Mr. CONNESS. I thought the Senator had not heard, me. The Senator will find that I have been entirely candid in this matter, because I then submitted that 'even if it should cost us $50,000 or $00,000 peranuum it will not exceed that sum to encourage a line of small ship shereafterto the SandwichIslandswc should not at the beginning change the form and the size of these great vessels that are to enter into a competition with the commercial nations of the world for supremacy in these new regions. I ask the Senator hiiiiself whether that is a consideration that should govern him in the case. I am pretty sure that the Senator would not refuse such a subsidy if it were deemed important to ask for it or of special consequence to ask for it. But not the Chamber of Commerce alone, but the commercial press of SanFrancisco, directly connected, directly interested, have all spoken in favor of this release. 7 Mr. President, is it not a matter of conse nence that the raw silks, baled silks of Japan, shall be laid down in the city of NewYork or such of them as are necessary there, in ess time than they can be laid down in London by the Isthmus of Suez? Is it not of consequence that today we are absolutely importin tea viii London, from the London market, an paying London merchants their profits upon that article, to be taxed again to our people? Is it possible that my friend, who takes charge of and represents on this floor the great naval interests of this country, does not extend his view for enough to wish to see this line a grand national success? Mr. President, let not the Senator or any other Senator believe that I speak in behalf i I of the company’s interests. lie Senate will l hear me witness that, contrary to the wishes of these companies, since I have been on this floor I have favored the passage of the most restrictive legislation in connection with their business, and by that means not always secured their approbation, but the contrary. But this is a matter we are interested in, and these companies concern us no more than to the extent that they are able and willing to engage in the great project upon ascalo of muniticence corresponding with its value to us as a nation. In that connection the company is of considerable consequence. No company but a great company could ever have entered upon this service; and had a company ofinconsidernhle means entered upon it, it would become a fail ure upon their hands; and there would then be an end of the question of subsidizing Amer ican lines thereafter. Our experience in subsidizing American lines has not, I concede, been encouraging; but it was our pride to make this a success, to make it a success that would challen e the admiration of the whole country. In the lacific ocean particularly our Government has been most remiss. Let me call the attention of the honorable chairman of the ComFinance toastatement I made here not long ago, strictly true and demonstrated to be true by statistical information, that not withstanding the greht amount of commerce that the American States now pass and repose over the Panama railroad, all we do over that railroad is but one 10th of the whole business that railroad docs. 9 10thsof it is in European hands 9 10thsof the commerce of the Pacific ocean simply because we have slept while England and France have occupied those great channels of trade. Sir, there never was a time so fitting to lift up a burden from a.company that are engaging in this enterprise, not as niggards, not as stingy men measuring their expenditures, but lav ishlly and largely upon the most magnificent sea 0. Mr. President, the Senator tells us that this line can stop at the SandwichIslands, and that they can receive the freights and discliar c the freights that they may have there by lighters. Will you keep your great ships of 3 or 4,000 tons burden there wasting and consuming their time with this mode of connecting with the land? I hope not.