Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-04
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL REPORTED.

Washington, Feb. 3.-After a short
but heated open hearing today replete
with disputes, followed by an eXecu-
tive session of an hour, also filled with
d;ssension, the House committee on
merchant marine and fisheries by a
vote to report favorably to the House
the administration bill on ship subsidy
as introduced by Humphrey of WASH
ington.
Ten Republicans voted in favor OF
the bill and five Democrats and two
Republicans voted against it. The two
boiling" Republicans We're Wilson of
Illinois and Swasey of Maine. Hobson
OF Alabama, reported to be for the bill.
and Maynard of Virginia against 1t,
both Democrats, were absent. Members
of the committee were greatly wrought
up over what they characterized as
til "railroading' of the measure with
out consideration or opportunity to
amend it, and tonight they held
meeting in the room of Champ Clark,
the minority leader, to map out the flu
ture course of the party against the
bill 1t is expected that the measure
will meet stubborn opposition when 1t
reaches the House and that one of the
hottest fights of the session will then
be precipitated.
Spight of Mississippi ranking Demo-
cratic member of the committee, will
file a minority report against the bill.
Spight declared with vigor. that
Humphrey and his Republican associ-
ates, in rushing the ship subsidy bill
through the committee today broke
faith with the Democrats and took un-
warranted action.
Spight said Chairman Green of the
committee assured him only yesterday
that no vote would be taken at the
meeting today and that the minority
and those opposed to ship subsidy
would be given ample opportunity to
be heard before a final vote was taken.
Green informed Spight after today's
meeting that he did not make any
promise for Humphrey and could not
prevent the latter bringing his bill to
vote.
Humphrey declared that ample consid-
Grafton had been given the bill and If 1t
were delayed longer measure to take
it's place would be reported in the Senate.
In reply to this the Democrats said that
the bill was given no consideration what
ever by any DOuy anu tHdl IL W 60 hos VIVA
read over in committee.
Today's hearing was the first given on
the subject and the opposition to the
bill pointed out that those heard today
were in favor of ship subsidy but were
opposed to parts of the Humphrey bill.
The Democrats desired to offer several
amendments and Sulzer. Clark of Flori-
da and Kustermann had notified the COM
mittee that they desired hearings on their
own ship subsidy bills. The action today
was a surprise to them as well as to the
minority of the committee.
THE action of the Republicans today
is an outrage" declared Alexander or the
committee, who opposed the bill. I'VE
were given no chance to consider the bill
or be heard upon it. In the face OF DIRE
promises they have 'railroaded' this bill
through 1t is an insult to the minority
of the committee, to the House itself and
to the country at large"
The executive session of the committee
was characterized by tense feeling. The
Democrats tried for an adjournment ana
for amendment of the bill but were voted
down. An amendment was offered strik-
| ing out the subsidy sections Of the bill.
| but it was lost.
CONTINUED on Page Twelve.)
/