The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-12-18
THE SHIP SCHEME.

gitating the country. All around-in
sensible. just people are regarding it
with irrepressible dislike, and see in
it only vile attempt to make the
over-taxed people assume other bur-
dens and to become the plant helpers
of men who are rich and ravenous.
The Philadelphia Record prints it
thus:
The steamship subsidy bill to put
$270. 100000 of the money of American
taxpayers into the Golfers of wealthy
ocean transportation companies is
mildly called the Shipping bill,'' by
its champions. Are the subsidy mon
gers ashamed to call the thing by it's
real name"
We note that President ]. J. Hill, of
the Great Northern Railroad, says that
the proposed subsidy bill does not re-
duce the cost of carrying commerce
at all. A great cry and little wool.
Why force the farmers and others to
pay over $4,000, 900 for carrying pro-
ductions at the old prices? Mr.. Hill
turned on the light in this wise in
some inquiry concerning the building
of boats in this country and upon the
Clyde. and found that he could have
them constructed in this country at
a much lower figure than in Scotland
This, he declared, did not look much as
though a subsidy was needed for ship
ping. IF such a measure We're passed.
it would, in his opinion, assist most
those who needed no assistance and
he mentioned the ocean greyhounds"
as those most likely to be benefited"
1T is becoming more evident, we think
that the subsidy business is declining
both in the congress and the country
derstanding the enorTnity of the pro-
position and the great greediness of
the manipulat tors of the bill. There are
terested people outside. There are
many gratifying signs of a reaction
against this fobber monStroSity-thiS
vile scheme to take from the taxpayers
$270, 600, 600 and for the benefit Of a few
large expectations. The leading re-
publican paper in Chicago. with per-
haps one exception, is the Tribune. 1t
says of the subsidy bill:
''The men who vote for the pending
subsidy bill will not hear the last of 1t
for many years Representatives. es-
pecially those from the middle west.
who have been reelected. and who wish
to remain in political life, should be
cautious about committing themselves
-. l~1s,- itrrlo~ 30,
do not favor. It is difficult to see how
the middle west is to be benefited by
this legislation which eastern shipbuild-
ers and the owners of ocean grey
hounds are clamoring for"
1t is perfectly plain and certain that
the great mass of the people will not
be benefactors under this bill but buf
deu bearers. They will be the pa
tient ass doing the work of their mas
tiers. and at their bidding. There is not
a working man or farmer in these
United States who can ever receive
one cent benefit from this vile at
army of toilers who count by 10.0OQ.-
600 in numbers will be additionally
taxed and oppressed under the scheme
of robbery and for the sole benefit IF
multi millionaires and their rabid al
lies. Will they continue to bow willing
necks to men or party that piles up
the taxes for the still farther enrich
ment of a small and conscienciousless
small number of bloated money kings?
The Tribune is cautious and asks
for a postponement Of the measure. It
says that it should not be thrust to
the front at this session. 1t should be
left tO the consideration of the next
congress and Of new men. just from
the people. and who may prefer to go
before their constituents alt the cleo