The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-26
He Contends that Outside Lines OF
Communication Have been Neg
lected and Are Now Necessary.
HOUSE AGREES TO ARMY BILL
"RAILROADSv THE NAVAL APPRo-
PRIATION MEASURE THROUGH,
And Closes an Unusually Busy Day by
Adopting seventy-seven Pri-
vate Pension Bills.


WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Depew,
of New York, to-day delivered in the Sem
ate Enthusiastically forceful and elo-
quent address in support OF the shipping
bill. The address. which occupied just an
hour, was in the nature of an appeal for
the upbuilding of the American merchant
marine by the granting of subsidies. az
provided for in the pending measure. His
discussion Of the problems OF transportation
which now confront American manufacture
ers and American farmers was notably
interesting and effective. The peroration.
I'm which he urged that the American flag
be restored TO the mastheads OF the freight
carrying ships of the United States was .
brilliant piece OF oratory and ELECTED cor
dial applause from senators on the floor
and the crowds in the galleries.
Senator Depew began with a survey OF
the country's first century OF development.
pointing out the immense material progress
that had been made in agriculture and
manufactures, how our exports had grown
to $3.50 900 annually in excess OF our inn
ports and how the internal lines OF COM
munication had been developed into the
most comprehensive in the world. But he
insisted that the development OF the coun-
try had been one-sided. While prepared
to feed and clothe one-half OF the world
outside of the United States, we had de-
veloped our transportation system only TO
our own coast line and had allowed our
merchant marine to remain undeveloped so
that there was actually greater tonnage
of American vessels built in this country
fer the foreign trade in 1907 than in 1900
Said Mr.. Depew:
"A general collision, which is often pre-
dicted In the European newspapers, among
the great powers Of Europe. in the mad
strip each other in the acquisition OF
spheres of influence In Asia and Africa.
would act upon the United States, who
might be simply spectator of the conflict.
as an embargo on our coast. We would
be shut up within ourselves as absolutely
as if the navies OF the world were blockad-
Ing our ports"
In regard to subsidies, the Senator said:
'All nations are agreed that their merchant
marine can be built up only by bounties-
The bounties paid last year by the different
maritime nations were SIC, 100000 I'm round
numbers against S1000,tU0 I'm round num-
.bers by the United States. German states
men discovered that IL the country would
find market for its growing surplus II
must own its own ships. Within few
years the German government has been
increasing directly its subsidies and has
lent every possible government aid TO the
construction of German shipyards and the
construction and operation OF German
steamships. The result is that Germany
has come to the fore, and takes second
rank as a maritime power, although she
has little coast and few ports
''The building up OF the American ship
ping industry he said, would mean the
direct employment OF 100000 men I'm ship
building operations besides the immense in
direct aid that IL would give TO all lines
of iron and steel production In this coun-
try. II is estimated" concluded the Sena-
tor, that there is paid by American pro-
ducers TO foreign ship owners in freight
charges at least $175. 600 a year. -Four
per cent. on this would give US an Alneri-
can merchant marine and the expenditure
of much the larger part OF this money In
our own country
''It is undoubtedly true" said the Sena-
tor that American ocean liners were more
expensive to build and maintain THAI those
of foreign countries. Without subsidies.
they were operated at a loss. II. with the
small subsidy proposed. they would yield
enormous profits, as some opponents Of the
shipping bin declared. there would be an
abundance of money flowing into the ship
building business TO take advantage OF this
fresh opportunity for profitable invest
ment
Little progress was made with the In
dian appropriation bill. The last hour OF
the Senate was occupied in the passage OF
private pension bills.