The Washington herald., 1907-01-16
Merchant Marine Committee
Votes Favorable Report.
A STORMY SESSION IS HELD
Democrats Lead Advocates of Meas
are Into Trap - Latter Rescue
Themselves by BOuEhshOd Action
SiIi will Be Jammed Through the
Hors-se Under special Rule.

Committee on Merchant Marine ana FISH
cries late Yesterday afternoon with a IA
vorabIe report. The committee held two
meetiugs.one in the forenoon, which termi-
mated after an acrimonious discussion IN
"a situation of tense feeling between
friends and opponents of the bin, and
the other at o'clock in the afternoon,
when the compromise WAS jammed
through by an to vote,
The vote in the committee was as fol-
lows: For the substitute-Grosvenor,
Ohio. Minor, Wisconsin; Fordney, Mchi-
gan: Wachter Maryland; LittIeheid,
Maine: HumphI1es. Washington; Littauer.
New York. and Watson, Indiana, an Re
pubIcans
Against the substitute BirdsaL Iowa;
Wilson, Illinois, and Hinshaw, Nebraska.
Republicans; and Goulden, New York
Maynard. Virginia; Sheriey. Kentucky.
Patterson. North Carolina. Democrats.
When the committee met in the morn
ing. the opponents Of subsidy, three Re
pubIicans and four Democrats had plan
ned O. surprise for the others. They made
a formal motion to report the Gallinger
bilI which had passed the Senate. II
was the plan of Chairman Grosvenor and
his associates i'm the fight 20 vote down
this proposition, although he is in favor
of 1t. fearing that it would stand little OF
no chance of passage In the House. When
the roll was called the Democrats voted
solidly for the Ganiuger bin, as did
Messrs. Littlefeld. Minor FoTdney, and
Humphrey. This made the vote in favor
of the Senate measure 20 Z, and threw
the chairman and his colleagues into
confusion. Thereupon Mr.. Humphrey,
one of the strongest advocates of the
GaIIinger bill. was compelled TO change
his vote and declare against the motion
10 report his favorite measure.
Iittauer Substitute.
This defeated it. and a motion was then
made 10 substitute the Litauer bill. To
this Mt Sherley objected. on the ground
that there was nothing before the COM
mittee, it having voted adversely on the
Senate measure. Thus caught in trap.
The leaders determined TO ride rough
shod over the rules and act upon the Lit
tauer measure. any way, While this was
going ON the hour of - o'clock arrived,
and Mr.. SherIey made the point that the
committee had not the permission OF the
House To sit during The sessions of the
House.
Mr.. Watson hurried out of the COM
mi,tee room TO go TO the House. and
ask unanimous consent by the commit
tee 10 continue its meeting Mr.. Patter-
son. Democrat followed him, and in
formed Minority Leader Williams of the
proposed move. When Mr Watson arose
in the House 20 get consent for the com
uittee 10 sit. AIr Williams objected. and
il was therefore necessary for the com
uittee TO adjourn until after the close
Of the session Of the House
When the Republicans were ready to
adjourn the House. the Democrats fill
bustered in opposition % the motion. and
10 became necessary TO call the roll on
the question. thus consuming nearly an
hours time The motion 20 adjourn car
ried by ia to Il. and the members of the
Merchant Marine Committee at once
hastened 90 their committee room 10 Wit
ness the finish OF the days work. Hardly
hail an hour was occupied then. There
were a few points of order and some OBJ
lection To what the opponents Of the bin
called high-handed procedure, and then
vote was taken. with the result that the
bin was ordered reported favorably to the
House
Thus ended, so far as the committee
was concerned. fight that has been
waEed with varying fortunes for ten
years. Among the men WHO voted for the
bill were two or three who for years
have led in opposition 10 subsidy in any
form. In the final action. Mr.. Littauer
had all arrangements made and conducted
the ceremonies with precision and dis
patch He told the committee that he
had assurances from Speaker Cannon
that if the Senate or Galhuger bill had
been reported out as at first was at
tempted. the Speaker would have denied
its consideration. and all hope OF passing
any sort of a subsidy bill this session
would have been lost.
VIII he Pushed Through.
Il is the programme of those behind
the measure TO have a rule brought in the
House providing for consideration and
final vote without intervening motions or
the right 20 offer amendments. The adOp-
tion of such "a rule Is believed to be the
only chance the measure has to pass.
The Littauer substitute which provides
subsidies FOR steamship lines carrying
mails and freight TO the amount of $50
0l0,0C0 a year, limits the subsidies 10 80
e50,00o the amount that is earned above
expenses by the foreign mail service.
Friends of the proposition claim that the
passage Of the substitute will mean an
addition Of thirty-one vessels to the mer-
chant marine Its opponents declare that
it viii merely wipe out present cOmpeti-
tion between the lines.
The bill provides for seven subsidies. as
follows: "A line from an Atlantic coast
port OF Rio Janeiro. Brazil S300,000 month
ly, 100000 fortnightly
From Atlantic coast port a. Argentina
100000 monthly, $S00,O0O fortnighuy
FROM port on the Gulf of Mexico To
Colon, $4,000 fCrtnightly, S150,0O0 weekly.
From a port on the west coast Of the
United States 10 Panama, Peru, and Chill,
$4,000 monthly. SU0J0J) fOTtnightly.
From a part on the Pacific coast north
OF Cape Mendocino to Japan, China, and
the Philippines, S59-U0) monthly, S70G,0oj
fortniShtly.
From "a port on the Pacific coast south
Of Cape Mendocino 60 Hawaii, Japan.
China Philippines, S300,G00 monthly. 500
600 fortnightly.
For an additional line under contract
from san Francisco 10 Hawaii, Samoa.
and Australasia, S2o0ul0 one trip every
three weeks"
There was sharp criticism of the amend
mentS providing for subsidies for lines
north and south of Cape Mendocino. their
purpose being 10 afford subsidy benefits to
the Hlll-WinGs1r line. which has Seattle
for its terminus, and the Pacific Mail.
which has San Francisco for its terminus
The subsidy i'm this respect viii operate,
it is claimed. 30 crush competition in
cuostwise trade