Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-17
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
Vote Will Be Taken Before Adjourn
nent of the Senate This Evening
Congressional Matters.

Washington. March 17.-The senate
ing the day on which the final vote up
on the ship subsidy will be taken. The
resolution providing for the appoint-
ment of board to investigate the pro-
ject of construction of an interoceanlc
canal across the isthmus of Darien was
reported unfavorably by the inter-
oceanic canal committee and indeti-
nitely postponed.
Gallinger, of New Hampshire, spoke
in favor of the bill He said he was
not troubled about the constitution
ality of the proposed law or charge
that the subsidy is gift to private
interests. Ii it shall prove to be a
gift, said he, 1T will be no worse than
other legislation that has had the sup
port of some senators who seem to
be greatly distressed over the pending
measure" He then referred to the
large annual appropriations paid
southern railroads for fast mail and
river and harbor appropriations. Tho
capacious and rapacious NAV of the
he, and will take in millions of the
public money" Patterson, of Colorado.
discussed briefly his proposed amend
ment to prevent the employment OF
Chinese seamen on subsidized vessels.
He said the amendment had the ap-
proval of the American Federation of
Labor, and International Seamen's
Union.
Money. of Mississippi, said it had
been claimed the American people were
losing $160.000,000 a year because that
amount was paid to foreign bottoms
for carrying our commerce. AS a fact
the United States had lost nothing, as
lit simply paid a reasonable rate for
services rendered. Vest spoke in favor
of his free ships amendment and in
support of the proposition to apply an
THRUST laws to ship owners who enter
into conspiracy in restraint of trade.
Frye declared that ten years ago Eng
land carried 63 per cent of the ocean
trade of the world, while now England
carried only SO per cent of that trade.
Great Britain, he said, was losing the
worlds Carrying trade In response to
some arguments advanced Hanna spoke
briefly He insisted it was a loss to the
American people to pay S150,000,000, or
$200,000,000 for carrying our foreign
commerce. for under just laws perhaps
so 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 reply to statement
made by Hanna Clay, of Georgia, de-
clared that one cent per gross ton was
all that was necessary to equalize the
difference between the cost of construc-
ton and operation of American ships
and the construction and operation of
foreign ships. yet the present bill pro-
vided for a subsidy of nearly cents
per gross ton. Wellington, of Mary
land, favored the pending measure, be-
cause he believed it would go far to-
ward building UP an American mer-
chant marine He paid high tribute
to Frye for his advocacy of the hibili-
tation of the American merchant mar
inc. In his speech on the subsidy bill
Frye said he would accept the amend
ments offered by Allison, limiting the
time of operation of the measure. be-
cause he believed they were in the in
tereStS of the bill