The Democratic advocate., 1899-01-14
A Scheme to Rob the Treasury for
Private Benefit.

steamship lines, under the flag Of the United
States, with the newly acquired islands, en-
couraged by the United States. What the
President meant. was that a policy OF subsl-
dizing steamsphip lines by government ap-
preparation should be ipaugurated, and the
Secretary of the Treasury and Commissioner
of Navigation seconded his recommendation.
Still further in the line of the Presidents
recommendation, and in a practical way,
was the introduction in the Senate by
Mark Hanna and in the House by Con.
gresham Payne, of bill 10 pay bounties
out of the treasury of the United States TO
owners Of ships The title Of the bill Is
captivating one-''4 bill to promote the com
merce and increase the foreign trade ot the
United States and TO proride auxiliary crHis-
ers, transports and seaH,ed for government
,,se ,rheR necessary" United in support OF
the bill is all the shipping interests OF the
United States. These interests have esiab-
lshed literary bureau in New lork, which.
IS under the direction of Alexander X. Smith.
and lobby is maintained at Washington, with
Ex- Senator Edmunds at its head. to push
along the scheme to rob the treasury for prI-
vate enterprise under the plea that the ships
at some time may be useful to the United
States as auxiliary cruisers aud transports
and trained seamea may be had when needed.
The United States, if they act within the
lines of the constitution and upon the advice
of the founders of the confederation, viii
never need either ships or seamen. The sue
cess in the war with Spain and the capture oi
islands in the far East as well as near oar own
shores. set wild certain class of people, who
dreamed OF the United States branching out
as the foremost military and naval power in
the world. and with an eyer-growing and IN
ereasing foreign trade, which would also
make us the richest and most prosperous peo
ple on the face OF the earth. IL was a sor, Of
intoxication, and the enthusiasts rushed peli
nell to the consummation OF the dream.
Bills to enlarge the regular standing army to
about four times its present size and to greatly
increase the navy were first introduced. With
these the conquered islands were TO be held,
and the American principle that all just pow
ers of government are derived from the con
sent of the governed was TO be cast aside, like
the Monroe doctrine aud the advice Of Wash
ington. and jackson. as muSty and out Of
date After a proper subiection of the peo-
pies of these islands, great and lucrative trade
was TO be established, but, by reason Ofprotec-
tive tariff and unwise shipping or navigation
laws. passed and enforced BY the Republican
party il was discovered that American shipping
had almost disappeared from the high seas. In
order to restore our former carrying trade
and to reap every possible advantage from
the great trade that was to be established with
the former Spanish islands, the Hanna Payne
subsidy bill was introduced, and to smuggle
it through il was called bin TO promote com
msrce and supply the United States with aux
illary cruisers, transports and seamen, when
needed, 50 as to capture the jingoes IN Con
gress who might not altogether favor subsi.
dies.
The bill is monster, and behind it Is
monster combine 1t Is rather long. and to
give summary of It's provisions would occupy
much space.
In order that our readers may have an idea
of this steal we give the following extracts
from the bill
ta) On each entry OF sail or steam vessel, not
exceeding i6 entries in any l. consecutive months.
~ cents er ross ton for each 100 nautical miles for
the hrxt 1900 nautical miles sailed both ouiwRrd
and honewnrd bound, and cent per gross ton for
each 100 nautical miles over l.aoo nautical inies
sailed both outward and houewArd bound.
ID steam vessels which may he suitable Cor
aries TO the forces of the United States IN time ot
war or other need II OF the following onnages AMI
H,a1 sh u eandifsons hersinsfr proSide siam
in addition 70 the compensation provided in p9fa-
graph (al OF this section receive comPea,saiis99n
sailed both outward and horeward bound, ~ the
following rates, namely.
VESSELS oyER 500 GROSS TuSs
/. Fourteen knots and less than hiteeh Knots.
Fiftsen knots and less than sixteen knots.
one and one-tenth cents per gross ton
8 Sixteen kuots or over. one and two-tenihs
cents per gross ton
VESSELS ovEG $500 Cross ruSs
l. Seventeen knots and less than eighteen knots,
s Eighteen knots and Tess than nineteen knotk.
one and six-tenths cents per gross ton:
g. Nineteen knots or over. one and eighih-tenths
cents per gross ton.
VESSELS OVER s.Ooo GROSS roNs.
:. Twenty knots and less than twenty-one knots,
two cents per gross ton.
s fwenty-one knots or over. TWO ana ttFce-
tenths cents per gross ton
VESSELS ovKR 1000 cgoss TONS.
three knots two and seveath-tenihs cents per gross
10. Twenty-three knots or over. three and two
tenfhs cents per gross ton
Under section vessel, steam or sail, Of
5000 tons, trading between New York, for
instance, and Manila, about IA 900 miles
would receive II cents per ton for every 100
miles for the first 1890 miles, and cent ton
for each additional loo miles, which weuld
be 81. .425, or IS, $50 for the round "trip.
If the vessel we're suitable for carrying
mails. and could make seventeen miles an
hour, the owner or owners, under section b.
would receive in addition one and four-ieuihs
cents per gross ton for each 100 miles, or
S., $50 total, under both sections, of Sl0,-
sO5 one way and S2O,6l0 for the round trip.
1t has been estimated that the subsidies pro-
vided in the bill, and so stated by the shipping
interests, will cover the cost of the seamen
and sailors necessary to sail ship.
New England is specially taken care of in
the BILL The people of that section are en-
gagged largely in fishing. aud the bill provides /
that every American citizen serving as a mem
Der of necessary crew of an American YES
sci licensed to engage in deep sea fishing |
shall be paid Sl.00 month during the time /
necessarily employed in the voyages of such /
vessels, cut Of any money in the treasury not /
otherwise appropriated, and the owners Of /
the vessel will be entitled to $500 per gross
ton per year.
Should the Spanish Americas treaty be /
ratified, the army and navy increased, as |
proposed, the shipping subsidy bill will go |
through also, as the same influences are be- |
hind each scheme. And when ths plans Of /
the imperialsts are all completed the people |
of this country will be the heaviest taxed /
people in the world and our public debt will /
be the greatest The benefciarles of the i'm
perialist policy will grow rich and richer, and
the people generally will grow poor and
pSarer.
In acquiring control of Cuba, it seems the
United States acquired the necessity Of spend
ing about ten millions Of dollars to improve
The sanitary condition of Havana, so that the
health and lives of our troops may be pro-
l.ctad and the sDread of yellow fever To IN is /