Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-14
(By Telegraph to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


OF Ohio. addressed the Senate upon the
pending ship-subsidy BILL This was
really his first formal speech 10 the
body since he became u member OF it.
Since his advent into the Senate Mr..
Hanna has devoted much time and
labor TO the preparation of the ship
subsidy bill. Under special order
the Senate met an hour earlier than
usual TO permit the speech to be made
before taking up the -Pauncefote
treaty in executive session.
resolution was adopted directing
the appointment OF three members on
the committee OH public buildings and
grounds and five Of the same commit
tee in the House to consider loca ton
and cost of hall of records in this
city.
Mr. Hanna then spoke. His speech
was in the nature of a reply to the
speech OF Mr.. Clay, of Georgia.
Mr. Hanna said that the remarks of
Mr.. Clay had brought into question the
motives OF those who had assisted in
the preparation Of tho pending meas
ure. As Il member of the maritime
committee. as well as II member of the
committee on commerce, Mr.. Hanna
said he felt 1t his right and duty to
explain the work of those committees.
IMPUTATIoN DISCLAIMED.
For myself" he declared. II resent
the imputation that any other motive
than those of interest in our country
and good public policy actuated the
committee"
Mr.. Clay disclaimed any such impu-
tation.
Mr.. Hanna maintained that in order
to build up the American merchant
marine 1t was necessary to have not
only capital ana experience, but 1t was
necessary likewise ITO afford to for
carrying trade protecton--some
kind of fundamentally law"
STATEMENT CHALLENGED.
Mr.. IIanna declared that the begin
ming of the decline in the industry was
coincident with the outbreak of the
civil war
Mr.. Yes. CNro> challenged this state
ment He declared the decline had be-
gun as far back as 1855.
Mr.. Hanna reviewed the history of
the american merchant marine from
the establishment of the Union until the
present time. lie maintained that the
decadence in shipping had begun in
1860
This marine industry" Mr.. Hanna
said, sis promotive of our national
prosperity and at the same time is one
of the bulwarks of our national de-
Tense. The foreign commerce of the
United States is four times larger to-
uaN tnIn II WAS III lShn ana Yet inc
proportion OF the foreign carrying
trade is now less than one-third what
1t was in 1860. This is q most humlli-
ating decline in a great national indus
try"
A PROFITLESS BUSINESS.
He declared that the four ships of the
American Line, which are carriers of
mail, had not made n net dollar since
they came under the American flag.
Mr.. Hanna challenged the assertion
of Mr.. Clay that each of the fast YES
sells of the American Line would draw
100000 annually from the proposed
subsidy.
Mr.. Clay quoted Mr.. Clyde, steam
ship owner. on this point.
81 am not using Mr.. Clyde's figures"
replied Mr.. Hanna. "but my own"
MIR. VEST QUOTES FIGURES.
Thereupon Mr.. Vest called attention
to the fact that Mr.. Chamberlain, the
commissioner of navigation and one Of
the strongest advocates of the pend
ing measure. also had said the Ameri-
can Line vessels would receive $780,
$50 annually from the subsidy.
After asserting that his figures
showed that the American Line YES
sells would receive less than S290,000
year each, Mr.. Hanna declared that
with the subsidy the vessels OF that
line would not earn as much as was
earned by the vessels of the Cunard
and White Star Lines, under the mail
subsidies received from Great Britain.
Mr.. Hanna explained the fundamen-
tai principles of the pending measure.
At 2:05 p. m the Senate went into
executive session and at S:25 adj
journed.
REDUCTION OF REVENUE.
The debate upon the war revenue re-
duction bill continued in the House to-
day. 1T was dull and featureless
Those who spoke We're Messrs Gros-
venor (Ohio). Bartholdt (AlissourD.
Hill (ConnecticuO, Boutelle Qllinois),
Mcclellan (New York;, Newlands
(Nevada), Levy New York;, and I'm
derwood (Alabama).
Mr.. Bartholdt criticised the action
OF the ways and means committee in
not making deeper cut in the tax on
beer ana gave notice that he would
offer an amendment to reduce ii to 81. 30
per barrel. General debate upon the
bill Will close at o'clock tomorrow.
and Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of the
majority, expects the bill to pass before
adjournment tomorrow. The House to-
day adopted resolution for a recess
from Friday, December 81, to Thurs
day, January 8, 1901.
MIR. MCLELLAN,S REQUEST.
Mr.. Mcclellan On. w. the first
speaker, said that he regretted that
the majority had not taken advantage
of the present opportunity to reform
our whole scheme of internal taxation
He thought there was q general apre..