The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-03-21
SUBSIDY MEASURE.
Summary of the Provision of Nthe
Ship Subsidy.

Washington, March 1.-THE title
of the bill passed by the Senate is:
"To provide for ocean mail service
between the United States and foreign
ports, and the common defense; to pro-
mote commerce and to encourage the
deep sea fisheries"
Title l of the measure passed deals
with ocean mail steamships ana their
subsidies. The postal subsidy act of
1901 is so amended as to direct the
postmaster general to enter into con-
tracts for not less than five, nor more
than fifteen years, with American cit
liens, for the carrying of mails on
American steamships to such foreign
points as will best promote the postal,
commercial and maritime interests of
the United States; the mail service on
such line to be equitably distributed
among Atlantic, Mexican gulf and
Pacific ports, and the contracts to be
made with the lowest responsible bid
der.
The vessels employed in the mail
ervice shall be American built, owned
and Differed by American citizens.
During the first two years one fourth
of the crew must be American citizens;
during the next three years one third
must be American citizens, and during
the remaining life of the contract at
least one-half must be American citi-
zens. The ships must be screw ships
of iron or steel and divided into the
following classes, according to speed:
First, 20 knots or over; second, 10
knots; third, IS knots; fourth, II
knots; fifth, is knots; sixth Is knots:
seventh, IA knots,
All steamships of the first four
classes shall be constructed with par
tcular reference to prompt conversion
into auxiliary naval cruisers and shall
be of the highest rating known to
maritime commerce.
The rate of compensation for ocean
mail service, to be paid per gross re-
gistered ton, for each 100 nautical miles
sailed from the port Of clearance in the
United States to the port of entry in
the United States, according to the
route required by the postoffice de-
partment, shall not exceed the follow
ing:
Steamships of the first class. 81
cents; second, 2.5 cents; third, %
cents; fourth, 81 cents; fifth, 19 cents;
sixth, II cents; seventh, LIS cents.
The rates of compensation to any yes
sci carrying mails to foreign port in
North America shall not exceed 70 per
cent of the maximum rates establish
ed.
Mail steamships are required to car
ry as apprentices one American born
boy for each, 900 tons gross register
He shall be educated in steamship and
engineering, and rank as a petty Of
ticer.
Title 2 of the bill provides for the
general subsidy to be paid. 1t directs
the secretary of the treasury to pay to
the owners of any vessel in the Unit
ed States duly registered and engaged
in the foreign trade of the United
States a compensation amounting to
one cent per gross registered ton for
each 100 nautical miles sailed, not ex-
ceeding sixteen entries in any one
year; and on each entry, not exceeding
sixteen in any one year, for a period of
five years from the date of registration
of vessel of 1000 gross tons, which
shall be completed after the passage of
this bill, one-fourth of one cent per
gross ton each 100 nautical miles sail
ed, in addition to the above mentioned
compensation. The bill specifies GER
tain vessels which shall not receive
compensation under its provisions,
among them being vessels engaged in
the coastwise trade exclusively.
Each subsidized vessel is required to
carry as a member of its company
American boy for each 1000 gross
tons, who shall be taught seamanship
and engineering. The owners of the
vessel must agree before receiving
compensation that the ship in emer-
gency may be used by the United
States for the national defense or for
any public service, at fair valuation.
Title of the bill directs the secre.
tary of the treasury to pay to the own
er of documented vessel engaged in
deep sea fishery for at last three
months in any one year So per gross
ton per annum, provided that at least
one-third of the crew shall be citizens