The Washington times., 1902-03-15
Usual Saturday Recess
Foregone to Dispose of
Shipping Bill.
VOTE 70 Be TAKEN ON MONDAY
Messrs. Foraker, McLaurin.
and Harris Yesterday
Debators.
Mr.. TELLER TO SPEAK TODAY
Senator Foraker Endorses the Frye Bill
as the Best Available Measure 10 Re
store Merchant Marine-Favors Dis
eliminating Duties.

Senators Foraker, Harris, and Ne
Laurin of Mississippi made the speeches
on the shipping bill In the Senate yes
terday.
They occupied the entire day. except
for late executive session, and there
are still number of Senator's who wish
to discuss the measure. The Senate will
forego its usual Saturday holiday today
in order to accommodate them, or part
Of them. at least. An agreement has
been entered into that vote shall be
taken on in6a.1sy.
Will Vote Despite Objections.
Senator Foraker was the first speaker
yesterday. He said that while he wsffd
vote for the measure and advocate its
enactment. he did not hesitate to state
that he found objections to certain of its
features.
He had always favored. and still did
the enactment of discriminating duties.
The objection had been raised that re-
turn to the old policy would be viola
tion of a score or more of treaties, and
subject US to retaliatory measures. He
did not stand in fear. he said, but he felt
that inasmuch as the sentiment at pres
ent was against such policy, he be-
lieved that the pending measure was the
next best thing to bring about the res
toration Of the merchant marine.
Old Policy Inadvisable.
In response to Mr.. Teller's interroga-
tion as to whether or not the Senator
from Ohio meant that the Republican
party was opposed to the policy of dis
eliminating duties when it had advocated
that policy in the national platform Of
1896, Mr.. Foraker replied that he believed
that the party felt that at this time and
for the reasons given such a return to the
old policy was inadvisable.
Mr. Foraker stated his belief that ships
bought abroad by Americans could not
fly the American flag. Mr.. Teller rather
gleefully pointed to the Commissioner Of
as authority for the assertion
that they could.
We'll, I'm delighted to find something
In the report of the Commissioner OF
that the minority can en-
iorse." responded Mr.. Foraker, with such
tartness as to bring a laugh from the Re-
publican side of the chamber.
In the course of Mr.. Foraker's further
argument the question came up whether
the bill should not specify the mail routes
hat were to be established under the bill.
Mr. Bacon insisted that IL should and Mr..
Foraker admitted that he would prefer
that course.
Improbable Routes.
NJ Hanna c-uoasted houavar that tha
steamship owners ought to have some
hing to say on that. 1t would not be fair
10 require them to establish routes that
would not be profitable.
Mr.. Bacon insisted that the Improbable
,outes might be the most necessary.
In proof of the greater cost of the
American construction of ships, Mr.. For
,ker read letter from Mr.. Baker, presi-
lent of the Atlantic Transport Line, to
Mr.. Chamberlain, the Commissioner of
Navigation. showing that the contract for
wo ships built for the company at Bel
asst, Ireland was 1922 600. while the con-
raet for two other ships, identically the
,ame, that were being built for the COM
,any at Camden, was s3S0.000.
Constitutionality of Bill.
MIR. McLaurin's speech took up ex-
laustively the question Of the constitu-
ionality of the shipping bill. He cited
,recedents and read portions of the
Constitution in support of the claim
made by the Democrats that there
S no warrant for subsidy. He
aid that pay to mail steamers would be
but that 'unadulterated
subsidies" would not.
He wound UP his speech with the dec
aration that he would rather see no
American ship afioat upon the ocean than
see one stained with the taint Of money
which did not legitimately belong to its
owners.
Mr.. Harris also made an argument
against the bill. He said that the bill
vas subject to the charge of being class
egislation. 1t proposed TO tax the people
1t large for the purpose of building up
he shipping interest of the country. Such
Use of the public funds, he said. was not
axation.
Senator Teller will be the first speaker
N the bill today. He gave notice yester-
lay that he would take the floor imme-
lately after the morning business. He
will side with the Democrats on the
Measure. as he has on all other questions
Turing the present session.