The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-13
His View of Effects of the Measure on
the Merchant Marine Pictured
in Flowery Words.
CLASH IN THE LOWER HOUSE
RICHARDSON AND CORLIsS FOUGHT
EACH OTHER WITH WORDS,
Mr.. Sims of Opinion the House Was
Buncoed in Connection with
the Census Bill.


WASHINGTON, March 12.-Again to-day
the ship subsidy bill occupied practically
the entire time of the Senate. Mr.. Nc
Cumber. OF North Dakota, presented
carefully prepared argument, in which as
a representative of an agricultural State
he favored the bill on the ground of its pro-
tective features. Mr.. Depew, one Of the
members of the committee on commerce,
delivered an elaborate speech, in which he
analysed the arguments both for and
against the proposition TO pay subsidies TO
the shipping industry. Both as an argu-
ment and as an oratorical effort the
speech was brilliant and was listened to
attentively by Senator'S and by throngs in
the galleries. His peroration in which he
pictured in glowing language the results
of the operation of the bill elected hearty
applause from the galleries. A few bills
were passed. including the one providing
for the redemption of Hawaiian silver coins
and the substitution thereof Of Ameri-
can silver coins.
Mr.. Rawlins introduced a resolution,
which was passed, directing the secretary
of war TO SEND to the Senate the reports
of Inspectors Carpenter and Maus and any
other information he may have in relation
10 the transports between the United
States and the Philippines, especially
garding free transportation for individ-
auls
Mr.. Culom, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, reported favorably
bill authorizing the President TO extend
to the government of France an invitation
TO join the government and people Of the
United States in the dedication of the mon
ument OF Count De Rochambeau to be un-
yelled in this city on May "a next. Mr..
Hoar offered an amendment including in
the invitation the family of the late Mar
quis Lafayette. He paid tribute to La
fayette and urged that his amendment was
peculiarly pertinent. The amendment was
agreed to. and as amended the bill was
passed.
A resolution by Mr.. Spooner was adopted
directing the secretary of the treasury TO
report to the Senate the extent to which
mail pay provided for by the present ship
subsidy bill increases the mail pay now au-
thor1zed by law, and also whether they
are more or less in effect than the subsidy
rates provided by the subsidy bill of 1899.
SENATOR DEPE,W'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Depew then addressed the Senate in
favor of the bill. The senators had criti-
cised the bill, but none of them had sub
mtted any plan by which we could have
a mail service which would be equal to that
of Great Britain, Germany or France We
are. he maintained, contributing millions
Of dollars annually to increase still further
the mail facilities and enlarge the mer-
chant marine of these competing countries,
thus placing farther off the distance which
the American merchant marine must
traverse before il can be equal to that of
the countries named
I'VE are looking forward TO that position
which we are entitled to as world power,
said Mr.. Depew, but as a matter of fact
we are crippled because we cannot open
the communications which are necessary to
accomplish that commercial result without
the active assistance of the subsidized ships
of our rivals in business. 1t is a curious
fact" said he, that while our friends. the
enemy" referring TO the Democratic sena-
tors, ARE sensitive about the expenditure
of 100000 year to perfect our mail serv-
ice to places where we hope to have COM
merce they vote for the carrying of mail
on profitable mail lines in the domestic serv-
ice"
arguments of the opponents of the bill as
to the prosperity of American shipyards
were not we'll founded. He declared that
vessels aggregating 900 tons had been con-
structed in American shipyards for the for
eign trade during the past ten years. while
in Great Britain during one year, the last
year available in statistics, 100000 tons of
ships had been constructed. He suggested
the difference between these figures was
so extraordinary that the opposition sena-
tors ought to paste them up in their COM
mittee rooms a constant reminder of
the decline of the American merchant
marine.
Mr. Bacon suggested that in order to be
fair and accurate the figures of the Ameri-
can construction ought to include the YES
sells built for the United States for coast
wise trade. These figures Mr.. Depew did
not give but he said they would add not
very materially TO the total.
Referring incidentally to the present sit
uation in New York. Mr.. DepeW said one
of the greatest handicaps TO the national
Democracy had been Tammany. He said
great hope had been builded upon the fact
that a brilliant and cultivated gentleman
recently had been placed at the head of
the Tammany organization This was
Lewis Nixon, the American ship builder.
Mr. Depew then quoted from a paper read
by Mr.. Nixon before a recent annual meet
ing of an association of naval architects
in the course of which he had said that
when the United States was in position
To build several hundred merchant ships
every year this country would be able TO
compete with foreign shipyards Until such
a demand was presented the United States
would be unable TO compete successfully
with ship construction in foreign yards.
Give us the means" said Mr.. Depew, "by
which American ships may be run under
the American flag and then we will build
the ships in competition with foreign ship
During the past decade, Mr.. Depew said,
So 300 600 600 had been invested by Amer
lean capitalists in manufacturing indus
tries Vast sums had been invested in rail-
roads and mines. Similar immense sums
had not gone into American shipping be-
cause figures could not be produced which
would show the investor that he could get
his money back. not 10 mention a fair
return upon his investment.
Mr. Depew referred TO the subsidies paid
by Great Britain. Germany and France as
having contributed largely TO the extern
sion of the merchant marine of those ma
tons. One of the most enlightened and
I progressive rulers OF the old world, said
he sis the present Emperor of Germany
Within the last ten years he has brought
Germany TO practically unanimous sup
| mort of subsidies by which the German
merchant marine has rapidly overtaken
that of Great Britain No dissenting
voice now was ever heard among the Ger
man leaders against the value of these
subsidies. Germany was commercially in
dependent, for anywhere the German mer-
chant went he was followed by the Ger
man subsidized mails and merchant YES
/ sells That enlightened policy Mr. De-
pew hoped 10 see this country adopt. III
adequate merchant marine. il is not difficult
10 picture the benefit 10 American labor
which would accrue in our own industries
and among our own people"
In conclusion Mr.. Depew said: within
/ five years. if the expectations Of this bill
\ are realized then, for this compare tivelN
/ small expenditure OF $4,000 900. this reproacf
/ that American ships are scarcely seen IN
\ foreign ports will be removed. Then
again the American flag floating Over
/ American steam and sailing vessels would
L with the American flag and American skip
per will come the American commercial