The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-04
QUESTIONED BY GEORGIANS
Clay and Bacon Want to
 Know Some Things.
Senator from Maine Says His Meas ure is Merely for the Purpose of Fostering the American Mer-
 chant Marine.

Washington, March 3.-The Senate to- day began consideration of what is popu- larly known as the Shipping Bill-a meas ure to provide for ocean mail service be- tween the United States and foreign ports and the common defense: to promote commerce and to encourage deep sea fisheries.
 Mfr. Frye (Maine) chairman of the Committee on Commerce, made the open- ing statement in support of the bill. He occupied the floor for nearly two hours. The policy of protection. which has been applied. he said to American industries with such benedcient results had not been applied to the shipping industry. The result of this short sighted policy had been the decadence of tne American merchant marine and the consequent Humiliation of Americans engaged in the shipping industry.
 Bills Passed.
 Soon after the Senate met today bills were passed to establish marine hospital at Savannah at a cost of SOC. .0Oo: authoriz- ing the appointment of Allen V. Reed. now a captain on the retired list of the navy as a rear admiral: authorizing the Florida and Bastrop Railroad Com pany to construct and maintain a bridge across the Ouachita River in Arkansas. Authorizing the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to redeem or make allowance for internal revenue stamps. The bill was amended so as to read: That no claim for redemption or for allowance for stamps shall be allowed unless presented within two years after the purchase of said stamps from the government, excepting unused documentary and proprietary stamps issued under the act of June 13, 1898. To authorize Captain M. N. Brooks, Superintendent of Foreign Mails, Postoffice Department, to accept decora- tons from the Emperor of Germany and from the governments of Liberia and Venezuela; to extend and enlarge the postofice building at Memphis, Tenn, Szso, ,00o.
 The shipping bill was then taken up. . To the section defining such craft as shall not be allowed compensation under the bill, paragraph "E" was changed to read as follows: "A barge, canal boat or ves- gel proceeding from port to port in tow; or d tug boat or vesesi engaged in wrecking.',
 Frye Begins Argument.
 Mir. Frye CMe.) chairman of the Com mittee on Commerce, opened the debate in behalf of the bill. It seemed to him. he said that the policy of protection had been vastly beneficial to the American people. Only one industry had been without protection-and without protec- ton for fifty years-and with the logical result. The shipping interests of the country had been neglected in the giving r.F npn . hnfrnd- less. with enormous deposits of iron and coal. with the most sagacious business men In the world, with the advantage of nearly every natural resource upon the side. of the United. States, this country had permitted it's interiors to seize upon the pathways of ocean commerce almost without struggle.
 Tt seems to me-" said MT. Frye, that that picture ought to humilate and mortify beyond expression any patriotic citizen of the United States who glories in the power and prosperity of his coun- try. 1t is not alone humiliating-it is absolutely dangerous.
 Mir Frye asked who was going to carry the $4S7. 0,0O0 of exports in the event of a war between Germany and Great Britain. Why" said he, the farmers and the manufacturers and the wage-earners of the United States would pay penalty equal to that paid by either of the contending parties"
 Cost of American Vessels.
 Mir. Frye then sought to show that this conditionsof things was caused by Amer ican wages. which increased the cost of our ships for the foreign trade at least e5 per cent He declared that of all steam ships in the world of fourteen knots and upward, so per cent are subsidized by the countries whose flags they carry. Of sixteen knots and upward, he said all but six in the world are heavily subsi- iized by the countries whose flags they heat The nations paying those subsidies. he declared. did so for the purpose of ex- tending their trade. and for nothing else. Trade cannot precede the mail," said he. "The mail must precede the trade"
 MT. Frye contended that there is not nation on this earth that needs markets