New-York tribune., 1902-03-16
SUBSIDY DEBATE CLOSING.
u,,,ppTNG BILL CRITICISED BY WEST
ERN REPUBLICAN SENATOR'S.
.,77soN AND sPoONER NOT SATISFIED
WITH THE MEASURE AS IF STANDS
MANY AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.


MANY AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
washington. March 15.-Diferences Of opinion on
-, republican side appeared in the debate on the
stJn Subsidy bill IN the Senate to-day Mr. Ali
' - Iowa indicated that he was not quite salts
- 1+b +be bill as il stands. and gave notice of
.,5roenrs he proposed TO offer, limiting the time
.,,s oneration and the amount of money annually
- he paid from the Treasury on account of it.
Ne vas followed by Mr.. Spooner, Of Wisconsin,
~ took exception TO some Of the provisions of the
SrI ua was not at all certain that it would ac-
1,sb the great results its advocates claimed for
:. .nd he urged that before its enactment into law
.e,,-e information upon that point ought to he
e..bed 70 Congress. He did not care to vote for
: ,rr making an appropriation that not only would
.. .ocon,n1lsh definite results but which might be
~, q largess 10 shipowners. He gave notice of
ar,end-nent he proposed TO offer providing that
.. bgI might be amended or repealed by Congress
s,bout however impairing any contract made
- ,+s provisions. This amendment would be a
o-ioA he said. that the subsidy would not be a
~ ,o,,-dst;on on which to build largely.
AZ Teller Of Colorado. made a speech in oppos-
~. n the nil. and was followed by Mr.. Elkins.
- West Virginia. and Mr.. Hanna. Of Ohio, with
- addresses in support Of II, although the West
1,,q4rts Senator admitted that he would much pre-
t.r ,be adoption OF the policy Of discriminating
duties.
s.s- rou,ine business on Monday and that speeches
= ,-o,ted 10 fifteen minutes. except that Senator
re Is 10 have thirty minutes. II was agreed that
80 Senate should meet at II q on Monday
The final vote on the bill and amendments is to
he taken on Monday afternoon
Mr.. TELLER's OBJECTIONS.
~ Teller maintained that under the law the
,oe-s.an flag could be raised over any ship owned
a, whole CT more than half by American citizens
sr5 thus gain whatever benefit that might give.
while he always had been in favor Of the upouiId-
Ia.- NOT
-bs, the pending bill would accomplish the results
ho,ed for by its advocates. II he believed that
such results would be achieved, as Mr.. Frye De-
ueved he would support II. To his mind 1t was
infinitely preferable TO the subsidy measure pre-
ser,Ad last year. In the event Of European
war he declared the United States Government
would have 70 do what it now declined TO do
allow its citizens go to Europe to buy ships and
place them under the American flag such vessels
he would exclude from the coastwise trade. but
would permit them TO enter the general trade
Americans had shown how TO run railroads. and our
methods now were an object lesson TO Europe He
believed that the end OF railroad building TO a
great extent At hand in this country, and that
surplus money. which heretofore had gone into
railroads would n future go into shipping. II the
government would deal fairly with ship owners the
United States would have soon the greatest ship
building plants IN the world He contended that
5he government ought to permit its citizens TO buy
ships where they could buy them cheapest, and
Tnerce OF the United States then would induce cap
stal 10 90 into the shipping Industry.
Personally he OF the opinion that it would be
better to adopt the old policy Of discriminating
duties for the upbuding Of the merchant marine.
Such q policy would be preferable TO the plan pre-
sented by the present bill. a serious objection to
the pending bin, he thought, that 1t did not
provide for lines The money paid in sub
sides. therefore, would be paid established lines
And yet OF the professed objects Of the bill
zr.s aEfe licn lines NJ Toll from
the report Of the Commissioner Of Navigation to
prove that the shipbutlding industry was not Ian
gushing and in need OF the assistance of bounties
HANNA AND ELKINs FOR THE BILL
Mr.. Hanna said that IN the last year or two
American shipyards had been very busy but they
had been busy IN the construction of ships for
the coastwise trade almost exclusively The differ
between the cost Of ship construction In this
country and in Europe the smallest part Of the
proposition The difference in the cost Of operation
the feature that present made an invest
Inent in American ships Improbable AS a matter
Of fact, Mr.. Hanna said the shipbuidlng industry
was not in q healthy condition. A few tankships
were being built. and number Of ferryboats and
some vessels for the United States Navy. These
the only contracts in sight, likely be for
chip construction in American yards, unless in
oucements were offered 10 capital to invest in the
shipbuildng industry.
Mr.. Elkins. a member Of the Committee on Com
mere. supported the bill. He directed attention
$4,000 4 day 20 foreign shipowners for carrying
American commerce. If we had American ship
ping carry imports and exports: $4,000 600
annually would be saved to the American people.
II this money we're expended among our own people
least 10000 90 yea- would be spent in Amer
team sh-pysr7s which would extend the influence of
business and accrue generally to the ben
eft OF American Dor. Personally ne believed that
the old policy Of leyying discriminating duties
The best for the upbuilding Of the American mer-
chant marine. That policy would take nothing
from the United States Treasury. and yet would
give back 70 this country its former WonCerful
merchant marine. The treaties which stood in the
way az the adoption Of discriminating duties could
be abT0gated, he thought, without difficulty. How
ever, ne proposed to support the pending bill be
caused he believed IL would rehabiitate the mer-
chant marine
Mr.. BACON'S CRITICISMS.
Mr Bacon gave notice OF amendment which
he proposed offer providing that no contract
under the bill shall be binding the government
until il has been submitted and approved by
Congress. In support of the amendment Mr.. Bacon
urged that the Postmaster General ought not TO be
made responsible for making such contracts II
Was delegation OF authority by Congress which
be did not think would be approved by the Ameri-
can people.
Discussing briefly the general purposes Of the
BILL Mr. Bacon said that the word subsidy" had
no teTrors for him. II bill 10 provide increased
compensation for mail lines between this country