Benjamin Harrison. Whom l regard Z"
Mr.. Frye said, "as one of the ablest
Presidents this country has ever had. He
came from the Middle West
Indiana, take notice" remarked Mr..
Hanna, sotto voce in nudging Mr. Bev-
eridge, who sat next to him.
Extracts From Messages.
He read extracts from the messages of
Presidents Arthur. Mckinley. and Roose-
welt. One of Mr. McKinley's remarks was
that the condition of the American mer-
chant marine caused humiliation at
home and surprise abroad" while Mr..
Roosevelt characterized it as "discredit-
able to US as nation"
Secretaries of the Navy" Mr.. Frye
continued, Secretaries of the Treasury
and Postmasters General, in their annual
reports, have again and again very ear
nestly called attention to the necessity of
the restoration of the merchant marine
and / notice that Mr.. Wilson, the Secre-
tary of agriculture, in a recent inter-
view, used very strong and vigorous Lam
guage in the interest of the farmers of
the United States for that restoration"
Before taking his seat he expressed the
hope that today or tomorrow the Senate
would fix upon time for taking the vote
on the bill.
Mr.. Clay Dem., Ga) addressed the
Chair, and Mr.. Frye. who was still on the
floor, responded:
''The Senator from Georgia." and in
stantly, amid laughter, apologized for his
having forgotten that he was not in the
chair
The bill was laid aside as unfinished
business, after Mr.. Clay had given notice
that ne would address the Senate at 2
O'Clock today.
At p. m the Senate proceeded to ex-
ecutive business and at $40 adjourned un-
til today.