The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-15
SUBSIDIES NOT NEEDED
McLaurin of Mississippi Attacks the
Shipping Bill.
HARRIS OF KANSAS ALSO OPPOSES IT
He Takes Ground That II is Unconstitutional
Adding That We Pay More Now for
Carrying Ocean Mails Than
Other Powers Pay.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, March 14.-Throughout
4. the session of the Senate today the Ship
Subsidy Bill was under consideration
The measure was discussed by Mr..
Foraker, of Ohio, Mr.. McLaurin, of Mis-
sissippi, and Mr.. Harris, of Kansas
Mr.. Foraker supported the bill, al
preferred to build up the American
merchant marine by the leVying OF dis
eliminating duties. He was willing,
! however, to defer to the judgment of the
1 majority, that the pending measure EN-
, bodied the better plan
While Mr.. Foraker was discussing the
mail routes to be established under the
pending bill, Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, in
sisted that the measure should specify
what routes should be established, that
! no such important question should be
left to the Postmaster General.
Mr. Foraker admitted that he would
prefer such q course but Mr.. Hanna
suggested that the ship owners ought to
have something to say upon that sub
ject, as it would not be just to provide
routes that could not be operated at a
profit.
Mr.. Foraker asserted that the Interna-
tional Navigation Ccmpany-the Ameri-
can line-had made no money by carry
ing the mails under the postal subsidy
act, and did not care for renewal of
it's contract.
Mr.. McLaurin, of Mississippi, follow
ed Mr.. Foraker. He was opposed not
only to the bill, he said, but to the prin-
iples it represented. Whatever is given
by the Government as a subsidy, Mr..
McLaurin charged would simply be a
contribution to the dividends of those
engaged in shipping instead of for the
purpose of encouraging ship building in
this country. He said there had been
no decadence in ship building in the
United States, all reports tending to
show that that industry is now expert
encing a boom such as it has not had in
fifty years. He attacked the proposed
United States Ship Building Company,
and called it a combination formed for
the purpose of employing labor as eco
nomically as possible.
Referring to his amendment, intro
duced recently, requiring the names of
persons, firms and members of corpora
tions that would be benefited by the
bill to be made public, Mr. McLaurin
said that the taxpayers from whom the
subsidy must come should have an op-
portunity to know the individuals to
whoTn their money is paid. Speaking of
that portion of his amendment prohibit
ing Senators and members from enjoy
ing any of the benefits of the bill by
reason of their interest In shipping, he
said that the necessity of eliminating
ones interest when it conflicts with
duty to the United States is apparent.
He cited in support of his position the
charges brought against Ambassador
Clayton and said that a Government of
fetal must not have his duty on one side
and his private interests on the other
In conclusion, Mr.. McLaurin said he
was as anxious as any Republican Sena-
tor to rehabilitate the American mer-
chant marine but he would rather not
see the American flag float over one
American merchant vessel than to see
enc stained with the taint Of money
which did not legitimately belong 10 its
owner.
Mr.. Harris opposed the measure, par
ticularly on the ground that it, was not
constitutional. Mr.. Harris made the
point that the United States now was
the carrying of ocean mails than was
paid to foreign ships for greater SER
vice.