The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-12-12
A NOTABLE BANQUET
National Issues Discussed by
National Leaders.
HANNA ON SHIPPING SUBSIDY BILL
The Senator Says the 100000, 900
Now Paid Annually to Foreign
shipowners Is a Drain No Ma
ton but Ours Could stand.

ton but ours COuid Stnnu.
BOSTON, Dec. 11.--In celebration of
its twenty-ffth anniversary the Bos-
ton Merchants association met at the
vendome last evening and were enter
tained by four men of national reputa'
tion with spirited addresses, chiefly
along political lines. Postmaster Gener.
al Charles Emory Smith spoke on reel
procity; Hon. Kogaro Takahira, the
japanese minister, upon the subject OF
Commercial Relations;" Senator Mar.
Gus A. Hanna on the ship subsidy bill
and Hon. Henry Watterson Of Ken
tucky on Kentucky and Massachu-
setts.' These were the principal
guests, but at the tables were many
men Of state prominence and also Hon.
=. A. Collins, mayor elect OF Boston;
Congressman Conry and Naphen and
Marion Il. Taylor of Louisville, Ky.
Simple decorations of floral charac-
ter besides the American and japanese
flags lent beauty to the banquet hall,
while orchestral music added to the in
terest.
Senator Hanna was the last speaker
and confined his remarks entirely to
| the question of ship subsidy and the
latest bill for that purpose which has
been presented to congress. He re-
| ferred to the fact that the American
nation Is today supreme in the agri-
| cultural and industrial business of the
world, but is at the very lowest in re-
| gard to its merchant marine. He re-
ferred first to the growth of the mer-
chant marine ON the great lakes and
said that this had been accomplished
first. by our natural advantages, and
second, by the protection given by the
United States government
The coastwise trade of this country
has grown almost as rapidly under the
same provisions and the same protec
ton. In 1889 the First congress passed
laws allowing the increase of the mer
chant marine. The capacity of the
American vessels in the foreign trad'
at that time was 1883 tons. Afte
ten years it had increased to 534,OO'
tons In 1921 the American ships car
red SO per cent Of the foreign com
merce. In 1926 it reached the high wa
ter mark and carried 92 $40 per cent
In 1861 was the highest point we eve
reached, when the American ships car
ried 2. 1896, 1894 tons to foreign ports, ant
then it began to decrease. 1t decreased
40 per cent from 1851 to 1865. From
the highest point in 1861, when we car
, ried 92 per cent, we have decrease'
until today American ships only carr
8 per cent of the foreign tonnage.
We are building a magnificent nav,
and shall continue until we are secon
to no nation We should also bull
something for that navy to defend. Th
amount now paid annually by Amer
can merchants into the pockets of fol
eign shipowners is $200,0OO,0OO. n
country on the face Of the globe coul
S stand that drain but the United States
. And why need we stand 1t? We ca
{ see how the subsidy is affecting Ems
c land and her war with South Africt
Her vessels have been taken for trans
porting her troops and munitions
while the raw materials from ou
mines, etc, are lying on our dock
e awaiting transportation abroad
s Mr.. Hanna spoke Of the bill intr'
duced into congress last year and d.
clared that the bill that was presente
last Monday had been simplifed an
modified to meet the objections to th
former one.