The Washington times., 1902-03-12
A Characteristic Speech.


Senator Vests speech against the ship
ping bill on Monday contained many of
the characteristic Vest figures OF speech
and quotation. He is renowned as one OF
the cleverest makers of phrases and
keenest of satirists that have been in
the Senate in recent years, and despite
his extremely feeble physique which
makes any speech whatever on his part
remarkable, the Monday effort was in
many ways notable one.
Mr.. Vest, in referring to the proposed
bounty to the deep sea fisheries. which
he insinuated is especially for the bene-
fit of Mr.. Frye's State. called attention
to what he said New England has already
received in the way of special legislation
for the fisheries He spoke of the free
salt for the fishermen under the present
tariff, and the free lumber, and remarked:
1T seems to me that is enough for the
people of that enterprising and intellec-
tual region without now making US pay
an additional subsidy to the fishermen en-
gagged in catching fish which are preserved
| by free salt
! He drew a little picture of the old
sailor and poked fun at the idea that the
fisheries can furnish recruits to the mod
ern steamship crew. and concluded:
mo more does the old sailor of Glou-
cester from the top Of the mast eXclaim:
Our thoughts as boundless and souls az free,
| Far the breeze bear the billows foam,
| Survey our empire and behold home.
He alluded to the statement of Mr..
Frye that subsidy means protection and
added:
He could have said that protection
United States -are receiving today upon
their manufactured goods more than So
per cent subsidy
In referring to the advocacy Of the bill
by Mr.. Cramp and Mr.. Baker, and other
ship owners. Mr.. Vest said:
II would as soon leave this question to
the determination OF these interested gen.
tlemen, who seek to pile up more MIL
lions at the expense of the taxpayers OF
the country as to submit the fate of
wounded deer to the wolves gathered in
anticipation of the coming feast"
After calling attention to a number of
statements from ship owners and others
that the builders are in highly prosper
Gus condition he characterized the indus
try as this poor, struggling, emaciated
industry which we are now to subsidize
out of the tax money of the people of
this country"
Mr.. Vest characterized Mr. Chamber
lain, the Commissioner of Navigation, as
"the swift and willing witness for any
subsidy that may be suggested" and as
the political and parliamentary adjutant
of the Senators from Ohio and Maine"
After stating that he was appointed by
President Cleveland and was al that time
a violent partisan against subsidies, as
Unconstitutional fraudulent, naked rob-
be-y," MIR. Vest suggested that he has ex-
perienced 'thii almost miraculous change
of views with the change of the Admin
istration.'
Mr.. Vest. in predicting that the object |.
OF the bill will fail. said:
81 do not make any pessimistic proph |
ecy but / am sure that the dream of |
foreign markets, which has been painted |
in such gaudy colors. will never be real |
lied under this measure. There will come |
a tirae when, like Dead Sea fruit this |
law-and it will become a law-will turn
to ashes upon the lips of those who now
tell us that it will open up new markets.
II hope the time will come when the
glory and power of my country will be
greater than that of any other people
upon the face OF the globe, but It will not
come from unjust discrimination in favor
of one interest against all others"