Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-16
HOUSE DRAFTS SHIP SUBSIDY BILL
Committee on Merchant Marine Re-
iects Measure Passed by Senate.

Committee on Merchant Marine Re-
jecta Measure Passed by senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan 15.-After a fight
that lasted all day and extended to the
floor Of the house. threatening to bring
about much filibustering at one time, the
house committee on merchant marine and
fisheries finally decided at p m. by a vote
of to TO make favorable report on a
ship subsidy bill prepared by Representa-
tive Bittauer of New York as a substitute
for the Grosvenor bill, which has been
under consideration for many weeks.
The members Of the committee support
ing the measure were Representatives Gros-
venor Miner, Littleheld. Fordney, wachter,
Humphrey, Watson and Littauer, all re-
publcans.
The negative votes were cast by Repre-
sentatives Birdsall, Wilson and Hinshaw,
republicans. and Goulden, Maynard. Shirley
and Patterson. democrats.
Seven subsidized mail lines are provided
! for, with an annual ssubvention estimated
at SO, 10000. Two Of the lines are to be
| from the Atlantic coast to South America
and one from the Gulf of Mexico to Colon.
From the Pacific coast there are to be
three lines to the orient and one line to
| the west coast of South America. Only
TWO CndnBeS we're maze III Ine Dill as orig
| lnally drawn by Mr.. Littauer. Instead of
| actually fixing San Francisco and the Puget
sound as the points of departure of the
two lines to Japan. China and the Philip
pines the committe amended Mr.. Littauer's
! bill so that one OF the lines is to start
from a point north Of Cape Mendocino and
the other from point south of Cape Men
docino
At the morning session the senate ship
subsidy bill, which carries a tonnage sub
sidy and is said to be extremely distat stefuI
to Speaker Cannon, was laid before the
committee by Mr. Llttauer and several
democrats voted for 1t. Republicans
changed their votes in order to defeat II
and get compromise bill under considera-
| ton, which 1t was thought would have a
better chance with republican house lead.
ers. The committee adjourned to meet
again at o'clock and when an attempt was
made to have the house adjourn at that
time the democrats began a fiibuster in ar
attempt to keep the house in session, thus
keeping the merchant marine and fisheries
committee from meeting and reaching al
agreement. The minority leader. MIR. VIII
liams, demanded yeas and nays on the ad
Journment vote, but a count showed tina
a quorum was not present and the hous,
adjourned by a vote of 143 to H.
The bill requires that all ships be of six
teen knots speed except that from the gull
| TO Panama, which is to be fourteen knots
| It requires that the ships be built in Amer
ica and owned by Americans and repaired
in American dry docks, and that they
should be available as auxiliary cruiser
in time of war. To meet the requirement.
Of the bill about thirty-five ships woulC
be required and most of these would hav,
TO be built. The annual cost to the govern
ment with all the ships in organization in 1
two weeks basis is estimated at 50, $50, OOO
Prior TO the completion Of the ships fou
weeks cruise is provided at half the cost
II would require four years to build tn
ships.
In detail, with the fortnightly servic
established, the line to Rio would receiv
100000 annually; to Buenos Ayres $500, 900
the west coast line 100000; the two orienta
lines 100000 each; the Colon line $75, 900: tn
Australian line $4,000 in addition to tn
$4,000 now received.