The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-14
HANNA ON SUBSIDIES
ASSERTS nIIL ~ PROMPTED nv
PATRIOTIC MOTIVES.
SPOKE IN REPLY TO Mr.. CLAY.
Mu. CLAY DISCLAIMED ANY IM-
PuorEH IMpUTATIoN.

Hanna Maintained Dccndcnce OF
American shipping HcEan in Is0O
Used His own Figures Ia stating
what the Mia Liacrs Would re-
cciVc Under the niiI-said the
Measure would Attract Capital
aud nuIId ~ Great Industry.
Washington, Dec Is For nearly three
hours to-day Mr Hanna of ohio ad-
dressed the Senate upon the pending snip
subsidy blil This was really bis nrst
formal speech 90 the body since he be-
came member Of it.
since hts advent into the Senate Mr..
Hanna has devoted much time and labor
60 the preparation of che ship-suesidy bill
Under special order the Senate met an
hour earlier than usual 20 permit the
speech to be- made before taking up the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty in executive ses-
sion.
AIR Hanna's speech was Ia the nature
Of reply 10 the speech of Mr.. Clay of
Georgia.
Mr Hanna said mat tho remarks or
Mr. Clay had brough, into question tho
motives Of thoso who had assisted In the
preparation of the pending measure As
a member of tho Maritime Committee. as
well a. member 90 the Committee on
Commerce Mr Hanna said be- felt Il his
right and duty TO explain tho work OF
those committee
For myself" he declared Il resent
/ 81.
than those OF interest in our country and
good public policy nctuntcd the commit
tees"
Mr Clay dlsclaimed any such imputa-
ton.
Mr. Hanna maintained that in order
20 build up the American merchant ma
rlne u was necwsary 10 have not only
capital and experience hut it was nee
easary likewise. TO AFFORD our foreign
carrying trade protcctlon-some kind OF
irducemcnt-by law"
when the Decline BeEan.
Mr. Hanna declared that the begin
Ming Of the decline IN the Industry was
ooincldcnt with the outbreak OF tho
cvil War
Mr. Vest Of Missouri. challenged this
statement. He declared the decline had
began ~ far back as 1856
Mr. Hanna reviewed tho history OF
the American merchant marine from the
establishment of the nation until the
present time. lie maintained that tho
decadencc in American shipping had begun
in 1860
This marine Industry" Nr. Hanna
said is promotive Of our national pros
perity and "a the same time Is one Of
the bulwarks of our national defense.
The foreign commerce Of the United
states Is four tmeu larger to-day than
y was In 1850 and vet tho proportion %
American tonnage ln the foreign carrying
trade Be- now less than one-third what
@ was iu isoo This b. a most humlllai-
INK decline in a great national indus
try"
He declared that the four ships OF tho
American Line, which are carriers of
mail had not made "A net dollar since
they came under the American flag
Hanna Uscs His own Figures.
Mr. Hanna challenged the assertion OF
Mr.. Clay that each Of tho fast vessels Of
the American Line would draw S31i GO an
ualy from the proposed subsidy.
Mr.. Clay quoted Mr.. Clyde a steamship
owner on this point
Il am not using Mr. Ciyde's ngiIres."
replied Mr Hanna "bw my own"
Thereupon Mr. Vest called attention 10
the fact that Mr. Chambe rlain. the conl-
missioner Of navigation and one OF tho
strongest advocates Of the peuding meas
ure also had said the Amer can Lane ves-
sells would receive soll0o annually from
the subsidy.
After asserting that his figures showed
that tn American Line vessels would re-
ccive less than SEQ 90 a year each. Mr..
| Hanna declared that with the subsidy the
& seF "a
much ~ was earned by the vessels Of the
Cunnrd and White Star Lines. under the
mail subsidies received from Great
Britain
Mr.. Hanna explained tho fundamental
principles Of the pending measure. He
dweit at length upon the desiability OF
having a large merchant marine 10 draw
upon for auxiliary ships IN case Of war.
Foundation for Great Industry.
AFTER dwelling az length upon the efforts
OF the maritime nations Of Europe 10 pre-
vent tho investment by Americans % cap
ital in the upbuiiding Of an American ma
rine. and urging that the proposed con-
struciion of tho Nicaragua canai was. to-
gether with the REHABILITATION OF this
country's marine power. only a part of
! the greut problem q transportation. Mr.
Hanna said that the pending bill wouid
attract capital and lay the foundation for
a great industry.
mr. Hanna contended that this govern
meurs recent achievements bad placed II
| IN the firing line Of nations. and argued
/ that ltE citizens should not shrink from
avaliing themselves ~ possessing their
share or more than their share Of the for
eign markets The measure. he conclud-
I ed. was not designed To- benefit any partic-
ular class but 10 advance the interests
Of the whole country II we sd not seize
our advantages IN the orient other Pow
ers would In event Of war among any
/, | OF the great maritime Powers now carry
Ing % per cent Of our foreign commerce
Mr. Hanna asserted our interests would b@
paralyzed and the situation be ruinous.
a. 2.05 . m. the Senate went into exec
uuve session. aud at 3:@ o'clock /, ad-
ioumed.