Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-01
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL DEBATE
Anmdmsnf Enmpiing 0OsAnir Line from
Provisions Of Act Is Defeated
CHARGE RELATING TO Mr.. HNsHAS
Mr.. Birdsau says Nebrasknn In
Marked for Defeat Because He ne
fused 60 Accept Contribution
frSm shipping interests

WASHINGTON. Feb. ss.-deneral debate
on the ship subsidy bill In the house ter
minated at AIS .. m. today, whcreupon the
bill was read under the ive-minuts rule for
amendments. From that time until the re-
cess at o'clock amendments were offered
to the bill and the discussion proceeded
thereon. The leaders on both sides were
drawn into the debate. BY a vote OF III
90 III the house defeated an amendment
excepting the Sierra. the sonoma and the
Ventura OF the Oceanic line from the oper-
alton OF the bill, empowering the postmas-
ter general to mako contracts With ciu-
gems OF the United States for carrying
mails on steamships.
Mr.. Birdsall Of Iowa closed the general
debate for the opponents of the bill and
Mr.. Grosvenor OF Ohio, for its advocates
During the morning the house agreed to
conference report on the military academy
bill.
A Joint resolution was adopted creating
commission of FIVE senator's and i've
representatives to revise and report to the
sixtieth congress on the work of the COM
mission to codify the laws Of the United
States.
The conference report on the bill relating
to the expatriation OF citizens was agreed
TO. BY vote OF 2l1 ayes to no nays the
house further insisted on its disagreement
to the provision in the army appropriation
bill relating to the retirement OF paymas-
ters clerks.
ship Subsidy Bill TaRen Up.
General debate on the ship subsidy bill
closed today and the bill was read for
amendment under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Smith OF Iowa presented an amend
ment requiring that every contract under
the bill shall be awarded to the responsible
bidder who will contract under penalties
prescribed by the postmaster general. for
the highest running speed between the
points named in contract. This amendment
was adopted.
Representative BIrdsall of. Iowa In OPP
posing the bill. criticised Mr.. Grosvenor for
his methods In reporting the measure.
During his address Mr. Birdsall, speaking
of President Roosevelt, said:
THE present occupant OF the White
House is = only really great man who
was actuaA orn in the great city Of New
York"
HinshRw Opposed n Subsidy.
Mr.. Birdsail also asserted that Mr. Hin
shaw Of Nebraska had been rendered a
liberal donation by the ship subsidy men
for his campaign, but that he had indig-
nantly spurned IT, "And now" he added,
"they propose to follow him up in his dis
trict and defeat him for reconciliation. o.
at the polls"
The first amendment to the bill was Of
fered by Mr.. Littauer of New York, pro-
viding for line of steamships Of sixteen
knots from the Gulf OF Mexico TO Brazil
at a maximum compensation not exceeding
$4,000 for a monthly service, or 5000 900
for q fortnightly service
The amendment was advocated in
speeches by. Mr.. Httauer, Mr.. Pollard OF
Nebraska and Mr.. Sherley of Kentucky.
The amendment was adopted
BY a vote of 112 ayes to 1T nays an
amendment offered by Mr.. Littauer except
ing the Sierra. Sonoma and Ventura of the
Oceanic line from the operation Of the bill
was defeated. This was regarded as a
test vote as far as the Pacific line is
concerned.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Humphrey
of Washington, that no money appropri-
oted by the bill shall be paid for any
vessel directly or indirectly connected with
any railroad company, was defeated, on
the theory that the bill sufficiently safe
guarded in that direction
Subsidy Versus Tariff.
Mr. Fordney Of Michigan offered a sub
stitute for the bill under consideration, pro-
vidlng for a naval reserve and increasing
ocean mail facilities, to which Mr. Burton
of Ohio addressed himself, incidentally re-