The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-01
PROPOSED Subsidies.

Although the House of Representatives
recently passed a resolution, by an over
whelming majority, declaring against sub
sides IN any form, the Texas Pacific Rail-
road job, the Northern Pacific, the South
ern Pacific represented by HUNTINGTON, a
proposed line from Salt Lake Citv TO
Portland. Oregon, several steamship pro -
Jects to Brazil and elsewhere, and various
other schemes, are urgently pressed be-
Tore the committees of Congress, and some
OF them with theprospect of being favor
ably reported.
No heed is given to the solemn commit
tai OF the House, On the contrary, mem
oers who were conspicuous in their votes
on that occasion, are now equally forward
IN advocating projects which effect their
local interests, to be promoted by a drain
OH the public Treasury. The usual com.
bluatlons are formed by which subsidies
may 6e iogrolled through Just as the River
and harbor bill, with It's extravapent and
homogeneous elements, is annually forced
down with nothing to recommend it but
the millions extorted through a general
spohatiOu,
One OF the means EMPLOYED 10 operate
upon Congress IN behalf of ocean subsidies
was so called Exporters Convention at
Washington last week, which passed a SER
les D! resolutions, declaring that all inter-
e5ts IN the country demand the mainte-
nance or establishment of ocean steamship
lines between the United States and oU
places that can offer a market for orr
produce; ana that for the promotion of
american steamship lines to foreign count
res q general tGt1 ought to be passed by
CongreSs' providing, under proper condi
tlons, Tor mileage compensation FIR the
seq cg5rrt'ge OF the n1dtLs between the Unit
I,eu states aud foreign ports in American
steam vessels.
a general Iaw.such as is here suggested,
rpNN itquiie yearly appropriation of
several mllIlOhs OF dollars, aud without
~, "u'o''nR the OBJECT prOtessedly desired
ItG t&perIment was trIe on a large scale
WIN me Collins line, and signally failed
do 1t Ola when applied to other lines sinh
Sequeu'ly Experience and Investigation
nave proved beyond dispute that subsidy
Wne'her u appears as mileage compensa
ioI Tor the sea carriage of Ia. ais" or
unue! any other speclous name, means
III E"i,.S grant OF money to the lobby.
,L uo Coi'iuS hne suffered most when it had
l"ises. SuOslSy' because it cost more
Nr ~ ~ pi"ou'e tue legislation.
1T; MF. n. Y: Cowdin OF this city was the
chief champion of subsidies before The ["o
porters convention, and his speech hoe
been printed in the organ Of that intaroa,
at " ashington, intended for the enlirbt
eminent OF congress. The most effective
answer came from Mr.. 9. Fl. Marshall
also OF this city, and long and largely iden'
tined with the shipping interest. who
showed conclusivey that the tonnage If
the United States had made the greatest
advance when no subsidy was granted. and
mat It Is trade which creates trade, and
NOV r transportation.
vaa - ne fundamental basis of his argument
o ""1, Ii r the labor of the people is mort
s s%so lot every dollar of public expendi.
t;n a1, no matter in what form the appronria.
nn;nS, uy DC made. Subsidies are, therefore
'U''' because they are bounty given r. +,