The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-12
This the Sole Object Of the Measure,
Says the Senator.
WON'T HELP MERCHANT MARINE.
1t Is Simply Robbing the Treasury of
the Sum Of 100000 Annually
aud Donating That Sum to
the Ship Owners Carrying
the Foreign Trade of
tho Country.
(By Associated Press \


speech in opposition to the ship subsidy
bill in the Senate was delivered TO-DAY
by Mr.. Clay, of Georgia. He is one OF the
minority members of the Committee on
Commerce. which conducted the hearings
on the measure and reported it TO the
Senate.
MIR. Hanna, who expects to reply to Mr..
Clay's argument, gave him particularly
attentive hearing. In the carly part, OF
the session a lively co.loquy was precpi-
tatei over the reference to the committee
Of the G1out oleomargarne bill :tist
passed by the House of Representatives
Finally it went TO the Committee on Asri-
culture This was a victory for the friends
of the bill.
Tomorrow no business session Of the
Senate will be held, as the day will be de-
voted to the celebration of the Centennial!
OF the establishment Cf the seat of govern
ment in Washington.
The resolution for the appointment by
THE President pro tenn of a committee of
three Senators to make the necessary ar
rangements fer Inauguration on the 4th
OF March was adopted without DEBATE.
THE CLARK CASE.
Mr.. Chandler, chairman of the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections, asked that
the resolution on the calendar. declaring
that William A. Clark was not duly and
legally elected to the Senate, be recon-
rnitted to the committee.
Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia, inquired his OBJ
rsct.
Mr. Chandler replied that why he de-
tt.,y
:t.ant the committee might desire 10 take
some positive action as the whole case
had not been disposed OF by the resigna-
eicn and departure OF Mr.. Clark.
Mr. Bacon replied that he could conceive
of no legitimate purpose in the desire for
a Tecommital OF a resolution which dealt
with a question which practically was
dead. He intimated that MIR. Chandler
might have some Interior purpose. The
matter went over until Thursday.
Forty-tive pension bills were passed
Mr.. Clay, of Georgia, was then recos-
nized.
Mr.. Clay contended that the promotion
OF commerce and the increasing of foreign
trade of the United States, two of the
most important objects OF the pending
measure, would not follow it's enactment.
The one definite thing that was known
was that it would take from the Treas
ury of the United States Sc, 9,GG0C00 a year
for a period OF twenty years. and donate
that vast sum to the s>ip-owners carry
ing the foreign tlnde of this country. In
other words: "One mans business is to
be heavily taxed in order to advance and
to make more profitable the private bust
ness of another Citizen
Mr. Clay entered upon an analysis of
she pending measure. He pointed out thai
an additional amount was paid owners of
vessels of greater speed. regardless of
freight capacity. He said ''that the sub
SOY to be given vessels up to 12-knots,
which are really our great freight carriers
is only one and half cents per gross ton,
Wh!ie the subsidy given to a FIST steamer,
which carries chiefly passengers and fine
manufactured goods, is three and eight
ite'atili cents per ton for a. 3l-knot Ship
Thus it would appear, he contended. that
the 12-knot vessel, which really carried
the products of the country would re-
ce-ve only little more than one-tl1ird of
the subsidy paid to the fast passenger
steamers.
INJUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
He elaborated what he deemed to De the
injustice and inequality OF the measure
IN this respect. presenting comparison
OF carsoes carried by the ST. Paul. a swift
steamer Of the American line. and of the
Manhattan. one Of the great freishters OF
the Atlantic Transportation Company.
ihe comparison showed that The Manhat-
tan, 1t-knot ship. carried immense
quantities of agricultural and manufsc-
tHred products, while the ST. Paul carried
practically no manufacture or agricul-
turai products of nny kind yet, contended
WE Clay, the Manhattan will receive lit
tle more than Is of the subsidy given the
St. Paul.
An analysis of the bill will demonstrate
mat the ship owners alone are the bene-
hciaries of this legislation.
MI Clay celtetlded that the greater
part OF the exports OF the United States
were carried IN steamers of less than
ll-kiots speed. ana that it was not. there
tore, within the bounds Of reason or Jus
tsce t:lat the fast vessels which carried
only small percentage OF the exports
shouid receive the great bulk of the sub
s:dy.
RIDICULE.
Mr.. Clay ridiculed the proposition laid
down IN the majority report OF the Com
merce Committee on the bill. that the
proposed law would be OF greater benefit
to the agricultural inssrests of the coun-
try than it would be Ito the ship-buildirs
and ship-oWnins, State.
MI Clay ma ntained that the bill. as
formulated by the COMMITTEES, would not
>>AaS1 ~ AHs1 SsiSc5 tfiS uiiTlfle.
the United States
If. said he, Senators will examine
the testimony taken bssfore the commit
tee, the conclusion viii be reached that
the ship-owners have thorough oreani-
zation to carry. throus, this legislation.
They are not Seek ns opportunities to
build ships, but. they are trying to secure
legislation that will enable them to %, in
the public treasury and Graw $4,000, COO an
nrally to divide :incng themselves. If
those who favor this legislation are act
ing in good faith why did they not pro-
vide that the subsidy si7all be mad to
those who will build ships hereafter
Mr.*ciay maintained that that provision
of.the bill which enables American owners
of foreign vessels to place those vessels ln-
der American register on condition that
they construct in American shipyards YES
sells Of Ike tonnage and speed. would not