The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-11
VEST OPPOSES SHIP SUBSIDY.
he Speaks With Force and Fire, Giving Cog
emit Reasons That Are Closely Followed
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated Press)
Washington, March 10.-For nearly two
hours today Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, ad-
dressed the Senate in opposition to the
Ship Subsidy Bill. No member of the
body mas been accorded more fiateringly
close attention than he received De-
spite his evident feebleness, he spoke
with force and fire and at times became
brilliantly eloquent. He carefully ana
lyzed the pending measure and marshalled
his arguments against it with cogency
and effect.
Mr.. Tillman, of South Carolina. follow
ed with a brief speech in opposition to
the bill. He denounced the policy of
governing subsidies to any body, particu-
larly to individuals and corporations en-
gagged in the formation Of shipping trusts.
The Missouri Senator declared that 70
per cent Of the proposed subsidy which
would be received by ships on the At
lantic would go to a single line-the In
ternational Navigation Company-the
American line. 1t was in this respect
open to the same objection as the bill
presented to the asst Congress The YES
sells would get the subsidies whether they
carried a single postal card or not.
vided for pure, naked and unadulter-
ated subsidy" and said it was defended
on the ground that with the subsidy the
American merchant marine could compete
with the subsidizeships of European
maritime powers. He denied "emphati-
caly and distinctly that such would be
the result of the bills operations. Eng
land, he asserted, had SO per cent OF the
ocean carrying trade of the world, but
he denied that England paid subsidies to
her vessels. Most of England's ocean
commerce was carried her tramp steam
ers. They were to be found in every
port and came into competition with
each other, but not a penny of subsidy
was paid to any of them.
In adverting briefly to the operation of
the Dingley Tariff law Mr.. Vest spoke
of the lumber schedule.
Mr.. Hanna interrupted to inquire how
many Democratic Senators had voted for
a tax of 50 thousand feet upon lumber
when the Dingley Bill was before the
Senate.
Mr.. Vest replied that he could not tell
He did not know.
The fact that any Democratic Senator
did vote for it indicated only the force of
tariff combinations.
Mr.. Tillman. of South Carolina, inter-
jected the remark that he had voted for
the SO tax on lumber, although he knew
it was steal and had so stated at the
time. He voted for 1t. however because
he proposed to get out of the Tariff Bill
share for his State and that was the
only way South Carolina could get any
thing.
Mr.. Vest criticised the majority of the
Commerce Committee for eliminating
from this bill the provision which pro-
vide subsidies ship to carry at least 80
per cent of her cargo capacity upon any
voyage unon which she was to receive
subsidy
Mr.. Vest urged that if the shipping
trusts" were to be subsidized there was
no reason why the farming industry and
the mining industry too should not be
subsidized
Mr.. Vest maintained that ships could
be built in this country as cheaply as
they could be built anywhere. The ship
yards of the United States were never
more fully employed than they now were
and had been for several years. He