Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-02

self as it has done many time in the
past" he said.
1t has been very busy circulating
briefs among the members Of the
Senate"
These gentlemen" said Senator
Reed, referring to agents Of the ship
ping interests. ARE not patriots SO
much TO care about peace Of the Unit
ed States as they are for their ability
to continue to charge the shippers Of
the United States four and five prices
for ha uling American goods.
Gentlemen from states where the
shipping trust is strong are practical
| ly all opposed to this bill AS ] look
| over the list Of senators who still are
here. who were members of the Sen
! ate when the shipping trust undertook
! to put its hands in the American pock-
| ct for the extraction Of a ship subsidy
I find nearly all Of them were in IA
vor Of a subsidy and cheek by jowl
with the shipping trust in its at
tempted raid, Of the United States
| treasury and I also find them now
! in sleeful mood because on the last
| two or three roll calls the vote has in
! dicated sufficient Democratic detection
| possibly to accomplish the defeat Of
| this bill.
On Democratic Side
| Il congratulate their ahoary old monop-
oily on the fact that it apparently has
sufficient vigor remaining in this day
and age TO invade the Democratic side
Of the chamber and find votes for its
support Every man will answer for his
vote on this bill. as he must on every
bill. But there should be no possible
misunderstanding with the people of this
country as to the exact situation which
| is now presented here"
1.-The shipping trust the Missouri SEN
ator continued, eat the very moment
war was declared entered on a system
Of plunder. extorting enormous sums
from American citizens, endeavoring to
escape from war scenes to their native
shores"
| OF the Presidents determination to
give relief from "extortional freight
rates, the senator said: He saw the
cotton on the wharves and grain in the
warehouses awaiting shipment with ship
owners standing by demanding a toll
nothing short Of robbery. He saw, while
some OF US were talking Of a larger navy
that we had no ships to carry coal or
otherwise act as auxiliares. So he sug-
gested this measure and in every action
| except this where there was a conference
or caucus he received the unanimous
! support Of his party.
Spanish War Record
But the chipping trust got busy.
wonder If we are to Duplicate the record
| Of the Spanish-American war, when the
shipping trust sold the government YES
sells and then again bought them back
at such outrageous prices that I wonder
that the ostrich stomach Of the Senator
from Utah did not rebel at that
An atmosphere OF surprise hung oevr
! the Senate as Senator Reed began to
| speak. So many members Of the House
crowded the chamber that vice-Presi-
| dent Marshall had the sergeant-at-arms
request them to leave or take seats and
as there were no empty seats they filed
| out.
IF this present bill is killed. contin-
ued Senator Reed, The shipping trust
| will continue to hold the country in it's
grip. congratulate my old friend, the
Chipping trust There will be many a
bottle Of champagne broken tonight II
the Democratic party is broken; If the
| trust is strong enough to make men turn
their backs on their party to cement the
insurgent and stand-patter. As I heard
the followers Of Roosevelt and Taft an
swer soIidly today on roll calls, said
how beautiful for brethren to dwell to-
gether ir peace and happiness. How
beautiful that that which cemented you
together was the shipping trust
Senator Reed declared in conclud-
ing that since every senator at the
Democratic conference agreed to vote
for the bill he could not understand
how anyone who participated could
vote otherwise than within the spirit
Of the conference.
Means Bill Is Dead
Senator Fletcher then took the floor
IF the motion to re-commit the bill
carries" he declared, 1T means that
the ship purchase bill. so far as this
session Of Congress goes, is dead. It
means that all our hard work, all our
efforts have been spent in vain and
the influences which have brought
about this course are the influences
which will muster their power to pre-
vent any such legislation in the fu-
ture"
The Florida senator appealed to the
Senate not to take the threatened
course.
Thank God. if this bill is beaten, the
responsibility will not be on our
shoulders" continued the senator. as
he turned on his Democratic colleagues
and moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion was carried without dis
sentinR vote or roll cau