Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-03-25
SHIP SUBSIDY VOTED.
HANNA-FRYE MEASJRE PASSED
BY THE SENATE.
Six Republicans, Including Allison,
Spooner, Dolliver and Quarles, Vote
Against Pill, but Press Nc Unfriend-
" Amend Pass House.

BY vote of ~ to 81 the Senate Mon
day afternoon passed the ship subsidy bill
in an amended form. This majority of
IL w.uld ordinarily be considered decis-
i've. but the vote was sensational and
significant because six of the best known
Republican Senators. coming from the
three Republican States of Wisconsin,
Iowa and Vermont, voted with the Dem
ocrats in opposition to the BILL
A surprising feature OF the proceedings
was the adoption of an amendment pro-
posed by Mr. Hanna which in one clause
apparently gives permission for a ship
ping trust. and in another clause bars
from the subsidy all foreign built ships,
cutting out two of the American lines
present fleet. the New York and the Phil
adelphia. This line was supposed TO be
the special beneficiary under the ship Sill.
The substantial accord OF the four
Senators from Wisconsin and Iowa is
generally recognized as an indication
that the delegations in the House from
these States also will be opposed to the
bill. and this will mean its almost certain
defeat
The six Republicans who raised their
Allison, Spooner, Dolliver and QuarIes
from the West. and Senators Proctor and
Dillingham; from Vermont. Other Repnb-
licans were dissatisfied with the bill, but
concluded to stand by the party. The
result is generally regarded as a great
personal victory for Senator Hanna. His
influence. and nothing else, carried the
measure through
No unfriendly amendments were adopt
ed, and the bill is now substantially as its
friends drew it. IL it fails to secure the
results desired. they cannot blame the OPP
position for meddling. The important
amendments adopted were one by Sena-
tor Allison limiting the postal subsidy
to $5,OOO,0O0 year for five years, and
after that to $S,000,000 q year, and one
by Senator Spooner, which virtually
serves notice that the act may be repeal
ed at an early day.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Hanna,
and accepted after three divisions of the
Senate, provides that while American cit
liens may acquire interest in foreign
steamship lines, no foreign-built ship is
to share in subsidy or hereafter be admit
ted to American registry. This WAS in
tended to meet the criticism that Pier
pont Morgan and other American inan-
ciers intended TO purchase foreign ships
and secure American registry for them
and a share in the subsidies provided for
in this bill. or course, Congress may
change its mind and vote such registry,
as one Congress cannot limit its success
sors.
How much this bill will cost the Unit
ed States treasury in case it becomes a
law no one knows. Some one has calcu-
lated that the postal subsidy will run
well up to the limits fixed by the Allison
amendment, or $5,000,000 year for the
next FIVE years. 1t has also been esti-
mated that the general subsidy part of
the scheme viii not cost more than about
100000 year, but it was noticed that
the managers of the bill were unwilling
to have any limits put upon this expen-
diture. The expenditure may. therefore,
be reckoned at from $5,000,000 to &c.
100000 a year at the outset.
Strangely enough, the Democrats are
well pleased. They count upon the Sub
sidy bill, passed by Republican votes. as
one of their strongest cards in the COM
ing campaigns. This explains why The
Democrats did not put up more siren
nous fight against it, as they did at the
last session.
There is no prospect that the bill will
pass the House at this session. The atti-
tude of the Iowa Senators indicates that
Speaker Henderson's unfriendliness to
the measure is well supported and likely
TO continue at least till after the fall
elections.