The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-14
DAY OF DEBATE IN HOUSE
The War Tax Reduction Bill Was
Sharply Criticised
LEVY DECLARES CUT NOT DEEP ENOUGH
Mcclellan Says Correct Scheme of Taxation
Would Include Progressive Legacy Tax.
Underwood Declares UnprOductve
Wealth Absolutely Untaxed.
(By the Associated Press.

(By the Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. 13.-For nearly three
hours today Mr.. Hanna, of Ohio, ad
dressed the Senate upon the pending Ship
Subsidy Bill. This was really his first
formal speech to the body since he be-
came a 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 Hay Pauncefote
Treaty in executive session.
A resolution was adopted directing the
appointment of three members of the
Senate Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds and five of the same COM
mittee in the House to consider location
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 (Ga).
Mr.. Hanna said that the remarks of
Mr.. Clay had brought into question the
motives of those who had assisted in the
preparation of the pending measure. AS
a member of the Maritime committee, as
well as member of the Committee on
| Commerce, Mr. Hanna said he felt it
his right and duty to explain the work
of those committees.
For myself he declared, Il resent
the imputation that any other motives
than those of interest in our country and
good public policy actuated the commit
tees"
Mr.. Clay disclaimed any such imputa-
ton.
Mr.. Hanna maintained that in order to
build up the American merchant marine
it was necessary to have not only capi-
tai of experience but it was necessary
likewise, ito afford our foreign carrying
trade protection-some kind of induce
ment-by law.
Mr.. Hanna declared that the beginning
Of the decline in the industry was coinc-
dent with the outbreak of the Civil War.
Mr.. Vest MOI, challenged this state
ment He declared the decline had begun
as far back as 1865.
MIR Hanna reviewed the history of the
American merchant marine from the es-
tablishment of the nation up TO the pres
ent time. He maintained that the deca-
dence in the American shipping had be-
gun in 1860
He declared that the four ships of the
American Line, which are carriers Of mail
had not made net dollar since they came
under the American flag.
Mr.. Hanna challenged the assertion of
Mr.. Clay that each of the fast vessels
of the American Line would draw $304, :
O90 annually from the proposed subsidy.
Mr.. Clay quoted Mr.. Clyde, a steamship
owner on this point.
II am not using Mr.. Clyde's figures, >"
replied Mr.. Hanna. but my own"
Thereupon MIR. Vest called attention to
the fact that Mr.. Chamberlain, the Com
missioner of Navigation and one of the
strongest advocates of the pending mea-
sure. also had : said the American Line
vessels would receive $304 09O annually
from the Subsidy
After asserting that his figures showed
that the American Line vessels would re-
ceiye less than 1926, 900 a 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 fundamental
principles of the pending measure, and
dwelt at length upon the desirability of
having a large merchant marine to draw
upon for auxiliary ships in case of war.
After speaking of the efforts of the
maritime nations of Europe to prevent
the investment by Americans of capital
in the upbuilding of an American marine,
and urging that the proposed construc-
ton of the Nicaragua Canal was together
with the rehabilitation of this country S
marine power only a part of the great
problem of transportation, Mr.. Hanna
said that the pending bill would attract
capital and lay the foundation for a great
industry
Mr.. Hanna contended that this Govern
ment's recent achievements had placed
it in the firing line of nations and argued
that its citizens should not shrink from
availing themselves of possessing their
share or more than their share of the
foreign markets. The measure, he conclu-
ded, was not designed TO benefit any
particular class but to advance the inter-
ests of the whole country. If we did not
seize our advantages in the Orient other
powers would in event of war among any
of the great maritime powers now car
rying "a per cent of our foreign COM
merce, Mr. Hanna asserted our interests
would be paralyzed, and the situation
be ruinous
At 2:o5 p. m. the Senate went into