The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
Says Vessels Can BE Built in This
Country at Much Lower Fig
ure Than on the Clyde.
WANTS DUTY OFF PLATES
BILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS- LESS
OBJECTIONABLE THAN THE FIRST,
He Asserts. However, that Most of
the 100000 Subsidy VIII Go
to "Ocean GrcyhOunds."

CHICAGO, Dec. S.-President ]. J. Hill,
of the Great Northern Railroad, was the
guest of the Bankers Club at the monthly
dinner tonight. He was expected TO speak
on the subsidy bill now pending in Con-
eress but his remarks were extemporane-
Gus and briefer than had been expected
upon this subject. The club. previous to
the address of Mr.. Hill, passed a resolu-
ton requesting the President to reappoint
Lyman j. Gage secretary of the treasury.
Mr. Hill spoke at considerable length,
discussing matters on interstate and inter-
national commerce. and in the first part of
his remarks he merely alluded TO the sub
sidy bill by saying that he had made some
INQUIRY concerning the building of boats in
this country and upon the Clyde, and found
that he could have them constructed in
this country at much lower figure than
I'm Scotland. This, he declared, cid not
look much as though a subsidy was needed
for shipping. If such a measure were
passed it would, in his opinion, assist most
those who needed no assistance, and he
mentioned the ocean greyhounds'' as
those most likely 10 be benefited. He then
branched out into talk on the manner
OF controlling railroads by legislation, and
declared that the matter was one which
none but experts understood, and that rail-
roads could not be properly handled in this
way any more than broken limb could be
set by statute.
Towards the close of his speech he came
again TO the subsidy bill, and said concern
ing il: cit is an excellent thing If il is
not abused. 1 believe that if we could
pay a tonnage on the actual commodities
of a certain kind based on the distance
carried, there would be some justice in 4
subsidy / analyzed the first bill that was
drawn carefully, and found that out of
100000, about S7.5o0.O00 went to what is
known as the american line" a coed
friend of mine. and nine gentlemen. They
are always very kind TO me when 1 am
crossing. At the same time. why should
we, as a nation, pay nine millions a year
for thirty years. and have seven-eighths
of it go TO ten or twelve ships. / am glad
to say that when attention was called to
this, the bill was amended and now 1t is in
much better shape. The nine million is
TO be distributed pro rata among all the
ships that sail under the American flag,
and they have set apart 80 per cent of
the appropriation for the Pacific ocean.
No doubt some Of my friends thought they
were serving me and, in money sense.
perhaps they were, but would much
rather see them take the duty off the
rIates that are to go into the ships when
they are built. IL Congress will appropri-
ate s1s0. 900. 900 for a class of ships that will
reduce the cost OF carrying our commerce
we will have right TO feel that they have
done well, but we do not think that they
should give the bulk OF IL TO twenty or
fwcnty-one ships that are only compelled
TO run twenty-one knots once TO the atis-
faction OF the government officer detailed
for that puTpcse.'