The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-13
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
Indiana Delegation. Will Present a
Modified Bill.

A conference of Indiana Republi-
can members of congress was held
last Thursday to consider the ship
subsidy bill. The conference was at
tended by all of the Republican mem
bers from Indiana except Represen-
tative Elias S. Holiday. Those pres
ent were Representative Watson,
Foster, CLANCY, Brick, Cromer, Fred
Lands, Charles B. Lands, Crum-
packer, Overstreet and Gilhams. Mr..
Watson presided. All phases of the
ship-subsidy question were discussed
and the Hoosier congressman were in
substantial accord in their views
during the conference. They unan-
imously chose Mr. Watson as their
spokesman and instructed him to say
to the press representative that they
were a unit in opposition to the pres
ent ship-subsidy bill that is pending
before the House Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries and in
their belief that it can not possibly
pass the House.
This was the only formal an
nouncement that was made, but the
informal proceedings of the confer
ence were' IF more significance than
the formal action. The trend of sem
timent among the Indiana Republican
members, as developed at the con-
ference, was in favor of a modified
bill that will build up trade between
the United States and the South
American countries and between the
United States and the Orient. Repre-
sentative Crumpacker submitted a
plan which he had blocked out on
paper
1t contains provisions authorizing
the Government to contract on the
best terms for regular mail service
between the principal ports of the
United States and the principal ports
of South America, fixing a maximum
cost OF carrying the mails. 1t also
provides for a similar service on not
to exceed two lines to the Orient. 1t
arranges for the voluntary enlist
ment of the crews of the seve.aI
boats into the navy and specifies that
those who volunteer for naval service
shall be paid the scale of retainers
mentioned in the pending bill as it
passed the Senate. The subsidized
boats are to be subject to impress
ment as auxiliaries to the navy in
times of war.
In explaining his plan, Judge
Crumpacker said that it is just such
a bill as was advocated by Benjamin
Harrison in one of hts messages to
congress. He declared that it would
serve to bring the United States into
closer political and commercial rela-
tons with the South American coun-
tries, and that the difference between
it and the pending measure is that il
eliminates all bonuses and bounties
as we'll as all subsidies to inorganic
ed interests which are already max
mig large profits.
What he advocated, he said. is not
a subsidy, but is simply adequate
compensation for carrying of the
mails which, of course, means also
the carrying of passengers and ex-
press and possibly some high-class
freight. will develop avenues of trade,
and that tramp steamers will follow
in the wake of the, mail boats and
soon there will be regular and extern
sive intercourse between the United
States and the countries to the south
ward. He pointed to the fact that pas
sengers and mail from the United
States 10 South American countries
go first to Liverpool and thence to
South America, and said that such a
condition should not be.
Cattle too Big to Sell Well.
What is said to the heaviest car
load of cattle ever seen in the Indi-
yards was offered Wednes-
day, says the Indianapolis Star.
There were ten head in the consign- |
ment and the average weight was L. |
SCI pounds. These shorthorn steers
belonged to F. M. Billy, Rush
county farmer. Three of the. number |
weighed over 2,40o pounds each. The
really big fellow weighed 1850
pounds. This specimen is six feet
tall and measures thirty-eight inches
across the back. Bidding on these
cattle was very slow The buyers
stood around and marveled at their
size, declaring that they were too
big for their trade. Finally the whole
lot was disposed of to the United
Dressed Beef company of New York
at 1878 per hundred pounds: Some
of them were six years old.
Should Be Severely Punished.
Furs