The Washington times., 1902-03-06
Objects to Proposed Increas-
ed Payments on Contracts.
EXPENDITURE UNJUsTIFIABLE
Declares That American Shipyards Have
Three or Four Years Work Ahead
Few American Saiiors-No Date Fixed
for Final Vote.

l
subsidy bill.
He devoted the larger part OF his at
tention to the first portion of the bill,
which provides larger payments to ships
that shall be awarded contracts for carry
ing the mails. Senator Clay expressed
the opinion that these payments are sub
sides quite as much as any others, and
that 1t Is a subterfuge to suggest that
| they are paid simply for carrying the
mails.
Not American Sailors.
In answer to the argument made by Mr..
Frye that the American sailors receive
higher wages than those of any other ma
tionality, Mr.. Clay said that as matter
of fact q large part of the crews of all
American ships are composed of for
eigners. He said further that there Is
nothing in the law to prevent American
lines from employing whom they will and
at as low wages as they can.
Mr.. Clay began his speech by saying
his criticism of the bill was in no sense
intended as a reflection on the ability or
intelligence of the Senator in charge Of
the bill tMr. Frye. That Senator and he
belonged to different schools of policy
and looked at the pending measure from
different points of view.
He would use only truth and logic, SO
that the Senate might reach an intelli
gent conclusion as to the merits of the
proposed legislation.
Cost Largely Increased.
The mail service for the current fiscal
year, Mr.. Clay said would cost s2.310.-
110, under contracts made by the POST
master General; and the lines so con-
tracted with could be maintained. he be-
lieved. for less rates than were now paid.
But under the pending measure the cost
of carrying the mails would be, he as
serted. largely increased.
He did not believe that any political
party would. as a business proposition,
pay the prices fixed in the pending bill
for foreign mail service. Besides, there
was evidently an intention to join postal
and general subsidies in the same fea-
ture of the bill.
He asserted that under the act of 1881
the foreign mail service was amply eff
cient. The Postmaster General had not
made a recommendation for any such
change as was contemplated in the pend
ing bill.
whether this foreign mail service was
performed by American vessels.
Not by American Vessels.
81 think not" Mr.. Clay replied. But
we are getting the mail through I am
not able to say how much of this for
eign mail was carried in foreign steam
ships and how much in American. But
that the mail is carried / have not a
doubt. because the Postmaster General
says so in his report.
''The increased expenditure under the
pending bill will amount to nearly three
millions a year. This cannot be justified
by any information thus far presented
to the Committee on Commerce
Mr.. Harris Dem., Kan.) asked Mr.. Clay
whether there was any provision for COM
petition in letting the mail contracts.
MIR. Clay replied that that matter
would be entirely in the hands of the
Postmaster General.
Mr.. Hanna (Rep, Ohio asked whether
it was not a fact that all mail contracts
were let in that way.
At Postmaster Generals Discretion.
'.I think the Senator from Ohio is cor
rect" Mr. Clay replied. MY understand
ing is that under the act of 1891 the for
eigu mail service is left to the Postmaster
General to contract for in his discre-
ton"
There is nothing in this bill changing
the matter of letting contracts. That is
what l wanted to get at" Mr.. Hanna re-
marked.
Mr. Clay went on with his argument.
and declared that the fact that Great
Britain paid over Si,000,000 for carrying
her foreign mails was no argument in
support of the pending measure. He
stated his objections to its subsidy fea-
ture disconnected from this foreign mail
service.
In the course of Mr.. Clay's speech he
was asked by Mr.. Burton (Rep.. Kan.).
why it was. if American shipbuilding
yards could build ships as cheaply as
English or German yards. they did not
have sufficient work to employ them.
Years Work Ahead.
at can be demonstrated Mr.. Clay re-
piled, that the shipyards of the United
States have three to four years work on
hand. The reason why our foreign ocean
trade has fallen off is that the coasting
trade is so enormously profitable that
ship owners coniine their investments to
it. and avoid the foreign trade wiiere they
have no such monopoly
Mr. Clay compared the prices of steel
and iron ship building material in Eng
land and the United States in the year
1s91-the prices being less here than
there-and he asked Mr. Hanna whether
he believed that statement
Mr. Hanna intimated his assent
Il am glad that you believe it said
Mr.. Clay. He added. and that condition
of things would have continued had it
not been for the organization OF the Steel
Trust"
As to the claim that larger rates of
wages had to be paid on American shiDs
than on foreign ships, Mr.. Clay argued
that there was nothing in it. as four
ffths of the men employed on American
were taken on at Liverpool,
Antwerp, and Hongkong. just as the men
employed on foreign steamships were.
Will Conclude Today.
Without finishing his speech Mr.. Clay
yielded the floor. saying that he would
today. The bill was then laid
aside as the unfinished business.
Mr.. Frye Gin charge of the blD asked
whether an arrangement could not be
made Tor taking vote on it.
Mr.. Berry Dem, Ark), a minority
member Of the Committee on Commerce.
said that he had conferred with the other
members and that they were
willing TO have Monday Of the week after
next fixed as the time fog voting.
Mr.. Frye then asked unanimous con
sent to the effect. but on Mr.. Pettus sug
costing that there were too few Senator'S
present to bind the Senate and that the