Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-07
Hanna TALKS SUBSIDY.
Ohio Senator Makes a Speech
in Support of the Ship.
ping Bill.
Says Labor is the Principal Fac.
tor in the Building OF
Ships.
Importance Of Having Strong
Auxiliary to the Navy is
Discussed.

i.
and one of the trainers of the pending
measure, addressed the senate in sup.
speech of Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Hanna main
tanned that the cost of labor was the
principal factor in the construction
maintenance and operation of ships
The difference, he asserted, between the
cost of construction and operation OF
American and foreign ships simply
measured the difference between the
efficiency and cost of American labor
and foreign labor.
Resuming his speech on the shipping
bill, begun yesterday, Mr.. Clay, OF
Georgia, predicted the complete failure
of the pending measure. Natural
changes alone. he argued, could in
/ United States.
Mr.. Hanna then addressed the SEN
ate his remarks being principally in
answer to Mr. Clay's speech of yester-
day. He said that when Mr.. Clay quot
ed from Mr.. Fryes remarks, that all
there was in this question which re-
quired legislation was what was IN the
one question of labor, he was correct.
Il stand by that proposition. but l go
further. The ore in the ground is worth
about 25 cents a ton. After it was
| touched by the hand of man. 1t was la
han 1,
of a ship built in American ship yards,
or in any ship yard, is purely tabor.
The cost of the construction of ship in
the United States, as against that in
either England, Germany or France,
simply measures the difference of
wages and the. efficiency of American
labor" Mr.. Hanna declared that the
merchant marine was the only industry
in the United States which has not re-
ceived the fostering care of this gov
eminent will anybody deny" said he,
the importance-the absolute necessity
of having an auxiliary for our navy
in the form of a merchant marine shap-
ed under the direction of the navy de-
partment, and, in time of war; absolute
ly in the hands and under the control of
the president of the United States?"
Senator Hanna said that If the United
states failed to profit by experience of
older countries of Europe. who have
adopted 81 policy in reference to ,narj-
time matters, it would make most
serious mistake. Every merchant ship
constructede in foreign countries was
meant to be a ship of war in time of
need. Mr.. Hanna cited the feeling of
o1n he y
the beginning of hostilities with Spain,
and the relief which was experienced
when the four steamers of the Ameri-
can line We're called on by the secretary
of the navy, under the conditions of the
law passed by congress, to perform
picket service. He insisted that was as
important national question as an
economic policy to carry with the ex-
penditure for building up the navy the
expenditure for an auxiliary navy and
a merchant marine. There is some
thing more in this transportation ques-
ton, he said, than merely carrying mail
letter bags; there is more in it than
dollars and cents to the United States.
He would like it, he said, to be dis
cussed above party considerations, be-
cause everyone felt a like pride In our
country's advancement and develop
ment, and whatever is best for the in
terests and safety and the perpetuity of |
our institutions is best for all of us. Mr. |
Hanna declared that not an American |
ship yard had contract for another
merchant vessel after the nine or ten I
vessels now under contract We're finish
ed. Everybody knows" continued Mr.
Hanna, that the United States is now
engaged In u hand to hand contest with
foreign nations to secure the commerce
of the orient, and that the United
States has been foremost and steadfast
in it's Policy to secure the markets Of
China and hold them as an open door"
The Philippine archipelago is the kew to
the orient, said he, and when it has be-
come a naval station surrounded by all
the protection that a maritime fleet
would need, it will become a factor in
our commercial conditions in the orient. Il
VIZ. Hahna then said 1t was the purpose
ot the Dill, under the postal system, to
establish line on the ATLANTIC coast
'f South America. England had gained
her supremacy In the markets of the
World by pursuing the policy of estab-
ishing direct communication. Per {
'onal contract" he said, is what brings I
'esults. and Germany and France are ;
low actively at work to put in the con- ;
lectlng link between the Pacific and
he orient" IIe spoke of the benefit s
hat the passage of the bill would bring
IS a result OF increased trade with I
south American countries, saying that
he trade now went by way of Liverpool {
md Hamburg in foreign ships and
hence was transshipped to South {
american ports. BY carrying American
foods in American ships there would be
N increase of American trade.
In closing, Mr. Hanna again adverted T
o the question of the cost of labor. I
that wages in this country Is
veraged so per cent higher than in /
European countries. The cost of shins y
'uilt in the United States was from 25 e
o 30 Per cent higher than those built i
n Great Britain. the difference i'm price /
# labor making the difference I'm cost '
he difference between the cost Of op- d
rating American and foreign ships was a
bout n per cent, the higher rate being 4
aid on American vessels. He urged a
hat the pending measure be a
nacted into law as the one way to d
to the satisfaction of all t
bat 1T would be beneficent in its opera e
ion. More as an appeal than as an ar t
ument to those who yet We're not con- Y
inced of the excellent results to be OBJ Z
aimed from the bill, he said he be- Il