The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-12
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
The Opposition to the Unfair and
Arbitrary Methods Of the
Frye Bill.
Legislation at This Session of Con-
gress Said to Be
-.- Doomed. .
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build.

Washington, Dec. 12.-Ship subsidy
legislation seems doomed, so far as this
session Of congress is concerned, which
means that 1t probably will not for years
reappear in it's present form. Chairman
Grosvenor Of the house committee on
the pending bill in charge, has not called
a meeting of the committee, and there
are no signs that he is thinking of doing
so. The committee deadlock, nine to
eight against reporting the senate bill, re-
mains unbroken, ard the chances are that
this situation will not change.
The pending bill was drawn especially
In the interest of the big shipping lines;
indeed, 1T was drawn under their
immediate direction, or that Of their
friends; it would give these companies the
lions share of the proposed subsidies, and
freeze out all of the smaller lines. includ-
ing those plying between Pacific ports
and the orient. At the time the discus
sion was alive. during the last session of
congress, the republicans who are respon-
sible for the present committee deadlock
Messrs. Jones of Washington, Stevens OF
Minnesota and Minor Of Wisconsin, put
their subsidy views in the form of pro-
posed bill, but the bill was not
introduced, it being assumed that
the committee would not re-
port it. That bill is so framed as to pre-
vent the big companies from getting more
than fair share Of the proceeds and al
the same time it extends the 'glad hand
to the smaller companies.
When the subsidy question is revived in
congress, as it will be some day, it is be-
lieved that this proposed BILL, drawn by
Messrs. Jones, Stevens and Minor, will be
the basis of any legislation that may be
perfected
"Why hasn't the bill been introduced?''
I asked a prominent antisubsidy member
of the house recently.
And he replied: 1.-The three republicans
who oppose the pending bill are uniting
with the democratic members Of the COM
mittee. It would be out of the question
to secure democratic aid for any subsidy
proposition, and equally out of the ques-
ton to secure the aid of those republicans
of the committee who favor the senate
bill. The result is that if the bill en-
bodying the western ideas were intro
duced, it would receive the three repub-
lican votes named, and none besides. Re-
alizing that this would be the situation.
presume that Messrs. Jones, Stevens and
Minor do not care to consume valuable
time in beating the air. But ut the same
time, these three men, with democratic
support in the committee, are able to pre-
vent a report Of the pending bill; so, there
will be no subsidy legislation at this SEES
IL
be dead for some years to come
why did the big shipping companies
oppose the plan of these western mem
bers?'
Because under it they would have re.
ceiVed comparatively a small slice Of the
subsidy
$ It is believed by men who are studying
the subsidy question in an unbiased way
that nothing will be done by congress ir
the direction Of providing subsidies unit
it has been thoroughly demonstrated By
T long, experience that the American mer.
chant marine cannot be built up excep
by government aid Great Britain, Ger.
many and France. provide: literally fo1
their ship owners, and under this protec
ton the merchant marine of those coun
tries has been rapidly and substantial.
extended. Perhaps at the end Of five o
tten years this country will realize tina
a growth Of ten per cent per year il
American shipping is entirely too small
when compared with an average growth
Of fifty per cent abroad. Then there will
be legislation; but that legislation will
probably follow the general lines Of thu
idea embodied III the plan of Messrs
| Jones, Stevens and Minor. and not tina
| Of Senator Frye, the author of the pend
ing bill. The trouble in the present con
gress is not so much opposition to tn
| subsidy principle as to the very unfai
and arbitrary manner in which the Fry
bill seeks to apply that principle.
| w. w. Jermane.