Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-03-19
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
II Passes the Senate by a Vote Of
AZ TO 81.
MADE,



Washington. March is-After pro.
longed debate the senate Monday pass.
cd the ship subsidy bill. the final vote
upon the measure being i2 to 81. Sen
ators Allison and Doliyer OF Iowa.
Spooner and ouarles OF Wisconsin and
Proctor and Dillingham; Of Vermont.
Republicans. voted against final pass
age Of the bill and Senator McLaurln
OF South Carolina. voted for II. Some
amendments TO the bill were adopted
but they were all agreeable to those
in charge OF the measure. the friends
OF the bill voting down all other amend.
meuts. With the exception OF amend.
ments offered by Mr.. Allison and ae-
eepted by Mr.. Frye. limiting the time
OF the operation OF contracts made un'
der the provision OF the bill to July
I. 1902. and providing that the amount
Of the expenditure under the mail sub
sidy paragraph should not at any time
exceed 5000. 900 annually. none - the
amendments agreed To materially az.
fected the bill as II was reported from
the commerce committee.
The voting upon amendments be-
gan at 3 O'Clock and such a food OF
them were offered that a final vote up
on the bill as amended was not reach.
ed until Just before 6 o'clock
Amendments offered by Mr.. Vest Of
Missouri. providing for "free ships"
and for the application of the provi-
sions OF the antitrust law TO the ship
ping industry we're rejected. as was
the amendment proposed by Mr.. Pat
terson OF Colorado. providing that no
Chinese person should be member
Of the crew Of a subsidized vessel.
Mr.. Pettus Of Alabama. offered an
amendment providing that the total
expenditure under the bill should not
exceed 50 100000 in any one year. II
was adopted In committee. but later In
the senate was rejected by a decisive
vote.
An amendment offered by Mr. Spoon
er was adopted providing that congress
should have power 20 amend or re-
peal the act without impairing any con.
tract made under It's authority.
Three amendments by Mr.. Hanna
were excepted applying 20 the acquisi-
tion by J Pierpont Morgan and his
associates Of the Leyland Line OF Brit.
ish shins They provide that no for
oign built ship shall participate in the
proposed subsidy; that nothing In the
act shall be construed 20 prevent Am.
erican citizens or corporations from
holding or operating foreign ships In
the ocean carrying trade: and that no
foreign built ship OF any line thus nc.
quired by American citizens shall be
admitted hereafter TO American regis
try.
The title OF the bill passed by the
senate Is.
To provide for ocean mail service
between the United States and foreign
ports and the common defense: 10 pro,
mote commerce and 20 encourage the
deep sea fisheries.
Title I OF the measure deals with
ocean mail steamships and their sub
sidles The postal subsidy act OF 1891
r. so amended as TO direct the post
master general 90 enter into contracts
for not less than five, nor more than
fifteen years with American citizens
for the carrying OF mails on American
steamships TO such foreign points as
will best promote the postal. COM
mercial and maritime interests OF the
United States: the mail service on
such lines 10 be equitably distributed
among the Atlantic. Mexican Gulf and
Pacific ports and the contracts 10 be
made with the lowest responsible bid
der.
The vessels employed in the mail ser.
vice shall be American built and own
ed and differed by American citizens.
During the first few years onefourth
OF the crew must be American citi'
xens. during the next three years. one
third must be American citizens and
during the demaining life Of the cen
tract az least one-half must be Ameri'
can tlAlAtur Nv nuAIto must " aNAh"
ships of iron or steel and divided In.
90 the following classes. according to
speed:
First. 20 knots or over: second. 10
knots: third. rs knots: fourth. IL
knots. fifth. l6 knots: sixth. Is knots;
seventh "a knots
All shlps OF the first four classes
shall be constructed with particular
reference 20 prompt conversion into
auxiliary naval cruisers. and shall be
OF the highest rating known TO mari
time commerce.
The rate Q. compensation for ocean
mail service ito be paid per gross reg
is.ered ton FOR each 100 nautical miles
sailed from the port OF clearance In the
United States 10 the port OF entry In
the United States. according required
by the postofilce department. shall not
exceed the following:
Steamships Of the first class. two and
seven-tenths cents; second. two and
fve-tenths cents: third. two and three
tenths cents: fourth. two and one