The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-12
sZR. CLAY, OF GEORGIA, LEADS THE
FIGHT IN THE SENATE
AGAINST 1T
SPECIlL PRIVILEGES TO EOBE
BASIS OF THE GEGRGIAN's ARGU-
MENT AGAINST THE FRYE
BILL
THE NEW SENATORS CAN WAIT
Credentials Of Clark and Maeinnis
Go to the Committee on
Privileges and EIec-
tions.

tiOns.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE first
speech in opposition to the ship subsidy
bill was delivered today by Mr. Clay
tGa.), one of the minority members Of
the committee on commerce. which re-
ported it to the senate. He is recog-
nized as one of the most vigorous oppo-
nents of the bill in the senate, and dur
ing nearly two hours was accorded close
attention by senators on both si1es of
the chamber. Mr.. Hanna, who expects
TO reply to Mr.. Ciay's argument, gave
him particularly attentive hearing.
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
S9,000,0o0 a 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:
ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.
"One mans business is to be heavily
taxed in 0. der TO advance, and to make
more profitable the private business of
another citizen,
Mr.. Clay entered upon an anlysis of
the pending measure. He pointed out
that an additional amount was paid
owners Of vesse's of greater speed, re-
gardless of freight capacity. He said:
THE subsidy to be given vessels IN to
twelve knots, which are really our great
freight carriers, is only one and one-half
cents cents per gross ton, while the subsidy
given TO a fast steamer which carries
eAleIly passengers and fine manufactured
goods, is three and eight-tenths cents per
ton ton, for a twenty-one-knot ship.
how those who favor this measure
VI men donates annually to the ST Paul
more than $500, 900, can maintain that the
farmers and-producerS of this country
are the principal beneficiaries OF this bill
passes my comprehension. l am not SUR
prlsed that at the hearings before the
committee not single farmer or pro-
oucer appeared to advocate the passage
OF lne Oil; and am not surprised that
the snip owners alone mOnopoliZed the
time OF the committee in pointing out
e"Sat benefits that would accrue to the
cOH..Fy on the passage Of the bill. An
analysis Of the bill will demonstrate that
they alone are the bene1iciaries of this
legislation.
''Au American marine built up in this
way will not remain long at maximum
roint, but viii decrease and go to decay
as soon as the bounty ceases. If money
must be taken from the treasury to give
It VIII be essential to continue the boun-
ty system; otherwise retrogression, laiI-
ire and ruin will follow
After discussing the facilities Of the
United States for ship building, Mr.
Clay argued that there was no more rea-
son for giving a subsidy to ship build
ers and owners than to the farmer who
produces wheat or cotton or corn. If
the ship owner is entitled 20 a subsidy,
he contended, the farmer is equally en-
titled to one.
TONNES COMMITTEES.
An order presented by Mr.. Cocklen
Mo.) was ratified by the senate, direct
ing that the vacancies on the commit
tees of the District of Columbia, geo.
logical survey, Indian affairs, mines and
mining, Pacific islands. territories ana
railroads BE- dled BY the appointment
of Senator Towne, of Minnesota.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr. Hanna for the appointment by the
president pro TEN. Of committee of
three senators 10 make. the necessary
arrangements for the Inauguration of the
president OF the United States on the
4th of March was adopted without de-
bate.
FIGHT ON OLEOMARGARINE.
The G-out oleomargarine bill passed
bv the house was laid before the senate
and President pro TEN. Frye an
nOunced that ne felt Obliged in view of
previous action of the senate on a SINH
lar measure to refer the bill 10 the COM
mittee on agriculture.
&r Aldrich. chairman of the commit
tee on finance, said he would offer no
objection TO that reference, but Mr.. Vest
(AIo.), member of the finance comm t
tee, contended vigorously that the bill
being, in his mind. a revenue measure,
ought to be referred to the committee
on finance.
He declared that If the bill was an
honest measure it was a revenue bill,
and if it was dishonest measure it was
an effort to use the taxing power of the
government as a police regulation.
Mr.. Proctor CVt) moved that the bill
be referred to the committee on agrIcuI-
ture.
The question was discussed briefly by
Mr. Kyle Is: ID, Mr.. Stewart, Mr.
Spooner, Mr.. Allison and Mr.. Money, the
last named declaring that the Grout
oleomargarine bill was measure the
primary object Of which was to tax one
Industry at the expense of another.
In again objecting to the proposed ref
erence, Mr.. Vest declared that here it
was proposed in this bill to turn con-
gress into a state legislature, and make
1t exercise purely police powers IN the
various states.
The motion TO refer the bill to the COM
mittee on agriculture was agreed to.
SENATORS FROM MONTANA.
Mr.. Carter called up his pending motion
to refer the credentials of William A
Clark and Martin Maginnis, appointed
senators from Montana, to the committee
on privileges and elections, and after
some discussion the motion prevailed
without discussion
Mr. Chandler, chairman of the COM
nittee on privileges and elections, ask
ed that the resolution en- the calendar
declaring that William A. Clarke was not
duly and legally elected to a seat in the
senate Of the United States by the legis-
lature Of Montana, be recommitted to the
committee.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) inquired what the OBJ
ject Of the request was.
Mr. Chandler replied that before the
senate had had opportunity to act upon
the resolution the senator. from Mon
tana CNIr. Clark ''had gone through the
form Of resignation" That changes the
entire aspect of the situation, said Mr.
Chandler, and for a time forestalled and
prevented discussion Of the questions in
volved. To be entirely frank with Mr.
Bacon, he said, another reason why he
desired a recommittal of the resolution
was that the committee might desire to
take some positive action upon the lat
ter with which the resolution dealt. The