The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-27
TALK ON SUBSIDY ALL DAY
House Of Representatives Will Con.
tinue the Debate To-day.
Agricultural and POst-Office ApprO-
District Bill Conference.

General debate on the Littauer mail
subsidy bill, pending as a substitute for
the Gallinger Senate cargo-subsidy bill.
engaged the attention Of the House OF
Representatives in Committee OF the
Whole yesterday. all but forty minutes
of the five hours allotted to general de-
bate being exhausted. However, an ar
r3ngement was made TO continue the de-
bate to-day in the interests Of other
business. aud TO devote a night session
to it entirely. The principal speeches for
the bill were made by Mr.. Littauer and
Mr. Pollard Of Nebraska. who said that
although representing q district that had
no interests other than agricultural. he
gave il his enthusiastic support because
he believed il to be for the best interests
of all the people. In opposition. the
principal speakers were Messrs. Rainey,
Of Illinois, and Stevenson, Of Minnesota.
Mr. Grosven0r opened with "a brief
statement IN answer to one made Mon
day by Mr.. Hinshaw, OF Nebraska that
the mail subsenu0n act of 1891 had not
added a single ship TO the North At
lantic mail carrying fleet. Mr.. GrosveEor
said that the international Mercantile
Company had added ten ships Of speeds
varying from y TO - knots, and that it
gave the United States its only au-the-
year-round 21-knOt mail service to
Europe.
The pending bin was advocated by its
author. Mr. Littauer. in an elaborate
argument 10 show the necessity for build
ing up the merchant marine. The policy
of Substituting ocean mail lines was gen.
eral. Mr. LittaUer said. There were 1S6
ships Of Is knots and higher speed on the
seas in foreign trade; OF these $50 We're
subsidized. 2 were not; of 10 no informa-
ton could be had. The pending bill con-
tanned seven projects, four applying to
South American countries. and three 10
the orient. the details OF which he gave.
Mail communication said AIT lit
taueT, with regularity and rapidity Of
service. are primary and imperative needs
of commerce, just as commerce Is the
best promoter OF international friend
ship. The better mail facilities provided.
the greater has been the expansion Of
national trade. Experience, therefore.
has compelled nations without regard TO
expense. TO foster and promote progress
in their foreign postal service. Every
merchant recognizes that the approaches
to market must be quick and con-
venient and regular hence the impera-
tive demand for fast and frequent mail
and passenger steamers on ala the ocean
highways of the world. All nations are
seeking TO transport their mails under
their own flags No agents are equal 20
steamships in inducing a foreign demand
for the products Of a country.
Messrs. Goulden, of New York, and
Fordney, Of Michigan. members Of the
Committee on Merchant Marine. report
ing the bill. opposed it. The former
called attention 10 the fact that the pro-
posed legislation had been promoted by
an active lobby ever since the Forty
fourth Congress. Mr. Fordney empha-
sized his objection of Monday that tho
bill would give to the Oceanic Steamship
Company an additional subsidy greater
than the entire expense of maintaining
and running the ships carrying mail
Mr.. Rainey asserted that the American
merchant marine was increasing rather
than decreasing. and needed no such
measure to encourage its growth.
Mr.. Stevenson followed in the same
line. saying that the United States stood
second in the list of nations in extent Of
her merchant marine. counting the yes
sells engaged in the coastwise trade.
Messrs. Gaines, Of Tennessee. and Pol
lard, of Nebraska, concluded the after
Moons debate. the former in opposition TO
the bill and the latter in its favor.
The committee here arose, and confer
ence reports We're presented for printing
on the naval, army, District of Columbia,
and river and harbOr appropriation bills.
The conference, report on the fortifica-
tons appropriation bill was agreed 70,
and the agricultural and pOst-Office ap-
Precipitation bills were sent to conference,
the House refusing. 46 10 1876. to first sus-
pend the rules and take a vote on the
Senate amendments to the latter bill in
creasing the pay of rural mail carriers
from $40 To SEQ a year. and striking out
the Murdoch provision for a reduction IF