Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-14
Amendments to Shipping
Bill Are in Order.
Ga||inger Looks Carefully After
the Measures Interests.
Allison and Spooaer Find Much 10
Criticize in Certain Sections.

Washington. Feb. 13.-Aside from
the time required for the transaction
of routine business the entire session
of the Senate today was devoted to
amendments to the shipping bill. The
principal speakers were Messrs.
Spooner and Allison, who criticised
various features OF the measure and
Mr.. Gallinger, who WAS constantly on
guard in support of the bill. Mr.. Alli-
son offered a number. of amendments
which with others will be voted on to-
morrow.
Hale from the committee on naval af-
fairs reported the bill prescribing the
method of procedure for hazing at the
Naval Academy and gave notice that he
would ask the Senate to take it up for
consi 1eration at an early day.
Hepburn obtained unanimous consent to
take vote on the pure food bill on the
2lst inst.
The shipping bill was laid before the
Senate and Gallinger suggested 4 num-
Der of amendments. The agreement rela-
tive to the vote on the bill required that
the entire tirle Tuesday and Wednesday
be given to its consideration but no one
appeared ready to proceed. A lull fol-
lowed and Gallinger was about to move
that the bill be laid aside when Culberscn
presented a letter from a Galveston con-
stituent who owns some ships. He op-
posed the propose0 subsidy for vessels
engag ged in the Cuoan trade from Gulf
ports.
Spooner admitted that the bill was tic
best shipping bill that had been brought
to the attention Of the Senate in recent
years but said that it did not fully COM
mend itself to him. He made special OBJ
lection TO the provision for a naval re-
serve.
He contcnded that the grievances OF
sailors had not been given sufficient con-
sideration III the bill and said that he
would have a larger percentage of Ameri-
cans ON shipboard. IF there had been a
decent number of good men on the Gen.
slocum there would have been little loss
of life. if any" he declared.
GallinEer replied that the bill was not
intended as a panacea for all Ills.
Newlands opposed the subsidy feature
: of the bill and suggested that instead OF
granting them the government should it.
self construct a number of sea-guing yes
sells and lease them to private parties.
Allison suggested a number of
amendments, among others one requir-
ing that annual appropriations shall
be made to carry out the purposes or
the bill instead of 4 gross appropria-
ton, and another combining the sub
sides granted to vessels of 500 tons
or more.
Allison criticised many of the pro-
visions Of the bill. contending with
reference to the naval militia that it
required only an enrolment in order
to secure the bounty. whereas he
thought there should be an actual en-
listment. He also made the point that
the provision for subvcntions to car
go ships was not calculated to de-
velop American trade. He said that
vessels receiving subsidies under that
provision were not required to conf1ne
the vessels to the American trade but
cult.if SO desired, wander all over the
world. only returning to this country
before the end of year. He also ad-
vanced the idea that there was no
great necessity for subsidy to vessels
engaged in the Cuban, Canadian and
Caribbean Sea trade. Instead, he
would prefer giving assistance to ves-
sells running to countries with which
VIC have little trade.
Bacon offered an amendment strik-
ing out Sections /. 2, and Of tho
bill, eliminating practically all the
features of the measure, except the
provisions for aid in expediting the
mail service OF the United States.
At 4.23 p. NJ. the Senate went into
executive session and at 4.35 P. M. ad-
journed.
Continued on Page Two.)