The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-13
HANNA'S PLEA.
Ohio Senator Speaks for His
Pet Measure.
Urges Passage of the Ship Sub
sidy Bill.
HAS NO OTHER MOTIVE
Says His Only Desire is the
Country's Good.
LAS NO OTHER MOTIVE
Resents Fancied Imputation of
Ulterior Designs.

Washington, Dec. 13.-By special Or
der the senate convened today at IL
O'Clock. The announced purpose of the
early convention was to enable Mr.. Han
ma of Ohio to address the senate on the
ship subsidy bill before taking up the
special order of today-tae further con-
sideration in executive session Of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
Just four senators were at their desks
when President Pro Tenn Frye called
the body to order but in a few minutes
about twenty-five members had entered
the chamber.
Mr.. Fairbanks Qnd.) offered a resolu-
tion from the committee on public build
ings and grounds directing the appoint
ment by the president of the senate
of three members of that committee and
by the speaker of the house five mem
bers of the same committee of the house,
to constitute a joint commission to as
certain a feasible location for and the
probable cost of hall of records to be
located in the District of Columbia. The
resolution was adopted.
At the conclusion of the routine busi-
ness Mr.. Hanna was recognized to
speak upon the subsidy bill. His speech
was in a sense a reply to that delivered
a few days ago by Mr. Clay (Ga).
Like Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Hanna is a mem
ber of the committee on commerce, from
which the measure now pending was re-
ported to the senate.
In opening his address, Mr.. Hanna
said that the remarks of Mr.. Clay had
brought into question the motives of
those who had assisted in the prepa ra-
tion of the pending measure. As mem
ber of the maritime committee. as we'll
as a member of the committee on COM
merce, Mr.. Hanna said he felt it his right
and duty to explain the work of those
committees.
the imputation that any other motive
than those of interest in our country
and good public policy actuated the
committees"
Mr. Clay interrupted Mr.. Hanna to
disclaim any such imputation.
Taking up the bill, Mr.. Hanna said
the pending measure was believed to be
the most practical legislation that could
be enacted upon the subject. He then
sl1etched rapidly the rise Of the shipping
industry of the great lakes. He had,
he said, been connected with that in
dustry for nearly forty years and had
seen it grow from a comparatively in
significant beginning to its present con-
dition of unparalleled greatness He re-
called the time nearly a third of a CEN
tury ago. when the ship Escanaba. car
ried 800 tons of iron ore from Escanaba
to Cleveland. Today, he said, there were
steamers on the great lakes which were
carrying 5000 gross tons in one cargo.
He maintained that this great ship
ping industry on the lakes had been
fostered and protected by salutary and
wise navigation laws To the advantage
of these laws was added the liberal ap-
prOpriations made by congress for the
Improvement of the harbors of the great
lakes.
Mr.. Hanna maintained that in order to
build up the American merchant marine
it was necessary to have not only capital
and experience, but it was necessary like 4
wise ito afford our foreign carrying
trade protection some kind of induce
ment-by law" If this protection should
be afforded, said Mr.. Hanna, the growth |
of the American merchant marine would
be on a par with the growth of the ship
ping industry on the great lakes
Discussing the rise and fall Of the |
American merchant marine Mr.. Hanna.
declared that the beginning of the de-
cline in the industry was eoincident
with the outbreak of the Civil war Mr.. /
Vest CMo.) interrupted the Ohio senator
to challenge his tatenlent that the Civil /
war caused the decline of shipping. He /
declared the decline had begun as far /
back as 1855. In response to Mr.. Vests I
challenge Mr.. Hanna reviewed the his 7
tory of the American merchant marine |
from the establishment of the nation !
until the present time. He maintained /
that the decadence in American ship /
ping had begun in 1850 and not in 1855, |
as the Missouri senator had asserted.
Mr. Hanna declared that the four !
ships of the American line, which he
said had not made q net dollar since +
they came under the American flag, |
would receive less than $4,000 a year
each if the bill became a law.
At 2 O'Clock Mr.. Hanna concluded his !
speech on the ship subsidy bill and the |
senate went into executive session to
consider the -Pauncefote treaty.
The forenoon relations committee
amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote |
treaty was adopted by a large majority. |
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington. Dec. 13.-When the house |
met today it adopted resolution on mo-
ton of Mr.. Payne CN. ". the floor |
leader of the majority for a holiday re-
cess from Friday, December q, to H
Thursday, January 3.
Before going into a committee of the I
whole to resume the consideration of the /
war revenue reduction BILL it was agreed I
that general debate upon the bill should /
close tomorrow at 2 o'clock. The reg /
ular Friday order for the consideration /
of private pension bills was postponed /
until Saturday. The debate upon the /
revenue reduction bill was then re-
suned-
the ways and means committee, was the I
first speaker today