Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24

The passage Of the ship subsidy bill by
the senate had been a fOregone conclu-
sion for some weeks before the vote last
Monday, but the majority Of II for the
measure was more than was generally
expected. Six Republicans voted against
the bill and they are among the ahlest
members OF the senate.
The men who thus defed the lash of
their party were Allison and Dolllver, Of
Iowa: Spooner and Quarles. of Wisconsin,
Proctor and Dillingham;. OF Vermont.
The persistent opposition of this nota-
BILE group OF senators indicates that there
is a very serious division on this subject
in the Republican party and strengthens
the hope that the measure may be de-
feated m the house.
The Republican senators who fought
the bill succeeded in amending il in sew
eral important particulars. Senator ALI
son put through an amendment limiting
the expenditure under the bill TO $780, 600
a year until July /. 1907. and after that
date 10 $4,000 year. These amend
ments limit the operation of the bill to Is
instead OF % years. and to a total ex-
penditure Of S2s.oo0.0oo instead Of $780,
OOO.0o0.
The Spooner amendment which reserves
to congress the right to amend or repeal
the act at any time providing that no
contract be impaired was agreed to.
Senator Hanna made a very important
concession for prudential reasons when
he offered an amendment 10 the effect
that mo foreign built ship should receive
any part of the subsidy under this act.
This was agreed to and IL will gain some
votes for the bill in the house which II
would not have received otherwise. Even
Foraker, hide-bound partisan as he is
came very near flying the track. He ad-
mitted frankly in one of his speeches on
the measure that he had little faith in
the restoration of our merchant marine oy
the bounty route. The opposition to the
oil by many leading Republican newspa-
pers continues as active and determined
as ever.
The Chicago Tribune. the leading Re-
publican journal of the west. speaks for
a very large element in its party when 1t
says:
THE Tribune disrespectfully submits
that the subsidy bill is high price to pay
for the support Of the Pennsylvania rail-
road in national campaigns in states
where It is not needed. The Republican
party can, unaided, carry Pennsylvania
II II can carry any state. When it cannot
honestly carry Ohio. 1t cannot carry the
country and does not deserve to carry IT.
The effrontery Of the subsidy proceed
ing Is the amazing and discouragfng feat
ure Of It. When any considerable number
OF Republican senators become so case
hardened that they can introduce and in
sist upon the passage of a measure of this
character they are evidently preparing the
way for a serious public rebuke of their
party That party. when the money ques-
ton is out of the way, does not stand be-
fore the country in an unassailable posi-
ton. Its alliances with the money power
in the east have given rise to much popu-
lar discomfort in the west. When a part
nership of this kind is avowed, and is
proclaimed to the whole country as being
a recognized compact. it is an invitation
TO a popular uprising which cannot be
overlooked. Such an invitation win be
swiftly followed by an acceptance in quar-
tiers where It is least looked for or de-
sired
It is very clear that the passage of this
bin by the senate has aroused serious APP
prehensions on the part Of many Republic
can politicians and the action of the house
on il is uncertain. The best information
indicates that the bill has hard road to
travel In the house OF representatives.