New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-20
pOIJTJCAL MISCELLANY.
SUPPORTING STEAMSHIPS AT PUBLIC EN-
PENSE.

PENSE.
THE SUBSIDY BUsINESs-THE C0RRUPIiNS
FOLLY OF 1T. - .
IFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 14-The dcpate on inc
revival Of our navigation interests went on IN tne HOUSE,
Yesterday in blind way throwing no clear hSh' On INC
opestiop Tine Subsidy schemes were advocated on the
ground that England originated them and has found her
account m them. II easy TO show that the IRON
,eamsbp building interest Great Britain IL in no wise
aependen its DEVELOPMENT and great success on the
subsidies paid by tho Government TO o few mali steam
shp lnes the immense magnitude Of tho business, as
now conducted OF itself demonstrates that it rests ON
broader and far more stable basis 1t is an industry
which supplies ell the European and Asatic world with
ships; and Il the subsidies England pays were extin-
gushed to morrow, il would not raise ripple in tho
shipbuiding trade Where there Is one Britshbut
steamship running with subsidy there are 20, nay 40,
running without.
England originally established the subsidy system for
atwofod purpose. First create a feet OF transport
ships aid Of navy whose services she could,
tract command for instant in the of war. On
two occasions she has found them serviceable The first
was in the Crimean War, when numbers OF them were
sent to the Dardarecs with troops. The second was
when Cunarder, under Capt. Judkins brought over
load OF soldiers to frighen into the delivery OF that
precious pair Of traitors. Mason and siden second
object with England was 10 find distant markets for her
plethoTic stock OF domestic manufactures and add gen.
orally TO the facilities required by export trade of
manufactured goods. These the two plain, mani
fest definite objects England had In view in the outset
OF her operations on the subsidy plan.
Now, neither Of these motives applicable to our
condition In the first place, We have distant colo
MES to protect or supply England has In the of
sudden We therefore need no transport feet as
England does. II enemies to assal Us they must
como to our shores And here railroads our
tense, In conjunction with ships of war, which, in
these a1 and be exfe mn
rized from mercantile marine And when think Of
the vast mischief single Alabama did during the Re-
beon, we shall fully appreciate the strength Of the po
ston that We do not need to maintain special lines Of
steamships during indefinite term of peace, for the
possible want Of few ght-heeed armed cruisers in the
eventof especially when the proposition the oppo-
nents OF the subsidy system is not to be with
out them. but rather TO have them through the
operation of broader permanent, and iuster
methods. AS to the second motive OF England-her
need OF steamers to ferret out foreign markets
for her manuiactures-surely ii is premature in DO
seeking foreign markets by extraordinary MEANS for
fabricated goods, while only wholly to
ply our demand for them but have rely ourselves
the importation OF such goods by hundred millions Of
dollars worth yearly from foreign countries Not how
ever that II would be useless to us 10 find little Poly
nesian trade. But there is pressure in this
matter We have no idle or Undergrad Operatives; we
have no gut Of goodsi we are in healthy, ana not
plethoric condition. We have no such need. therefore.
legislation rs has prompted English action.
There Is thus argument in favor Of the special SUBJ
and tired OF the sight foreign flag in ports and
that will budlY and Chl1shly seize upon plan
that will more give rs the Oh familiar slght OF our
own nag II our own htouI, "At ttD4 - " ~ ~ pe
meath its folds whthcrEOevor we VIII Members cf the
House were found willing, last Wednesday, 10 declare
would vote for the extra subsidy 10 the Iaelc Mail
line merely because II went by the name OF relief TO the
shipping interest They would vote for anything good
bad or indifferent, 1t bore pTtteXt for the encOuT-
agement OF our foreign commerce, however iaSe. We
may see from this what kind If legislation impaenCe
and folly begets, and how members are begued into |
inViu ia a
really have Only the Interests OF the country al neAtt
Even the Chairman OF the WAYS ana Means ore Of the
steades the House. seems 70 nave lost MS head
this subject. lie appears wiling as some others 10
whether his gfeDs guided by wisdom on not, or |
whether his policy Will not ultimately defeat the very
end he has in Inc bill ho introduced several 0ays
ago was for the benefit Of special body OF men called
by atfOOted. gross attempt 20 raise money by
taxation 10 put INTO their individual pOcketS No terms
too 10 Apply 10 this species u leglsiaLen
The word monopoly IS wholly made qIate For mo
nOpoly be created without paying tne nOnOp0lsC
out of public treasury Is here prescribed 1t Is
simply robLiug the taxpayers to give 10 the ndv dual
No principle OF legislation 10 more cOrrupting more
vicious Ian this IL is III its demOralZing
work the dsinegralOn Of any body OF who may
unite TO adopt it, IL 10 simply punder, ana must end in
a robbers quarrel.
cid shipping interests, which Will act as an 1ncen-
tive to universal cOmptluOn--a system eOeXtenslVe
with the entire slipbuIding and maritime population
Of the country What IL 10 hinderi Why run Oh on
slcmes which Will lrustrdte Int very emu
that is prOiesseGy aimed alto VIII: the general re-
vval of foreign commerce under our own nll% Is u
sci hSh jealousy OF the Manufacturing interests Is IL
agricultural industry Bat the object sought is pre-
eIunenly national IN every point OF NeW' as MS peeh
often demonstrated, and Congress ought " TINS tme
10 understand It. y D T.