Connecticut western news., 1902-03-20
FOR SHIP SUBSIDIES
SENATE PASSES FRYE BILL BY ELEv-
 EN MAJORITY.

Six Republicans Vote Against It and
 One Democrat For It - All Amend
 ments of Opposition Voted Down.
 Provisions of the Measure.
 The senate on Monday passed Sena- tor Frye's ship subsidy bill, the final vote on the measure being 42 to S1. Senators Allison and Deliver of Iowa, Spooner and Quarles of Wis consin and Proctor and Dillingham; of Vermont, Republicans, voted against final passage of the bill. and Senator McLaurin (S. O voted for 1t. 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 ments.
 Section l of the measure, as passed, deals with ocean mail steamships and their subsidies. The postal subsidy act of 1891 is so amended as to direct the postmaster general to enter into con tracts for not less than five nor more than fifteen years with American citi- Zens for the carrying of malls on Amer
 
 as will best promote the postal, con- mercial and maritime interests of the United States. the mail service on such lines to be equitably distributed among the Atlantic, Mexican, gulf and Pa cific ports and the contracts to be made with the lowest responsible bidder.
 The vessels employed in the mail service shall be American built and owned and officered by American citi- Zens. During the first two years one fourth of the crew must be American citizens, during the next three years one-third must be American citizens, and during the remaining life of the contract at least one-half must be American citizens. The ships must be screw steamships of iron or steel and divided into the following classes, ac- cording to speed: First class, 20 knots or over; second class, 19 knots; third class, IS knots; fourth class, r knots; fifth class, Is knots; sixth class, 10 knots; seventh class, II knots.
 All steamships of the first four class es shall be constructed with particular reference to prompt conversion into
 
 of the highest rating known to mari time commerce.
 The rate of compensation for ocean mail service, to be paid per gross regis tered ton for each loo nautical miles sailed from the port of clearance in the United States to the port of entry in the United States, according to the route required by the postoffice depart ment, shall not exceed the following:
 Steamships of the first class, 2-7 knots; second class, 2.5 cents; third class, 2.3 cents; fourth class, 2-1 cents; , fifth class, 1.9 cents; sixth class, 1.T cents; seventh class, Is cents. The rates of compensation to any vessel carrying mails to a foreign port in North America shall not exceed 70 per cent of the maximum rates estab- nshed
 Mail steamships are required to carry as apprentices one American born boy for each 1000 tons gross register. He : shall be educated in seamanship and engineering and rank as a petty off, Ger.
 Section of the bill provides for the general subsidy to be paid. It directs the secretary of the treasury to pay to the owners of any vessel in the United fitates duly registered and engaged in the foreign trade of the United States compensation amounting to a cent per gross registered ton for each 100 rautical miles sailed not exceeding six teen entries in any one year. and on each entry not exceeding sixteen in any one year fer period of five years | hom the date of registration of a ves- Rrl of 1000 gross tons which shall be completed after the passage of this hill one fourth of a cent per gross ton far each 100 nautical miles sailed in addition to the above mentioned con- pnnsation. The bill specifies certain vessels which shall not receive con- pensation under its provisions, among them being vessels engaged in the eoastwise trade exclusively. l Each subsidized vessels Is required to carry as a member of its company one American boy for each 1000 gross tons, who shall be taught seamanship and engineering. The owners of the vessel must agree before receiving compensation that the ship in emer- l gency may be used by the United States for the national defense or for any public purpose at a fair valuation for this service.