Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-05-23
REPUBLICANS OPPOSE SUBSIDY.

Many Denounce the Frve Bill Many Mort
Talk Against the Grab but Refuse II
| be Quoted.
The House Merchant Marine Com
mittee are continuing the considera
tion of the Ship Subsidy Bill. They
have had several hearings upon it aDC
there are more to follow. Andrew
| Feruseth, of the international Seamens
Union of America, and Charles Camp
bell, of the Marine Industrial League
of New York, were before the last
meeting. They are in favor of the gen.
eral purpose of the bill but were dis
satisfied with some of its details. Re-
quests for future hearings against the
bill have been filed by the joint com
mittee of the American Antitrust
League and local knights of Labor.
Other interests, both for and against
the bill, are expected to be heard.
The trend of Congressional sentiment
is now in opposition. Recent develop
ments in the shipping world have done
much more to arouse the opponents of
the bill than to encourage its friends.
The Democrats are united against it.
Republican opposition is widespread.
The following expressions from well
known Republican members of the
House evidence the character and ex-
tent of this opposition:
Mr.. Crumpacker Of Indiana: "The
tendency toward consolidation on the
part of the great International Steam
ship Lines will defeat the object of the
pending Ship Subsidy Bill and ought
to defeat the bill itself. The country
will not consent to the payment of
large subsidies to steamship companies
that have become part of ocean trans
portation combinations organized for
the purpose of keeping up ocean freight
rates.
Mr.. Perkins of New York: 81 do not
think the bill will be brought up at the
present session, nor do 1 believe it
could pass now. The name of sub
sidy' is unpopular and there is evident
ly much opposition to the pending bill.
Nc one could object to the bill if its pro-
posed object would be insured by its
enactment. If bills were considered
only by their titles, every bill would
be a good bill. but the question is
whether this sort of legislation would
result in the development of American
Commerce. There is no doubt that it
would benefit some large interests. If
Congress could be convinced that the
results claimed would be brought about,
the bill would be passed. There are,
however, many members who view
such legislation with a great deal of
distrust."
Mr.. Barney of Wisconsin: Il am op-
posed to the pending Subsidy Bill, be-
cause, as it is framed. it is in the in
terest of large shipowners and ship
builders and not in the interest of
smaller ones. While favor in gen.
eral way the promotion of foreign COM
merce. am not in favor of protect
ing large corporations by giving them
an advantage over smaller ones"
Mr. Henry G.. Smith of Michigan:
81 do not believe we ought to pay
subsidy for carrying wind, and that
is what the pending bill proposes to
do. The subsidy. as proposed, applies
as much to vessels when empty as
when they are carrying full load"
Mr.. Curtis Of Kansas: "I was op-
posed to the bill as presented to the
last Congress. l have not had time to
carefully examine the bill as it now
stands but l understand that the OBJ
]ections to the old bill have not been
entirely removed IN the new. If this
should appear to be true when the bill
comes up, l shall oppose it and in so
doing I think 1 shall represent the
sentiment of Kansas"
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa: II am willing
to vote for a Subsidy bill under GER
tain conditions but am not willing
to vote extravagant appropriations for
that purpose. want the subsidy
limited to vessels adapted to cargoes
rather than passengers. l do not look
upon the pending Senate bill as accom-
plishing what 1 would want in Sub
sidy Bill.
Mr.. Woods of California: Il am Op-
posed to the pending Ship Subsidy Bill.
First-because it does not subsidize In
equitable proportions the proper kind
of ships The slow ships are in need
of a subsidy-not the greyhounds of
the sea- The latter can pay good di-
vidends without any subsidy. Second
II am opposed to subsidizing any
ships manned substantially by foreign
sailors. This bill gives subsidy to a
number of ships that employ Chinese
labor"
Mr.. Haugen of Iowa: II have not
time to discuss the Subsidy bill in de-
tail but 1 am free to say that l am op-
posed to it as it is now constituted, OPP
posed to it as it is likely to come up at
this session if it should come up at all /,
and am inclined, at this time, to op-
pose it in any shape"
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