Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-02
58TH CONGRESS.
Government Vessels Will Carry
Government Supplies.
District Bill in House Calls Up Wide
Range Of Subjects.
Conference at State Department on
Far East Situation.

Washington, March 1.-The Senate.
today, passed the bill requiring the use
of American vessels in transporting
government supplies and took up the
bill prohibiting the use of other than
American vessels on the shipping of
merchandise to the Philippines and re-
lieving the inter-island trade of the
ships from the exactions of the coast
wise laws of the United States. The
FIRST mentioned requirement of the lat
ter bill is already in force. in effect, but
this measure enacts In different form.
The bill now pending, as introduced,
provides that it shall go into effect.
July l next. but the Democrats sought
to have the time deferred. The sug-
gestions We're not accepted. but Lodge.
in charge of the measure, indicated a
willingness to postpone the time for
another year. The Senate adjourned.
however. without acting on either the
bill or the amendment.
The Senate resumed consideration of
the bill requiring the employment OF
American vessels in the transportation
of government supplies. Teller spoke
i'm opposition to the measure. He based
his objection on the ground that the
bill granted monopoly to a certain
class of trade.
Daniel also spoke i'm opposition to the
bill. Carmack offered a series Of
amendments. all of which were tabled.
as was also one offered by Newlands.
Carmack attacked the bill as unjust
and inopportune. He said that 1t was
intended to permit a lot of burglarious
shipoW ners to break into the treasury
of the United States and to take away
all they could carry
After an amendment by Mallory had
been tabled, the bill was passed, S5 to
II. strict party vote.
The text Of the bill as passed is as
follows:
THAT vessels of the United States.
or belonging to the United States. and
no others, shall be employed in the
transportation by sea of coal, pro-
visions, fodder or supplies Of any de-
scripticn purchased pursuant to law.
for the use of the army or navy. un-
less the President shall find that the
rates Of freight charged by said YES
sells are excessive and unreasonable.
in which case contract shall be made
under the law as it now exists: pro-
by such vessels for transportation of
articles for the use Of the said army
and navy than are made by such yes
sells for transportation of like goods for
private parties or companies. This act
shall take effect 60 days after its pas
sage"
At TIE request of Lodge. the Senate
took up the bill requiring the use of
American vessels in transporting mer-
chandisc between the United States
and the Philippines, and relieving yes
sells engaged in the inter-island trade
of the Philippines from the require
ments of the laws governing coastwisc
vessels in the United States.
Carmack moved to amend by fixing
July !, 1909, as the time when the act
shall take effect, instead of 1904 as
fixed by the bill, but the amendment
WAS voted down, IL to SO.
The Democratic senators made an
effort TO secure an extension of the
time when the bill should go into effect,
but Lodge resisted it. He did, how
ever, accept an amendment by Allison,
deferrinE the time until July /, 1906,
saying that this extension was in ac-
cordance with the wishes OF Secretary
Taft. The amendment was not acted
upon.
At 4.23 p. NJ. the Senate went into
executive session and at SIT =. M. ad-
journed.