Evening star., 1902-01-17
Mr.. FRYE'S SHIPPING BILL
TO BE -.EPORTED BY SENATE COM
MITTEE ON COMMERCE.
Favorable Action Decided Upon by a
Party vote - Only Minor
81" TIss Changes Made.

The Senate committee on commerce to-
day decided to report favorably the ship
subsidy bill introduced by Senator Frye,
which has been under considerations by the
committee for some time. A favorable re-
port was decided upon by party vote, and
the democrats on the committee may unite
in minority report opposing the general
principle Of the subsidy. There were only
minor changes in the bill made by the COM
mittee. the chief Of which was an amend
ment reducing from 1900. to 1000 tons as
the capacity of a vessel entitled to subsidy
under the provisions of the bill.
A Thorough Discussion.
The report of the committee, which will
be placed before the Senate next Monday,
makes about fifty-fve printed pages, and
fully discusses the entire subject of ship
subsidy. giving not only the various argu-
ments in its favor. but also showing what
other countries have done by means Of a
subsidy. The report states that it is reason
ably certain that the ship subsidy bill, IL
ena eted into law, will result in ten years
in establishing the maritime supremacy OF
the United States in trade with Asia and In
the Gulf Of Mexico and the Caribbean, and
the establishment on a secure basis OF the
trade between the United States and South
American republics. and will also give the
United States a respectable representation
on the North Atlantic ocean
1t will so extend shipbuilding as to trans
fer from abroad to the United States in
time the center of that industry, as the
centers of other industries have recently
been so transferred. 1t will give the United
States measure of maritime independ-
ence corresponding to our industrial and
agricultural independence.
Mail Subsidy.
The postal subsidy provisions enable the
can ocean mail system superior to the sys-
tenn of Great Britain, France and Ger
many The bill does not increase the pay
under existing mail contracts. some Of
which have ten years to run. The Ameri-
can ocean mail system outlined in the bill
centemplatess on the Pacific weekly mail
service to Hawaii the Philippines, Japan,
China and Hong Kong, and a fortnightly
service to Pago Pago, New Zealand and
Australia. The maximum cost would be
s., 255,000.
ican vessels in speed and tonnage far su-
perior To those by which Great Britain,
Germany and France now maintain mail
connections with Asia and Australia at an
annual expense of 81. SOC. 600.
On the Atlantic the bill ccontempiates
semi-weekly mail service to Jamaica, Ha-
yana ana Europe. weekly to Mexico and
once in fen days to Venezuela, and fort
nightly to Brazil, at a maximum cost OF
$2,260,OOo ~
Several Years Required.
The establishment OF this complete Amer
ican ocean mail service. involving a great
deal of shipbuilding. will require several
wears. The cost Of the American service
by American mail steamers will be 81. 100.
600. and the cost Of the British and ceIo.
NAL mall. service by British mail steamers
is $4,000 600. Receipts from ocean postage
by the United States are now estimated al
S3 600 OO0 The annual deficit. under the
new American system proposed, Including
minor services. will be about two mIIIion
dollars. The annual deficit under the Brit
isa and colonial system is $2.28sO0o.
The bill will give the United States forty
auxiliary merchant cruisers, compared with
Great Britain's hfty.
No Shipbuilders' Trust.
The second part Of the report deals with
the general subsidy to all American vessels.
steam and sail, except mali steamers.
Americans have absolutely free trade an
foreign-goinS ships 30 that no shipbutld-
ers' trust Il possible under the bill.
II an American ship-owner will build his
vessel In the United States EMPLOYING hcu,o
labor, employing American officars and
crews, and performing certain services for
the American government he viii be paid
q subsidy sufficient 60 put him on an
equality with the foreign shlp-owner EN-
pioying foreign labor and serving q foreign
government,