Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-03-27
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.
Washington, March 15.-Differences
OF opinion on the republican side ap-
peared in the senate debate on the
ship subsidy bill Mr.. Spooner (rep.,
Wis., took exception to some of the
provisions of the measure. He was
not at all certain that the bill would
accomplish the great results which
its advocates claimed for it and he
urged that before it's enactment into
law definite information upon that
point ought to be furnished congress.
He did not care to vote for a measure
making an appropriation that not
only would not accomplish definite
results, but which might be simply a
largess to ship owners. He gave
notice of an amendment which lie
proposed to offer, providing that the
bill might be amended or repealed by
congress without. however. impairing
any contract made under its pro-
visions. The amendment would be
notice, he said, that a subsidy would
not be a safe foundation upon which
to build largely.
Mr.. Allison rep, Ia indicated
that he was not quite satisfied with
the measure as it stands now and
gave notice of amendments he pro-
posed to offer to it. limiting the time
OF it's operation and the amount OF
money annually to be paid from the
! treasury on account of it.
Nj Teller lind, COLI made a
speech in opposition and Mr.. Elkins
| (rep., w. Va one in support of it.
| The West Virginia senator admitted,
| however, that he would much prefer
the adoption OF a policy of discrimi-
mating duties
Mr.. Berry dem, Ark), represent
| ing the minority of the senate com
mittee on commerce presented the
! repGit in opposition to the pending
ship subsidy bill. The accuracy OF
both the predictions and the facts in
| the majority report was denied
| The minority members urge that the
bill is wrong in principle, and declare
that it will utterly fail in the &C
complishment OF its professed OBJ
| iects. The minority continues: The
| bill proposes to tax the whole people
to the extent of several millions for
the benefit of one single industry.
| Besides the statistics of the last two
| years prove that the ship-building in
| duStry does not need such special
assistance, but is rapidly increasing
| under natural conditions. The high
est rate of subsidy is given to twenty
knot vessels while the fast ocean
mails are really carried in % and "a
| knot vessels. The mail compensation
to the slow American vessels, already
too high, is made more for a weekly
service than England pays for semi
weekly service by much faster ships
than ours. The report closes by say
ing: We know that there are hun
dreds and thousands of industries in
our country doing a losing business
but We deny that congress for this
reason can go into the puDnC
treasury and save them from bank
ruptcy. We sympathize with all mel
in the hard struggles of life, but it i:
not the duty of our government tc
interfere in the private business
affairs OF the citizen. We believe
that all meu should have an equa
and fair chance in the race fol
wealth and happiness-eYery either
should bear his share of the bur
dens of the government; one elias:
should never be the recipient OF bene
fits not given to others. Absolute
equality of rights is doctrine W.
should never abandon. The bill Ii
wrong in principle. unjust, vicious
pure class legislation.
In the house Mr.. Minor (rep.
Wis.,, rising to a question OF per
sonal privilege, denounced the pub
lished statement regarding tn
speaker and himself as false
Speaker Henderson also stated tina
there was not a shadow of truth il
the article The article in question
was a Washington dispatch in Gin
cinnati newspaper TO the effect tina
Mr.. Minor had changed his position
on the shipping bill and on the Cuba
| tariff question because of the speaf
, | er's intention to advance the loca
, | revenue cutter measure in which tn
| Wisconsin member was interested.