The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-15
THAT SHIP SUBSIDY STEAL.

The minority report on the Hanna
Payne ship subsidy bill measurably ex-
poses the villainy of that proposition.
Here is a measure in further purpose
of the administration and Ats advisers to
make the masses the prey OF the few
Primarily the bill was suggested by
navigation companies already prosperous
to the limit OF legitimate profit. and 1t
has been carried on its miserable way by
their systematic prompting and the con-
niyance of An element In the republican
party that does not hesitate to prostitute
the mission Of government II only 1t can
perpetuate itsolf in power.
Under the guise of promoting tremen-
dous merchant marine this subsidy was
urged when the very influences behind It
knew that 1t would not add single yes
sci TO our merchant service that would
upon the back Of the American taxpayer,
deliberately put there by organized
greed acting within the favor Of congress.
nor result in the expectation OF one addi-
tional ton of agricultural product to for
eign port
1t is doubtful II In the whole range
of political mendacty there has been
more artful scheme TO make the Federal
government party to the plumber OF the
masses for the benefit OF the individual
than is presented in this ship subsidy
bill,
Even the Transmisslssppi Congress a
body OF men representing supposedly the
most thoughtful element as well as tho
most careful Of the vast territory en-
hraced within its membership-ha been
almost led to the adoption OF the idea of
government subsidization OF American
carrying ships as one of Its cardinal lesls-
lative demands. Happily for the congress
and fortunately for the country at large
But the nearness with which 1t has sue
ceedod but serves to show how ounningly
has been laid the plans OF the interests
involved to commit public sentiment to a
proposition wholly selfish in conception
and infamous in aim,
The minority committee report but re-
! iterates or brings out Just what The Post
has heretofore endeavored TO impress upon
/ its readers; That the Hanna Payne bill
was not conceived out OF an honest pur-
pose to commit the Nation to policy
that would buNd UP a merchant marine
and wisely increase facilities for the ex-
| port of American products; that merchant
ships were already built as cheap II not
cheap better--at American
ship yards than elsewhere in the world;
that the navigation companies OF tho
United States we're already earning profits
sufficiently large to make their continued
operation in no sense contingent upon gov
/ eminent aid; that the subsidy bin would
distribute its benefactions to the fast
ships carrying but modlcum OF export
products while the slow freghters car
rying the bulk OF the trade would receive
but an uncomfortable part OF the bounty.
There is but one way in which the cold
biooded corruptim embraced in the ship
subsidy steal can be frankly stated and
that is that the interests behind IL, in
consideration OF Illegal contributions to
the republican partys slush fund, hopes
to secure annually 100000 from the
Federal treasury TO which they are no
more entitled than Is The pirate of the
nigh seas who gathers unto himself by
force Of arms the property OF any III
tated merchantmen that may fall HE
vfetfn,