The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-16

washington, FeDruary l4.-AI IeW
minutes after 6 o'clock today the Sem
ate cast it's final ballot on the subsidy
shipping bill which was passed by
vote of 3S to 27. All the votes for the
bill were by republican senators and
five republican senators voted with the
democrats in opposition. They were
Messrs. Burkett, Dolliver, LaFollette,
Spooner and Warner.
The vote on the bill was preceded
by action upon a number of amend
ments and this by an entire day of
debate. Many important amendments
were accepted, but in only one case
was a modification agreed to that was
not in accordance with the wishes of
the managers of the Eill. The except
ton was on an amendment offered by
Mr.. Spooner eliminating the provis-
ions giving half pay to members of
the naval reserves who have served
less than six months.
AS pas ed the bill establishes thir-
teen new )ntract mill lines and in
creases the suvention to the oceanic
lines running from the Pacific coast to
Australia. Of the ten new lines
three leave Atlantic coast ports, one
running to Brazil, one to Uruguay and
Argentina, and one to South Africa;
six from ports on the gulf of Mexico,
embracing one to Brazil, one to Cuba,
one to Mexico and three to Central
America and the Isthmus of Panama;
four from Pacific coast ports, embrac-
n two to To n 16 fhn
ippines direct, one to Japan, China and
the Philippines. via Hawaii and one
to- Mexico, Central America and the
Isthmus of aPnama. The bill also
grants a subventiOn at the rate of SIS
per gross ton per year to cargo vessels
engaged in the foreign trade of the
United States and at the rate of $3.50
per ton to vessels engaged in the Phil
ippine trade, the Philippine coastwise
law being postponed until 1909. An
other feature Of the bill is that Great
ing a naval reserve force of 10000 Of
fcers and men who are to receive re-
tainers after the British practice. VeS-
sells receiving subsidies are required
to carry a certain proportion of naval
reserve men among their crews. The
aggregate compensation for mail lines
is about S3,000,00f annually. No steam
vessel of less than 1000 tons is to re-
ceive aid under the bill.
When the shipping bill was disposed
of, the statehood bill 'gas made the
unfinished business.
Mr. Frye made general speech in
support of the bill, saying that the
$2OO,OOO,OOO paid annually to foreign
ships should be used in developing an
American merchant marine.
Mr.Clay contended that the effect
of the bill would 20 make the
10000 persons who are employed by
the ship owners IF the United States
members of the naval reserve, and
place them on the nations payrolls
For this outlay he said there would
be no service to the United States
He thought g. proposition to give a
bounty to sailors engaged only in the
coastwise trade especially reprehen-
sive.
Mr.. Clay predicted that the subsi-
dy feature Of the bill would prove in
terminable and declared that the
shipping interest had no more right
than any other industry to come to
congress and ask assistance because
of failure.
Replying to Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Halls at
tributed the destruction of the ship
ping industry to the Civil War. He
said that the old fashioned doctrine
that there should be no governmental
aid to any industry had long since
disappeared, and he instanced M ny
cases in which such help had ben
given. All Of these. he contended,
We're in effect subsidies. He appeal
ed to the southern senators for help
in passing the bill, saying that the
south should not stand solidly in op-
position to a measure of such vast
import to the entire country.
Mr.. Bacon also spoke briefly. He
offered an amendment to strike out
the provision for naval reserve,
which was defeated, as was also an
amendment by Mr.. McLaurin provid-
ing that no part of the subsidies pro-
vided for should be paid to senators,
members of the house and other fed
eral officials. After passing the bill
the senate adjourned until tomorrow.