The Washington herald., 1907-01-15
SUBSIDY IS ASSURED
A Grand Coup Promised To-
day by It's Friends.
COMPROMISE BILL TO BE PASSED
Presidents Favor Has Had Power
full Effect on Attitude of RepubIi-
can Members-HOuse VIII Pass the
Measure and senate VIII Concur
Advocated by the Administration.

The House Committee on Merchant Ma
rine will to-day report the compromise
subsidy Dill This result is a grand coup
for the friends Of the measure. j comes
after years Of disappointing failure. and
on the heels Of most positive prophecy
from the opponents Of the bill that no
action could be secured this session.
The last two meetings Of the committee
have been fruitless Of any definite prog
ress toward an agreement So hopeless
has the prospect been that Of late the
friends of the bill have abandoned all
efforts to reach "a vote in the committee
By direct discussion OF the features of the
modified measure. Instead Of open dis
cussion, the subsidy men have conducted
their consideration Of the bill at small
dinners at private houses For weeks.
and. IN fact. ever since the opening Of
the session. they have hao the assurance
that at the critical moment they would
have the aid Of Speaker Cannon. Sunday
night, at dinner given by Representa-
tive Littauer. OF New York. the fnaI
piece Of strategy was definitely mapped
cut and decided on.
Dinner Conferences Held.
The subsidy advocates on the Merchant
Marine Committee have been baked OF
their victory in the committee by the
illness Of Representative Flack. Of New
York. a Republican, and also OF Repre-
sentative McDermott. Of New Jersey. a
Democrat, both Of whom are supporters
Of the subsidy idea Owing 10 the pros
pect that he would not be able 10 return
70 Washington this session in time to act
with the majority Of the committee. Mr.
Flack has announced his desire 70 be re-
lieved from further service with the COM
mittee. and Speaker Cannon yesterday
named Mr.. Littauer to take his place.
The strength OF the subsidy support on
the committee to-day will therefore con-
sist Of Messrs. GrosvenoT, Tie chairman.
Minor. of Wisconsin; Watson. Of Indiana;
Littlefield, Of Maine; Littauer, of New
York: Humphrey, OF Washington: Bird
sail. Of Iowa, and Greene, Of Massachu-
setts.
The Democrats, except McDermott. and
including Representatives Goulden, Of
New York; Maynard. of Virginia: Sherley
Of Kentucky. and Patterson. of North
Carolina, with Representatives Wilson, Of
Illinois. and Hinshaw, of Nebraska. Re-
pubHcans. viii vote against the bill Rep
resentative Greene. in order to vote viii
be forced TO break his pair with Repre-
sentative Spight, of Mississippi who is
an inveterate enemy Of the subsidy prin-
ciple. The latter is engaged in a murder
f~fl al in
several weeks 20 come 70 WASHINGTON.
Under the circumstances. the Republican
members Of the committee insist that the
pair should sbe declared of and 8Ir.
Greene allowed to vote.
Advocated by the Administration.
The compromise as agreed on limits the
subsidy strictly TO mail lines of steamers
running to South American ports and 10
japan and the Philippines. This is the
policy enunciated by Secretary Root
IN his speech before the Trans-Mis-
sissippi Commercial Congress last No
vember. 1t had the Endorsement OF the
President in his annual message. and
there have been many conferences be-
tween Senators and Members and The
President TO advance the idea Of the com
promise bill in the eyes OF its enemies at
both ends of the Capitol
The friends of the compromise measure
declare that it will give the country a
far more efficient postal service between
American ports and those Of South Amer
lea and the Orient, and thar err trade
with South America VIII be vastly in
creased.
The subsidy viii amount to about Sc.
10000, although some claim that it viii
run as high as S5.0o9.0o9 It viii be divided
among the following steamship lines: The
Pacific Mall from San Francisco To the
Orient; the Hiii-W WindsOr Line. from. Seat
tie 10 Japg sad the Philippines. the
American and Australian Line. one line
down the west coast of South America
and two lines on the east coast. one to
Argentina and one to Brazil.
The G-0svenOr bin provides only for
mail subsidies for South American and
Oriental lines. it eliminates the pro
vision for tonnage subsidy and for 4
transatlantic line. This feature is dis
tasteful to Representative Littlefeld hut
Il is understood that in order To carry
out the Presidents programme he wifi
support the bill
The startling action on the subsidy bill
is the result Of conferences between the
CONTINUED on FOURTH PAGE.