The Washington times., 1902-03-07

otic and business arguments in favor of
the bill advanced by its friends.
Demonstrated Forensic Abilities.
If there was ever any truth in the fun
that the Democrats poked at Mr.. Hanna
as a speechmaker it is extremely prob
able that there is no enc in the Senate
now who doubts his ability to talk inter
estingly and convincingly. His speech
on the Philippine tariff bill two weeks ago
was considered better than the average,
Yesterdays exposition of the ship sub
sidy bill was more detailed, and mere am
bilious. He made an excellent impress
sion.
Mr.. Hanna replied at length to the ar
guments of Mr.. Clay on Wednesday and
yesterday.
Mr. Hanna said the report which ac-
companied the bill was a complete analy-
sis of it, and a complete argument in its
favor. But he proposed simply to en-
phasize a few OF the points presented by
the chairman. Mr.. Frye. and to answer
some of the arguments made against it.
A Question of Labor.
The chairman properly said that all that
was embraced in the matter was the ques-
tion of labor. He stood by that PROPOSE
ton The whole question was one Of la
bor-labor from the act of taking the iron
ore from the ground, until it arrived at
the shipyard in the shape of billets and
plates ard angles. In short, he said, 95
per cent of the cost of a ship was purely
labor.
He was willing to admit that labor in
the United States was more efficient than
labor in other countries. With the aid of
improved machinery. Americans could
compete with foreign nations better than
they could ten or twenty years ago. There
fore the cost of the construction of a
ship in the United States. which is claimed
to be 25 1er cent greater than the cost in
a foreign country, simply measured the
difference in the cost of wages. and the
efficiency of American labor.
In the final analysis of the question he
was perfectly willing TO leave the bill on
the question of the cost of construction
and of the cost of maintenance and labor.
The Senator from Georgia CMr. Clay had
asked yesterday whether any American in
dustry was better protected than the
shipping industry.
Yes" said Mr.. Hanna, emphatically,
two dollars a thousand feet on Georgia
pine wood is much more of protection
tIaughter.l
There is more in this transportation
question" Mr.. Hanna continued, than
the mere carrying of letter bags. There
is more in the proposition than dollars
and cents to the United States The
time has never come until now that the
American people were put in a position
TO realize and understand the other part
of this great question.
II would like them TO put it above party
politics. because we all feel pride alike
in our country and her advancement. And
whatever is for the best interests and for /
the safety and perpetuity of our institu
tions is best for US all.
We are building a splendid navy. Con- |
gross every session is appropriating mil
lions OF dollars for the new navy. 1t is !
quite as necessary that we should have an
auxiliary navy.
Consequences of Maritime War.
What would be the consequence of a |
war between two of the great maritime !
nations? II England and Germany should |
have a war and should call into their war |
service all their merchant marine, as they !
would what would be the result to this |
country without merchant marine?
1T would kill the foreign markets for
American goods largely. 1t would result |
in the stagnation of the countrys indus
tries. 1t would leave its goods rotting in
its warehouses"
Mr. Tillman here engaged Mr.. Hanna in |
a brief colloquy that promised for a mo- !
ment to be more than a simple exchange !
Of polite questions and answers, but |
finally lost its seriousness in laugh.
Mr. Tillman-Will the Senator tell me |
if Mr. Morgan and his friends have bought |
certain foreign steamship lines?
Mr.. Hanna with some heatD-Why does |
the Senator ask me that question?
Mr.. TillmanI believe the Senator is
Interested in Shipping.
interested in the shipping business.
Mr.. Harna-on the lakes, yes. Why |
does the Senator ask me that question?
Why does he suppose that I know Mr.. |
Morgan's affairs?
Mr.. Tillman-I supposed that the Sem
ator is a friend of Mr.. Morgan, a busi-
ness friend. at least.
Mr. Hanna-I will answer the question
of the Senator from South Carolina: / |
know nothing more than he does as to the
purchase Of the Leyland Line by ]. p. /
Morgan & Co. But what If Mr.. Morgan
has bought these foreign lines? They
will continue to fly their foreign flags.
They will be no benefit TO America in time
OF war, but will be turned against her.
Mr.. Tiilman suggested that this pur-
chase is an Indication that American cap
ital is seeking investment in shipping. and
that it expects TO make it pay.
1t does" said Mr.. Hanna, 'and it !
shows that rather than build American
ships and lose money on them, these
Hhrewd business men are buying foreign
ships under foreign flags"
The Kaiser's Yacht.
'.Win the Senator allow one parting
question:" asked Mr.. Tillman. "If it
costs more to build ships in America than
in England, why did The German Emperor
have his yacht built in American"
Mr. Hanna turned the remark into
laugh by suggestion as to the good time
the Prince of Prussia was having il con-
nection with the yacht.
"one would have supposed" Mr. TILL
man added. that the Emperor would have
gone TO his grandmotbers kingdom to
have his yacht built
THE Senator fro m South Carolina" Mr.
Hanna remarked. humorously, has not
perhaps heard. or known. that for the
last ten years the success of Americans
in the yachting line has beer pre-emi-
nent. fArplause in the galleries.l Nat
urally the Emperor would go where he 4
could get the best yacht and the fastest
one. and therefore he came to the United
States. But have not got down TO yachts
yet, and would like to talk about steam
ships" LLaughter.J