The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-01
IS VICIOUS IN PRINCIPLE
Minority Report on the Hanna
Shipping Bill.
STRIKE OFF SHACKLES
Free Raw Materials the Foundation of
Great Merchant Marine-The
Bounty Proposed Is
Robbery.

Washington, Jan. 31.--The minority
| report of the Hanna-Payne shipping
| bill was filed in the house of repre-
sentatives to-day. 1t was prepared by
Representative Handy of Delaware and
is severe and somewhat personal ar
raignment of the measure and those
who would receive bounties under it.
The report says:
This bill is one that was prepared
| and brought to congress by a volun-
tary committee of shipowners and ship
builders representing the gentlemen
who will receive the bounty which The
bill proposes to give from the public
| treasury. The bill, as it is reported to
the house, is in almost the exact form
and grants to penny the bounties de-
| manded by the gentlemen who are to
receive them. The bill is, therefore.
naturally and entirely satisfactory to
the interests which have organized
this movement to secure the vast sums
carried in the bill as gratuity to he
used in carrying on their private bust
ness and charging the profits there
Of
THE bill provides not simply for
bounties but for bounties which, .,nce
granted, cannot thereafter be taken
away. If this bill be passed, the con-
tracts will be quickly made, and, once
entered into, no future congress can, in
honor, break them or refuse to make
the necessary appropriations to pay
them. To do so would be like repudiat-
ing a national obligation.
The 2O-year bounties provided are
put in the bill in the language of so
many cents but when the arithmeti-
cal calculation is made to find out now
big the bounties by cents will prove to
be when the time comes to pay them,
we find that they must be figured in
tens of millions of dollars. By a care
full and conservative estimate, we find
that the government would be obliged
by the contracts likely to be entered
into during the first u months under
this bill to pay bounties amounting to
more than $165. O00, 900, and this includes
only the shipping now, in sight and the
shipping which must be built will cost
probably not less than $4OO,O0O,0O0.
"Of this enormous bounty the lions
share will go to the International Nav
igation company. This company will
receive in the aggregate more than $751;
100000. This bill provides that a
man who builds a great and speedy
ocean steamer shall be paid bounties in
20 years amounting to'twice the whole
cost 81 the boat r
ne must be conceded that bounties
are repugnant to the spirit of our free
institutions, under which all citizens
should have equal rights and no special
privileges should be granted. 1t is i'm
possible to give bounty to everybody
and to all forms Of industry, and It is
manifestly unequal and unjust to tax
the farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths,
masons, merchants railroad men, min
ers and woodmen Of the country to pay
a bounty to shipowners for every mile
they sail upon the sea. To build up
once more great merchant marine
should be one of the patriotic ambi-
lions of American craftsmanship. 1t
can be done by taking off the shackes
and giving American enterprise, Amer
lean industry and American seamen
equal chance. Everything needed in
building and equipping a ship should
be admitted free of customs duty. Ship
supplies should be free. Every Amer
lean citizen should be free to buy ships
to use in the foreign carrying trade
wherever he can find them cheapest
and best. Tonnage taxes should be
abolished
In conclusion, the report says: "This
bill is the offspring of mere bounty
beggars and should be repudiated by
representatives of both political par
ties. 1t is vicious in principle. 1t is
not necessary for the rehabilitation of
our merchant marine to give hundreds
of millions Of the peoples tax money.
The bill is wholly unjustifiable"
Mr.. Fitzgerald did not concur in this
report.