Mr. NYE. The honorable Senfrom Connecticut has seemed to assume that this company has been guilty of some wron, or that they made a contract which they I em v selves did not understand. I do not think that either of those facts exists. This company madca contract to run shipls of 3,000 tons burden by way of onolulu to China, touchingatJapan. In commencing theiro erLations they were met by the fact that the lgrit ish Government, with more formidable ships than theirs, was competing for the mastery of this trade; and they at once in a spirit, I think, of great magnanimity, instead of a spirit of meanness or a spirit of ignorance, set themselves to work to build ships of1,000 tons burden more, thereby increasing the cost of the ships largely, for the purpose not only of performing their contract with the Government, but of doing what is more essential to this country, controlling the commerce of that great eastern country. I have no particular friendship for this company, and do not know them except as a company I know that such acompany exists. But assert that instead of its being any evidence of their meanness or any evidence of their ignorance, they have attempted to rise to the importance of the occasion and to do for this country what it is most anxious to secure the control of the commerce of this eastern country. Now, sir, I do not think it even partakes of Yankeeism (and beinga Yankee I have a right to speak as freely on that subject as the honorable Senfrom Connecticut) when they build hips1,000 tons larger than they agreed to do. They have not only done tha but instead of acting anything but the part 0 magnanimity and honor they come here, in advance of the time, as the honorable Senfrom Connecticut says, to lay this state of facts before the Congress of the U.S., and ask it to relieve them from that portion of the contract requiring them to touch at Honolulu. Why do they ask that? Does the honorable Senator assume that it is because it is simply and solely a question of rolit to them? I answer that that is not fair y inferable at all. They undoubtedly can make this trip quicker, and I will assume for the purposes of this argu ment a little cheaper, by running direct instead of round about by Honolulu; but, sir, they hold out to the Governmentthisgreat incentive: they say the Government is threatened with opposing lines to control this great commercial intercourse of this country.