The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-10
SPEECH ON SUBSIDY BILL
OF JAMES j. HILLS AID
DRESS At CHICAGO.

OAeEAcS AZ CdLCAGO.
At the bankers banquet in Chicago
Saturday night, the president, James H
Eckles, introduced Mr. Hill of ST. Paul
as man of broad views, of long study
of transportation problems, of knowledge
of all the relating kindred topics, and OF
thorough practical experience. "Mr
Hill, he said, occupies a forefront
place among great railroad organizers of
the world, and he has contributed very
much toward making a sentiment in this
country favorable to railroads and re-
Verslng the sentiment which once ex-
listed unfavorable to them. He has en-
phasized the principle of establishing
beneficial reciprocal relations between the
corporations and the people of the terri
tory tributary to their roads,"
Mr.. Hill said, in part: 4-tt.
The greatest monopoly the world, has
ever seen was the Hanseatic league
which controlled the commerce of the
whole world, and led it until it began to
mix trade with government. Great Brit
ain is small and in itself rather an I'M
important part of the earth but her peo-
pie have taken advantage of their OPP
portunities and carried their flag to the
remotest parts of the world, because
they have taken advantage of oppor-
tunities-Which affords a great deal of
admiration and, 1 hope, emulation on the
part Of our people.
mastering the problems of land transport
ton than any other country in the world.
We have some advantages over Europe
in matters of railway transportation on
account of the enormous size of our
country and the length of our extreme
hauls, but even with that a comparison
of the rates paid by the public in the
United States with those paid by the peo-
pie OF Europe is very Instructive The
average rates paid in Great Britain is
more than "a cents ton mile The
average on the continent outside of Rus
STA is from 2 to FL cents per ton mile
Russia is about Is cents. In the United
States about mills is the average rate.
or less than one-third of the average
rate charged throughout Europe, wheth-
er the roads are operated by private cor
porations or by the respective govern
ments. In Germany the rate is about 2
cents per ton mile. The rates east Of
Chicago are, I may say, p cent a mile.
West of Chicago they are from q of a
cent to mills. So that we have mas
tered the question of rail transportation,
or land transportation, in a way that is
far in advance of that OF any of our Eu-
ropean neighbOrs. And to such an extent
that they are today considering the ques-
ton whether they can go on permanently
as they have been or whether they will
have to change their entire methods.
Il do not think that the American neo-
pie will have as difficult a problem to
solve IN the ships as they had III the
land transportation. I think thew will
soon md the way to solve it. Capital has
but small field left in railroad extern
ton and must soon seek other channels
know of none so inviting as that which
leads us to make a strong and fntalligCnt
effort to carry the flag of the country into
the seas and to dominate the oceans. as
we certainly can if not too much nam
Nv
US We can build ships in this country
as well and as cheaply as they can be
built anywhere in the world. Now T had
figures within the last year furnished
from the best builders on the Clyde, ard
figures from as good builders as there
are in this country, and, TO my utter
amaZement, the American figures on a
single ship were from 100000 to $500 eco
under the best Clyde builders, and when
we get the ship subsidy that is promised
see how happy we shall be.
THE proposed ship subsidy will be an
excellent thing, if it is not abused. I be.
lieve if the government would pay a ton
mage on the actual commodity below a
certain value a ton, based on the distance
carried, there would be some Justice in
it.
Unfortunately, the kind of ships that
will receive the subsidy is one that may,
indeed need it, but which the country
goes not need. Inc nrSt Dill introduced
appropriated $9,000O0j year In subsidies.
of which 81, 100000 would have gone to
the American line. The owners of that
line are good friends of mine, certainly
they are when I am crossing the ocean,
but think of the country's paying at least
seven-eights of the S90OO,00O year 10 ten
or twelve ships. I called atter ton to this
feature of the bill and it was amended.
Whatever is done with the S9,00O00O it
ought to be distributed pro rata among
all the ships flying the American flag
I'm new bill about 80 per cent was
set apart for the Pacific ocean, and l
suppose it was thought that that was a
good thing for me. Perhaps it is ffnan-
cially. But my company is building
ships anyway without the subsidy The
nation would better take off the duty
on ships and plates, and in time we can
build as cheaply in the United States as
anywhere.
eff the appropriation is made for a
class of ships that will reduce the cost
of carrying grain and products to new
markets I feel it will do well, but if it is
insisted on giving the bulk of the money
to ships with no other recommendation
than that they can make twenty knots
on a trial trip it will be all wrong.
Notwithstanding, if the present bill
passes, it will not be the first mistake
the country has made, and it will not be
altogether mistake and loss, if it re-
suits in starting the upbuilding of a
merchant marine under the American
the American merchant marine will be
relatively as strong on the sea as the
American railroads are on the land..'