The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-11
CALLS IT A GIFT.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, Makes
Vigorous Attack
Upon the Ship Subsidy Bill in
the Senate.
NOT A FARMER HE SAYS
Has Appeared to Advocate Pas
sage of the Bill.
1t Takes From One Man For
Benefit of Another.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE o1eomar-
garine bill which recently passed the
house was today referred to the senate
committee on agriculture without di-
vision.
The senate took up the ship subsidy
bill and Mr.. Clay (Ga-) spoke against it.
In beginning Mr.. Clay contended that
the promotion of commerce and the in
creasing of foreign trade of the United
States two of the most important OBJ
jectS of the pending measure would not
follow the enactment of the bill into
law. The one definite thing that was
known about the operation of the pro-
posed legislation was that it would take
from the treasury of the United States
$9,O00,000 year for a period of twenty
years and donate that vast sum to the
ship owners carrying the foreign trade
of this country. In other words, "one
mans business is to be heavily taxed
in order to advance and to make more
profitable the private business of anoth-
er citizen"
Mr.. Clay entered upon an analysis Of
the pending measure He pointed out
that an additional amount was paid
owners of vessels of greater speed, re-
gardless of freight capacity. He said:
THAT the subsidy to be given vessels
up to II knots which are really our great
freight carriers is only one and a half
cents per gross ton, while the subsidy
given to manufactured goods is three
and eighth-tenths cents per ton for a 12-
knot ship" Thus it would appear, he
contended, that the 12-knot vessel
which really carried the products of the
country would receive only a little more
than one-third of the subsidy paid to
the fast passenger steamers He elab-
GRATED what he deemed to be the ''in-
justice and inequality of the measure
in this respect, presenting a comparison
of cargoes carried by the St Paul. a
swift steamer of the American line and
of the Manhattan. one of the great
freighters of the Atlantic TranspOrta-
ton company. The comparison showed
that the Manhattan, a 14-knOt ship car
ried immense quantities of agricultural
and manufactured products, while the
St. Paul carried no manufactured or
agricultural products of any kind. Yet
contended Mr.. Clay the Manhattan will
receive little more than One-third of
the subsidy given the St Paul.
fHow those who favor this meas
ure," he declared, (which donates an
nually to the St. Paul more than $780,,
600 can maintain that the farmers and
producers of this country are the prin-
cipal beneficiarieS of this bill passes my
comprehension. I am not surprised that
at the hearings before the committee
not a single farmer or producer appear
ed to advocate the passage of the bill;
and I am not surprised that the ship
owners alone monopOlized the time of
the committee in pointing out great
benefits that would accrue to the cOun-
try from the passage of the bill An
analysis of the bill will demonstrate
this legislation"
CLARK CASE COMES UP.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE senate has
referred the credentials of w. A. Clark
and Martin Maginnis, contesting sena-
tors from the state of Montana to the
committee on privileges and election. A
debate, reopening the Clark case occurr-
ed upon the motion of Senator Chandler
to recommit the resolution declaring the
seat from Montana vacant.
IN THE HOUSE
Washington, Dec. 11.-When the house
met today Mr.. Hull chairman of the
committee on military affairs, reported
back from that committee a substitute
for the briggs resolution for an inves-
tigation of the alleged 'hazing' of Oscar
L. BoOz, at West Point The substitute
was as follows:
Whereas, 1t is alleged in the news
papers that Oscar L. Booz, of Bristol,
Pa, formerly a cadet at the United
States military academy at West Point,
died at his home from injuries purport-
ing to have been the result of hazing
inflicted upon him by certain unknown
cadets of the said military academy;
and
Whereas, The secretary of war is
now making investigation of the facts,