Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
PASSES THE SENATE

. Il Il 3 i q Il 4 u y
during the next three years one-third
must be American citizens and during
the remaining life of the contract at
least one-half must be American citi-
zens. The ships must be crew steam
ships of iron or steel and divided into
the following classes, according to
speed: First class, twenty knots or ov-
er; second class, nineteen knots; third
class eighteen knots; fourth class,
seventeen knots; fifth class, sixteen
knots; sixth class, fifteen knots; sew
enth class. fourteen knots.
All steamships of the first four
classes shall be constructed with par
ticular reference to prompt conversion
into auxiliary naval cruisers and shall
thine commerce.
Fixes Rates of Compensation.
The rate of compensation for ocean
mail service, ito be paid per gross
ton for each 100 nautical
miles sailed from the port of clearance
in the United States to the port of en-
try in the United States, according to
the route required by the postoftice de-
partment, shall not exceed the follow
ing:
Steamships of the first class, 81
cents; second class, 2.5 cents; third
class, 2.3 cents; fourth class, 81 cents;
cents; seventh class, LIS cents
The rates of compensation to any
vessel carrying mails to a foreign port
in North America shall not exceed 20
per cent of the maximum rates estab-
lished
Mail steamships are required to car
ry as apprentices one American boy for
each 1000 tons gross register. He
shall be educated in seamanship and
engineering and rank as petty Off
Ger.
Subsidy for Ships in Trade.
Title of the bill provides for the
general subsidy to be paid. 1t directs
the secretary of the treasury to pay to
the owners OF any vessel in the United
, States duly registered and engaged in
the foreign trade of the United States
a compensation amounting to ] per
cent per gross registered ton for each
100 nautical miles sailed, not exceed
ling sixteen entries in any one year,
and on each entry, not exceeding six
! teen in any one year, for period of
| five years from the date OF registra-
| ton OF vessel of 4 900 gross tons
which shall be completed after the
passage of this bill, one-fourth of |
cent per gross ton, for each 100 nau,
/ teal miles sailed in addition to the
above mentioned compensation.
The bill specifies certain vessels
which shall not receive compensation
under its provisions, among them be
ing vessels engaged in the coastwise
trade exclusively.
| Each subsidized vessel is required
to carry as member of it's company
one American boy for each 1000 gross
tons, who shall be taught seamanshir
and engineering. The owners of the
vessel must agree before receiving
compensation that the ship in emer
gency may be used by the United
States for the national defense or fol
4 any public purpose at fair valuation
for this service.
Rates Fishing Ships May Draw
/ Title 8 of the bill directs the secre
tary of the treasury to pay to the own
er of a documented vessel engaged il
! deep sea fishery for at least three
months in any one year 50 per gros'
ton per annum, provided that at leaS
one-third of the crew shall be citizens
of the United States. and he is direct
ed to pay also to citizen of the Unit
ed States serving as member OF sucl
: crew 81 per month for the time he i
necessarily employed.
Title 4 provides that no vessel shall
be given compensation under two o
more titles of the act at the sam
Il time; that subsidized vessel shal
mot be sold to subject of a foreigl
power. and that the President of,ath
United States shall cause proper reg
7 mutations to be framed for the execution
of the act.