The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-20
THE SHIP SUBSIDY STEAL.

Il VI uIlC tllliC UCillS lIIC 1ldy = dulASC-
forte treaty has the call in the Sem
ate, but underneath the surface the
Hanna Ship Subsidy bill is first, be-
cause it is the measure which the Re-
publican Warwick has set his heart
upon passing at an early day. He has
set his heart on passing that bill be-
cause it puts money in the pockets OF
certain liberal contributors to the
Republican campaign fund, and adds
another powerful permanent element
to campaign contributors. In the last
campaign the trusts gave literally be-
cause they knew that they could not
longer violate the law. In the next
campaign, if the ship owners are in
receipt of subsidy, Hanna can also
call on them to put up twenty-five per
cent of it for the Republican campaign
fund in order to continue in receipt
of the bonus. Mr.. Hanna's scheme of
taxing all the people to give bonus
to a favorite class who can be relied
upon to come down freely with the
stuff to run Republican campaigns
is in keeping with the methods that
govern successful political policies in
the national affairs today
The independent press of the coun-
try and the better class of the Re-
publican press is outspoken against
this bare-faced robbery of the many
TO enrich the few.
The Philadelphia Public Ledger,
founded by George w. Childs, has
spoken out vigorously against the
measure. That paper protested
against giving it precedence over i'm
portant legislation. In the course of
a long and able editorial, the Public
Ledger recently said:
AS a general principle of govern
ment, no taxes should be levied except
for the support of the Government,
economically administered, and as a
concrete principle, the justice of which
is indiSputable, war taxes should be
used as revenue for war only. But the
so 100000 to be taken annually in pay
ment of subsidies are not to be de-
voted to the support of the Govern
ment, and, though paid by the people
rs war taxes only, they are not to be
used as war revenue. They are to be
paid into the Treasury by the entire
body of taxpayers, in order that the
comparatively few ship-builders and
owners may be encouraged" to build
and sail ships and that commerce may
be so promoted
IF the object were really to promote
the growth of our commerce why
to reap at homes To 70 1 promote OF and
Increase the commerce of Philadelphia
nothing is so much needed as a safe.
deep, broad, channel to and from the
sea. and such a channel could be con-
structed-one 35 feet deep and of am
pie width--for single years subsidy
payment under the Shipping bill. If
80 100000 were to be iudiciollsly spent
upon a Delaware river channel to the
ocean the commerce of Philadelphia
would increase by leaps and bounds,
and our city would soon take its place
as one of the first commercial cities
of the country.
THAT conspicuously conservative
journal, the New York Times, which is
one of the staunchest supporters of
the National Administration, said yes
terday in respect of the Presidents
to Congress in favor
of q strict observance of economy by
that body:
The admonition to economy is, I'M
fortunately, accompanied by an urgent
to pass the Ship Sub
sidy bill, which is in itself an extrava-
CANT use of the public funds. and
which is, moreover, diversion of those
funds from public ends to private adj
vantage. 1t is a measure that, under
the cloak of protection to American
industry, imposes on the producers
of the country a tax for which they
can receive no direct return and of
which the effect will be- rather to in
crease than to diminish the cost of
transportation of their products. 1t
is also a measure for the benefit of an
industry that is already in most
prosperous condition, and that needs
only the stimulation of open COMPETE
ton to develop indefinitely. Surely,
this is an illogical and inequitable en-
ployment of the surplus contributions
of the Taxpayers.
1.-The fair, reasonable spirit of the
Times criticisms is such as should
characterize all discussion of the sub
sidy scheme, as its justice and wisdom
are as obvious as they are indisput-
able. The late Mr.. Bayard said in
the course Of a debate in the Senate
on this subject:
: There is a familiar doctrine found
in the Constitution of the United
States and i'm the Constitution of every
&c which is the necessary ontgrowth
assitution Uf the government