Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-25
IN THE SENATE.

| Washington, Feb 24.-Ocean mail
| subsidy and currency legislation were
| both the subjects of speeches in the
| Senate today.
Senator Gallinger opened the debate
in favor of his bill for ocean mails
| subsidy to build up an American mer-
chant marine and he was followed by
Senator Depew, who strongly approved
of the measure and also favored four
| new battleShipS.
Mr.. Hepew referred to the word Sub
sidy" as having become an epitaph OF
political reproach.
ITO secure any action for this system
the world we have to adopt other and
more euphonious terms for the same
thing" he declared. The carriage of the
mails has not yet become unpopular. To
increase the efficiency Of the postal SER
vice is still permissible in political dis
cussions
'That the position upon the oceans,
both the Atlantic and the Pacific, is la
mentable everybody admits. The effort
to remedy it by the methods practiced by
both free trade and protective nations is
defeated year after year. We have been
irving now for. a quarter of a century
other schemes than subsidies, until our
flag has almost disappeared from the
ports Of the world, until our commerce
is carried under foreign flags, and until
we take out of pockets Of American
workmen 500, 900 a year to pay to
aliens. This bill reduces the proposition
to its simplest terms and meets only the
most acute situation in our foreign COM
merce."
Efforts to build merchant marine, Mr..
Depew said, had struggled against com.
petition of European nations and even
Japan, in which the policy of substituting
shipping enterprises was pursued Amer
lean ship owners had been unable to meet
this unequal contest because American
sailors are better treated and have high
er wages than those Of foreign nations.
1.-THE important point is asked Mr.
Depew, "shall the government create
conditions where American capital can
live, can put the American flag where
it was once-in every port of the world
can carry American products in American
ships. can make the captain and the Of
ficers of every American vessel active
agents for the promotion of the products
of the American labor in the competitive
ports of South America, Australia, China
and other Eastern countries. Shall our
communication with tie islands we have
acquired-Hawaii and the Phlippines-be
maintained under our own flag, or sub
| ject to our friendly or hostile relations
with other powers?"
Concluding, Mr.. Depew said: II lool;
| upon this bill as purely a tentative ei-
fort to place us in our proper position
| commercially with Cur rivals. 1 believe
| it should be followed by a broad and
comprehensive policy. We have the
genius for invention; we have the archi-
tectrral talents; we have the mechanical
Skill we have the products and manu-.
| features to compete successfully every
| where around the earth. But to success
| fully compete we must lave American
| ships, built in American yards, and off,
| cered and manned by American officers
and crews"
Senators Simmons of North Carolina
and White of Md. spoke in criticism
| of the Adrich currency bill. Senator
White announced that he would not
vote for any measure now before the
| Senate
| Mr.. Gallinger obtained unanimous
| consent to take up the ocean mail sub
vention bill during the morning hours
| next Thursday.
! An hour was devoted to a further
consideration of the bill to revise the
criminal code and at 5.14 O'Clock the
| Senate adjourned.