The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-11
HANNA'S ARTFUL DODGE
His Attempt to Conceal His Share
in the Subsidy Scheme.
The Present Bill and the One That
Bcre HIS Same-S1me Interesting
the Measure - An Unpleasant Pos
sibiiity for the Ohio senator.

from that which bore his name. \ com
parison will show that they represent the
same scheme for the same parties on the
same pretexts.
Nest gratuitous of all. however. has
been the repeated explanation in mis- be-
half that it must be pure patriotism by
which Senator Hanna was actuated in
ship subsidy matters; that, although he
was naturally interested in the prosperity
OF the American Shipbuilding Company
OF Observation-Disclosures known as the
Great Lakes Shipbuilding Trust"--it was
Great Lakes concern, and therefore,
not interested in this bill.
That plan was a good enough Morgan"
at the time when, in 1899, in the closing
days of the Fifty-ffth Congress, it was
expected to put this bill through. But
with the two years delay that has al
ready elapsed plans for the exploitation
OF its results have so matured that the
young robins then in the egg are now
crowding the nest with their mouths open
for the fat grubs they have been promised.
The methods employed here we're char
acteristic. First. in 1897, Mr.. Hanna ar
ranges for a Subsidy bill Then the
American Shipbuilding Company IA New
Jersey trust concern, with all that the
name implies, proceeds TO take in one
after another of the shipbuilding concerns
on the Great Lakes until IL has a prac-
tical monopoly of that business; and.
meanwhile, develops its plans for build
ing ships to be used in the foreign trade.
How much i: would add to Senator
Hanna prestige if he can make his home
concern pensioner on Government
bounty; and how properly it might regard
a man as worse than an infidel who cid SO
much for Standard Oil, the Pennsyl, ania
Railroad and such combina tions, while
neglecting his own household.
Omitting the characteristic details of
the organization of this company and
looking only at late happenings il the
clearer mirror of the Marine Review of
Cleveland the home organ alike of Mr..
Hanna and the Great Lakes Shipbuilding
Trust, here are quotations from issues Of
the dates specified:
November l. 1g00-"Another Shipyard in
the Consolidation-The American Ship |
building Company is now in control of the /
works of the Union Dry Dock Company at !
Buffalo. This gives the Araeri- |
can Shiphuilding Company control Of all i
yards that build steel ships on the lakes. |
excepting the Craig Works. at Toledo ana |
the works OF the jerks Shipbuilding |
Company, at Port Huron"
November 10, 1900-"Plans for Foreign |
shipbuilding Complete-The American |
Shipouilding Company consolidated yards |
OF the Great Lakes is arranging to build |
In sections ships for salt water service. |
Plans have been prepared at the bead |
quarters of the company in Cleveland for |
type of freight steamer that is to be !
built in two parts at lake yards and the /
parts Joined together after passing |
L. H..
Lawrence.
That officials of the American Ship |
building Company are in earnest in the |
matter of providing new steel vessels for I
the Atlantic Coast in this way is shown |
by recent correspondence between Mr.. r. /
C. Wetmore, secretary of the company !
and Mr.. e. T. Chamberlain, United ates I
Commissioner OF Navigation. Mr. Wet /
more a Few days ago submitted to the
Commissioner the following hypothetical !
case:
"A vessel is built, say here in Cleye-
land, set up on the stocks in the l sual |
way, the hull fully completed excepting
for space of say two plates in or near
the centre. These plates during the time
that they are on the stocks would Simply
be bolted. a bulkhead would be con
structed on either side of these spaces.
and when the hull was fully completed in !
other respects. these plates would be Ie-
moved, stored in one end of The shin, ard
the hull launched in two pieces The hull
would be sufficiently completed on the
stocks to admit of measurement. although
probably the deduction could not be made
until after the two parts had again Ieen
put together, and the houses put on. We
would then propose that the part Of the
null containing the machinery would tow
the other part through the canals to, say
Montreal or Quebec, where the two sec
lions would be Joined together and con-
tinue TO the coast
g In reply to your enquiry whether such
a vessel could be enrolled as an Amari-
can bottom says the Commissioner of
Navigation, and hail from an American
port, and whether she would be liable. to ,
customs duties, this Office has to state
that il such case should arise the des-
patch of the vessel TO the Atlantic Coast
without penalties or disabilities other
case, would undoubtedly be authorized on
the receipt by this Office OF proper evil
dence satisfactorily establishing the facts
II would probably be necessary to have
evidence forwarded from the Office OF the
collector of customs Of the district where
the voyage commenced and also of the
collector where the voyage terminated At
the latter port proceedings could be taken
for the granting Of documents on com
Dllance with the regulations. Enrolment /
would not Issue at the port OF departure |
II is not understood that duties would
accrue, AS advised at present, the Ju- !
reau Of navigation would endeayor in
every proper way to facilitate such a
November -. I90G.-"The Subsidy Bill
Interests Everybody. and Is Perfect as 1t !
stands.-Now for the Shipping bill Sena-
tors and Representatives. must grid their
olns ana buckle on their armor. for The I
light is on. II Is idle TO think that The /
Shipping bill interests q few. Il Interests !
everyone. Is 1t no. time 10 awaken? !
Sc verai patriotic Americans have undertsk- !
n TO enter the foreign carrying trade
'galnEi the handicap Of Europe I'm the hope
rat the Government. through favorable
egislation, viii come to their rescue Cen
sress should not desert them. Let the '
Shipping bill be passed at the forthcoln- |
ng session. It is In admirable form at , s.
resent so that 10 time need be lost ii is
IRE paration."
December -. 1960.-'Lake shipbuilde-s.
IOt Shippers. interested IEditoriall-i
fhe shipping Interests OF the lakes kuow
hat they are not In a position to take ad-
'antage Of the Shipping biz through the /,
.hiPmenis Of cargoes abroad. But on the !
'ther hand the lake shiphuilders are In
'osiiion to take advantage at once OF the =
Impetus which the passage OF the Shipping
I'LL would give shipbuildlnE The
axes can build on the section plan tramps
4 900 tons capacity for saltwater service.
rhe lake shipbuideT is vitality interested
n the Shipping bin and neither he nor the
hipper wants lis provisions amended in | ;
NY particular" 7
January II, 1sO1-"Building Ships for ;
'oreign Trade.-The American ShipbuiId =
IL cOmpany has iust concluded nrraoo.