The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-08
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
MR.. WARNER on SHIPPING SUBSIDIES

MIR. WARNER on SHIPPING SUBSIDIES.
Baltimore Sun.
The analysis of the Hanna Frye Payne Ship
Subsidy bin made by Hon J. Dewitt Warner
shows that the supposed object of the bill-the
expansion of the American merchant marine
has been lost sight OF in the final shaping OF the
measure that it is now simply PROJECT Tor
the distribution of cash TO certain petted capt.
talists Provision is made exclusively for Gov
eminent bounty to ship-owners, without material
relation to our export trade, American labor
or the navy. The bill provides that the Govern
ment shall contract to give TO owners OF CERTAIN
shipping for from 30 to 30 years bounties IN
cash up to 50, 00D,G00 year, aggregatlnG Slso,-
Geo, coo at least, without any prospect OF benefit
to American commerce. The subsidy Is to vary
from / cent to 3.S cents per ton OF registered
tonnage per 100 miles sailed and Will average
IA cents for sail vessels and those making less
than II knots an hour. and about 312 cents
for swift passenger steamers.
The recipients OF the subsidies, it will be NOT
ed are not TO be paid in proportion to the
business done, the lowness of their freight rates,
or the number OF tons they add TO the country 5
aggregate tonnage. The farmer is not promised
cheaper ocean rates on his outgoing grain, nor
is the manufacturer assured of new facilities for
exporting his cheaply to countries with
which We have faulty communications No new
routes TO ports not now reached are required,
but existing ships or routes already amply
served can get the money. The bounty will not
even be restricted to American shipowners, since
it is provided IN the bill that ship may re-
| ceiye a subsidy if a bare majority OF interest IS
owned by Americans. Nor will American labor
be exclusively employed on the subsidized snip,
since but % per cent of the sailors are required
TO be Americans. Cargo is not insisted upon, the
highest subsidy going, indeed, to the passenger
steamers that carry the least cargo. These yes
sells will be built without subsidy for the sake
of the high profits made in the transatlantic
passenger business, that money given to pro-
mote their construction is thrown away. a
small initial bonus would insure their construc
ton in such way as to fit them for transports,
or cruisers, so that subsidies for 20 years TOR
this purpose are superhuous.
ON examining the list OF companies that are
pushing the Subsidy bill Mr.. Warner finds that
one of them now has eight vessels OF over lU,Ooo
tons under construction, of which number four
are being built abroad, and on these the bill will
give it a subsidy. Another company that eN-
poets subsidies is having four ships built abroad
One of the firms that is pushing the bill has
seven ships under construction abroad and an
other has two In other words, the bill Is NOT
to encourage the building in this country OF
ships that would otherwise not be built, put
to line the pockets of certain prosperous gentle
men Their names can be given. The list in,
cludes members of the Standard Oil Trust ana
other persons prominent in the management OF
various trusts. ''Of the trusts, by the trusts,
for the trusts is Mr. Warmers characterization
of the Subsidy bill as whole.