Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-03-06
The Frye Subsidy Bill.


the first real opportunity it is brought
forward and has the right of way as
unfinished business. 1t was hoped
that it would be taken up and pushed
along, after the holiday recess, but the
Philippine tariff bill, the tax reduction
bill and the Cuban relief question. not
to mention the fisticuffs of the South
ICarolina senators got in the way and
Iconsumed the time and patience of the
Senate.
To this measure, of such Importance
Ito our shipping and shipbuilding in
Iterests, Senator Frye has given years
!of study. A long discussion of the bill
is to be expected. but it will probably
mot be as long or bitter as the debate
lof last year, when the bill was talked
to. death in the closing days of the
lsession. The present bill is a mOdifi-
Ication of the old one and does not pre-
sent so many points of controversy.
THE Washington correspondents are
lagreed that the chances of the success
lof the bill are more than good. That
lit will pass the Senate seems assured.
TN the House it will meet some opposi-
ton, particularly from the western ex-
Iponents of irrigation, but the Republi-
lean party is pledged TO it and it does
not seem that it can again be defeated.
The present bill comprehends a SIM
pie subsidy system based on miles
sailed, from which foreign-built,
and more liberal but not extravagant
mail compensation. The speed basis
of last year, which challenged so much
deposition, has been eliminated; while
the extreme high protectionists, who
then objected to the admission of for
eign- built vessels to even limited bene-
lifts of Federal assistance, have been
placated by the omission of this feat
ure for which Mr.. Frye contended so
Istrenuously at the last session. The
correspondent of the Boston Transcript
points out that since that time a busi-
ness objection to the transfer proposed
has seconded that of the extreme high
lprotectionists Our laws require that
the captain and other important Off
GERS of vessels under the American flag
lshall be American citizens. The
american owners of vessels under for
leigh flags feel that in practice this
lwould be an extremely onerous re-
luuirement it is understood. They do
not care to give large number of cap
ltains and mates who have been with
them for years, and for many of whom
they feel high personal regard, their
lchoice between taking out naturaliza-
ton papers and leaving their service.
commercially these American owners
lido not care to take the risks involved
lin a forced change of personnel, and as
There is no prospect of our navigation
laws being amended to suit their views,
the anomaly of nearly 100000 tons of
American-owned vessels being under
foreign flags is likely to continue.
The bill at present is little more than
La measure designed to help great in
|dustry over hill. 1t is business
Iproposition and as such it should be
discussed. The question is simply
whether by certain expenditure we
lean obtain return in the way of COM
!. ha M a n
, flag, at the same time paying to our
) own citizens an amount of money that
now goes to foreigners. We are now
: paying foreigners freight money every
year to an amount variously estimated
at from $lG5, ,OOO,O 900 to 5000, 100000. To
get all this money back would be a
vain quest, but that we may reduce
this yearly tribute very considerably is
the unauestionably sincere belief OF
the promoters of the ship subsidy bill
lSuch n measure deserves fair dis
lcussion.
: 1t is not fair discussion to deny that
foreign nations governmentally aid
that foreign mail subsidies are granted
= without consideration of the stimulus
they give to general commercial facili-
Ities. The greatest of all maritime ma
Itions of the present day, Great Britain
Subsidized her steam marine from the
, lstart. The Cunard line has held mail
contracts uninterruptedly for more
than sixty years. The Peninsular &
Oriental has enjoyed similar assistance
for as long time. Germany and
France and enterprising Japan aid the
lextension of their fleets in the same
lway. In 1897 the subsidies and mail
Icontracts of the British Government to
British steamers, to Australia, Canada
lChina, India and China, to New York
: land to the West Indies footed up, ac-
cording to the postmaster general OF
!, IGreat Britain, S3,2S7,213, whereas the
: receipts of sea postage on these lines