New-York tribune., 1902-03-04
PROTECTION TO SHIPPING,
SENATOR FRYE EXPLAINS AND ADVO-
Gates THE PASSAGE OF HIS
STRSTDY RTIT.
SUBSIDY BILL.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I !


[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIRE rRIBUNEI
Washington, March 3.-Senator Frye's Shipping
| Subsidy bill called up in the Senate to-day
under much more favorable auspices than attended
its appearance in the last Congress Mr. Frye ex-
planned the bill in his usually clear and lucid man
ner. dwelling with emphasis on the important point
that should any two Of the great European mari
time powers TO war. the farmers and manu-
facturers OF the United States would find
themselves shut out from the markets of the world,
whereas If the merchant marine of this country is
rehabllitated provided for in the Frye bill the
productive energies Of the United States would not
he thus paralyzed in the progress Of foreign war.
Mr.. Frye heard with marked attention by a
full chamber, and frequently interrupted with
questions from the Democratic side. II is expected
that Senator Clay. Of Georgia. will again lead the
opposition to the bill. but II Is not thought that
he can make much headway against the virtually
solid Republican support assured for IT, In the
last Congress the bill defeated through Re
publican indifference. due to the fact that Of
its features did not meet the approval OF in
huental group Of Western Republican Senators.
Mr.. Frye has eliminated all these Objectionable
features from the bill he is advocating and
there is excellent reason 10 believe that II Will
pass the Senate by good majority without ma
terial amendment.
SENATOR FRYE'S ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Frye said it seemed to him that the policy
Of protection had been vastly beneficial to the
American people only one Industry had been
without protection for fifty years and with the
logical result The shipping interests ~ the coun-
try had been neglected in the giving Of protection
With a seacoast boundIess. with enormous deposits
of iron and coal with the most sagacious business
men in the world. with the advantage OF every
natural resource the side OF the Ulited States
this country had permitted s interiors 70 seize the
pathways OF ocean commerce almost without
struggle.
1T seems to me- said Mr.. Frye that that pict-
ure ought 10 humiliate and mortfy beyond
preston any patriotic citizen of the United States
who glories I'm the power and prosperity ot his
country. II is not alone humiliating-it Is abso-
lutey dangerous"
Mr. Frye asked who was going to carry the
$iS0o0oo0 OF exports in the event OF war between
two European nations. Why said he the
farmers ard the manufacturers and the wage
ers OF the United States would nay penalty equal
to that paid by either Of the contending parties"
Mr. Frye then sought 10 show that this condition
Of things was caused by American wages, which
increased the cost Of ships for the foreign trade at
least . per cent He declared that Of all steam
ships in the world of fourteen knots and upward
so per cent subsidized by the countries whose
flags they carry, OF sixteen knots and upward.
he said all but six in the world are heavily sub
sidized by the countries whose flags they float.
The nations paying those subsidies. he declared,
did SO for the purpose Of extending their trade
for nothing else. Trade cannot pracede the mall"
said he. the mail must precede the trade"
THIS COUNTRY'S NEED OF MARKETS
Mr.. Frye contended that there is not a nation on
this earth that needs markets for It's surplus prod
ucts more than the United States. An American
ship. handled by intelligent active earnest and in
terested American officers he said is better in
strument for the distribution OF our products
abroad than German ship ofhcered with Ger
mans, Germany being strong commercial rival
Of the United States Mr.. Frye declared that free
ships. for which Senators were contending
would mean an increase in OF ships of q per
cent, and would close every shipyard in the United
States against building any vessel for foreign
trade. He said that hountes had been suggested
out these were repusnant to the constitution and a
violation of thirty-four commercial treaties with
different nations OF the world. Now these na-
tions are to-day looking jealousy at us" said Mr.
Frye and IL is said that they are STUDYING the
problem as TO how they can stop from getting
into these foreign markets" To abrogate these
treaties would only serve as an excuse for retaIia
ton. The only way to accomplish anything in the
direction indicated by him would be to nav from
~ me ITeasury OF the United States annually sum
81 81. money which shall be equal TO the difference
1etween the operating and carrying on of the trade
sells The Republican party had stood bv that IIes
bt protection OF and ENCOURAGEMENT ever since il had
use itself for leaving an industry as important
ne said should not terrify any one because II was
only another name of protection - was
Mr. Frye said that the enactment of the nendi,,
american shSysrds % fWo by SO Sa5s % So the
amounted to nearly 100000 Year and womd a
as an offset to the $6oOooO0 that Would be pad T I
81 ne pl ne thought, did not present very seri-
UuS proposition TO the Senate, which would au-
haPti ha9tIae IN hve minutes the construction of a
ITItIteshlp costing S5000000 and pass a River and
dan dtaroor Pli carrying $6OOOoOO0 in a few hours or
caiS II IN any respect the bill worked badly IL
NOulu De amended or repealed outright
BUSINESS IN AMERICAN sHIPYARDs
Al the close of Mr.. Frye's statement MIR. Bacon |
OF Georgia, inquired to the condition of business
IN American rhipyards. Was 1T true that thev
were fun of orders? 10y
1T is not true" replied Mr. FRYE
MI bacon asked II Mr.. Frye had not noted IN |
the newspapers the glowing accounts of the work |
oeIhg done in American shipyards
MT Frye replied that he had seen a narapr,D, |
10 the effect that Mr. Furness OF Great Rritain !
S lSu nade contract recently for the constructtn,
VI @ eIsht steamships in American yards Tba faHt
was tnat the contract had been made FOR the 60
ucuon OF the eight steamships in Great Rrte{1l
c,anrgt an ItespoHse to an inquiry from MIR cay Of
Isorgla, Mr Frye said there was NO Ia ~, ~ |
WI whiSn required that Americans should be emnIovad
Oh, Oh Anerlcan ships The pending bill he said r eu
uea Inat IN the rst year fourth of the crews
~ american vessels should be citizens % ,H
tbIrd Y sIa1es tne second year one-thrd and the
Mr. Clay and Mr. Bacon ho+b ,,.i.., -.
OF Lhe racine Mail Steamship Companv w.
10 Cninese and the former read the
~ the captain or the China, of that line sbnujny
'HL NJ apout one-third of the crew were Chiraso
N-N