Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01
GROSVENOR CRITICISED
METHODS USED WITH SHIP SUB
SIDY BILL ATTACKED.

During the debate on the ship SUBSIDY
bill in the House yesterday afternoon Mr..
Brdsall criticised Mr.. Grosvenor for the
methods used in reporting the bill out of
the committee. He said that Mr. Grosve
nor had gone so far as to threaten the
members from the "cornfeid' districts
with all kinds of political disaster should
they fail in supporting the bill. Mr. Bird
sail also asserted that Mr.. Hinshaw of Ne
braska had been rendered a liberal dona-
ton by the ship subsidy men for his cam
paign, but that he had Indignantly spurned
it. And now" he added, they propose
to follow him up in his district and defeat
him for denomination or at the polls
When this statement was made there was
a craning of necks in the direction OF the
seat occupied by Mr.. Grosvenor who imme-
diately rose TO close general debate on the
measure.
Mr.. Grosvenor said that any reference he
might have made to the "cornfield' had
been in line with the utterance of the SEN
ator from South Carolina (Mr. Tillman)
Mi. GroSVeEor then proceeded to answer
questions propounded during the course OF
debate, especially with reference to the
cost of vessels able to carry mails in
cordance with the terms Of the bill and the
cost of running them.
Bill Read for Amendments.
General debate having closed, the reading
of the bill for amendments was begun, the
first amendment being offered by Mr.. Lit
tauer of New York providing for line of
steamships of sixteen knots from the Gulf
of Mexico to Brazil, at maximum COM
pensation not exceeding 100000 for a
monthly service or $500 900 for fort
nightly service.
The amendment was advocated in speeches
by Mr.. Littauer, Mr.. Pollard of Nebraska
and Mr.. Sherley of Kentucky. Mr.. sherley
said he would support the provision and
then oppose the bill The amendment was
adopted.
BY a vote of 112 ayes to 1877 noes, 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 test
vote SO far as the Pacific line is concerned
An amendment offered by Mr.. Humphrey
of Washington, that no money appropriated
by the bill shall be paid for any vessel
directly or indirectly connected with any
railroad company was defeated on the the
DRY that the bill sufficiently safeguarded in
that direction.
Mr.. Smith of Iowa presented an amend
ment requiring that every contract under
the bill should be awarded to the respon-
sible bidder who will contract under penal
ties prescribed by the Postmaster General
for the highest running speed between the
points named in the contract. This amend
ment was adopted.
Burton Discusses Subsidies.
Mr.. Fordney of Michigan offered a SUBJ
stitute for the bill under consideration pro-
vidng for a naval reserve and increasing
ocean mail facilities to which Mr.. Burton
of Ohio addressed himself, incidentally re-
viewing the whole subject of subsidy legis-
lation.
THE argument for this class of measure"
said Mr.. Burton, rests upon the fallacy
that subsidy to ships is akin to protec-
tive tariff 1t is not so. because in the
lation of the treasury to those receiving aid
tariff brings money into the exchequer,
while a subsidy pays it out
He said it was possible to build wall
around a country, but not around all the
seas, where competition is necessarily I'M
limited, and cheapness and fitness must
prevail
THE argument for a tariff would not be
accepted if it was contemplated that for
all time there would be difference in cost
of production between this and other coun-
tries" he said.
He said the tendency of all subsidies is
to induce dependence upon governmental
assistance. Lines that have been SUBJ
sidlzed," he added. have not been free
from a record of corruption and failure"
In second speech on the measure Mr..
Grosvenor of Ohio reviewed subsidy discus
sion in the Fifty-First Congress, and re-
called that at that time his colleague, Rep
resentative Burton of Ohio, was noted un-
waveringly for a subsidy measure more
sweeping than the Littauer bill which Mr..
Burton is now opposing.
In reply, Mr.. Burton said he had little
respect for man who would vote in IA
vor of measure today merely because he
had done SO sixteen years ago Mr.. Ford
ney did not press his amendment, and no
action was taken it,
Mr.. Townsend of Michigan introduced an
amendment striking out the subsidies for
the two lines from the Pacific coast to
China and Japan. Mr.. Stevens of Mime
sofa opposed this amendment. The bill
was temporarily laid aside for other bust