The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-18
SHIP SUBSIDY
BILL PASSES
Continued From First Page.

ports and the common defense; to pro-
mote commerce. and the encourag cement
of deep-sea fisheries" Article 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 contracts for not less than five
nor more than fifteen years with Amert-
can citizens for the carrying of mails on
American steamships to such foreign
points as will best promote the postal,
commercial and maritime interests Of the
United States, the mail service on such
lines to be equitably distributed among
the Atlantic, Mexican gulf and Pacific
ports, and the contracts to be made with
the lowest responsible bidder.
The vessels employed in the mail serv-
ice shall be American-built, and owned
and differed by American citizens. Dur
ing 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 re-
naming 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, according to speed: First class,
20 knots or over; second class, 19 knots;
third class. IS knots; fourth class, II
knots; fifth class, Is knots; sixth class,
10 kDOUS, S6VGnCn class, II Knots.
All steamships of the first four classes
shall be constructed with particular ref
lerence, to prompt conversion into auxil-
larry naval cruisers, and shall be of the
highest rating known to maritime COM
merce.
Rate of Compensation.
The rate of compensation for oceanic
mail service ito be paid per gross reg
istered ton for each 100 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 postoff1ce department,
shall not exceed the folowing: Steam
ships Of the first class, 27 cents; second
class, 20 cents; third class, % cents;
fourth class, 81 cents; fifth class, IS
cents; sixth class, II cents; seventh
class, LIS cents. The rate of compensa-
ton to any vessel carrying mails to
foreign port in North America shall not
exceed 20 per cent of the maximum rates
established. Mail steamships are requir-
ed to carry as apprentices one American
boy for each LOCO tons register. lie shall
be educated in seamanship and engineer
ing and rank as petty officer.
General Subsidy Provided For.
Title of the bill provides for the gen.
eral subsidy to be paid. 1t directs the sec
rotary of the treasury to pay to the own
ers of any vessel in the United States
duly registered and engaged in the for
eign trade of the United States a COM
pensation amounting to l cent per gross
registered ton for each 100 nautical miles
sailed, not exceeding sixteen entries in
any one year, and on each entry, not
exceeding sixteen in any one year for
period of five years from the date of reg
istration of a vessel of 600 gross tons,
which shall be completed after the pas
sage of this bill, a of / cent per gross
ton for each 100 nautical miles sailed, in
addition to the above mentioned COM
pensation. The bill specifies certain ves-
sells which shall not receive compensa-
ton under its provisions, among them be-
ing vessels engaged in the coastWiSe trade
exclusively
Each subsidized vessel is required to
carry as a member of its company one
American boy for each 1000 gross tons
who shall be taught seamanship and engi-
neering. The owners of the vessel must
agree before receiving compensation that
the ship in emergency may be used by
the United States for the national defense
or for any public purpose, at a fair val
uation for this service Title of the bin
directs the secretary of the treasury to
pay to the owner of a documented vessel
engaged In deep-sea fishery for at least
three months in any one year 81 per
gross ton per annum, provided that at
least one-third of the crew shall be citi-
Zens of the United States; and he is d.
rected to pay also to a citizen of the
United States serving as a member of
such crew 81 per month for the time he
is necessarily employed.
Title provides that no vessel shall be
given compensation under two or more
titles of this act at the same time; that
subsidized vessel shall not be sold to
a subject of a foreign power, and that
the president of the United States shall
cause proper regulations to be framed
for the execution OF this act.