The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-11
How Farmer. wan Benefit.


Some OF the interior newspapers In this
state and Oregon. notably at walia Walla
and Portland, are persistent in their hos
tiity to the pending shipping subsidy bill;
apparently lacking any adequate concep-
tion OF It's Importance to the people OF
this Coast. They seem to think that all
OF IT'S benefits win be to the sea coast
cities. and that none will extend to the
interior: while with an absolute ignoring
az the facts, they insist that the burden
Of the subsidies win fall upon the interior
taxpayers.
The total amount Of money to be ex-
pended annually under the terms Of the
pending bill Is limited to 100000. of which
amount one-third will be distributed to
the American-owned and American-built
vessels plying in the foreign trade from
the Pacific ports OF the United states.
Touching purely on the local advantages
OF such a measured, Isl IL known by every
one that there In serious shortage In
tonnage on the Pacific at present. with
resulting high charters for vessels en-
gagged In the ocean carrying trade. Every
dollar added to the charter price of ves-
sci engaged In wheat carrying. for exam
pie. is a dollar taken out OF the pockets
OF the men who raised the wheat which
constitutes that vessels cargo. The Civ
ing of nearly three millions OF dollars in
annual subsidies to vessel owners on the
Pacific win stimulate the building of yes
sells for foreign trade on this Coast. The
additional tonnage which will be built un-
der this stimulus win more than make
charter prices. and thus benefit every
grain grower on the Pacific coast. This
Is direct. certain and adequate beneat
which ought I'm itself 20 be sufficient to
enlist in favor OF the bill every indi-
vidual wheat grower 10 the country, and
every person DESTROYS of advancing the
interests OF those wheat growers.
Tho indirect benefits TO the farmers OF
this and adjoining states will be even
greater and mere lasting. The hoanties 10
BE- expended annually among the ship.
owners OF the Pacific viii stimulate enor-
mously the growth OF the sniphuIldins
Industry on this Coast, giving profitable
and permanent employment, 10 thousands
OF skilled mechanics receiving high
wages. This expansion Of shipbundlns
will lead Inevitably 20 the establishment
Of great steel plants on this Coast. "a
utilize the ores and coal OF Washington
thus furnishing employment 10 thousand,
more. Each of the men thus employees
will be consumer of class Of farm
products more profitable To raise for 4
homo market than wheat The fruit grow
ers Of Yakima win proas ss much OF nor,
than tho wheat growers OF the paious,
and the Zig Bend hy this enlargement al
the home market
some Democratic newspapers oppose IA.
granting ~ subsidies because they think
Through Ignorance 81 political history
thar sech subsidies are opposed by the his
terle policy Of their party. on the con
srary. " they care 20 look into polltica
history they win learn that Presi3en
Polk recommended 20 congress the grant
Ing Of direct haVniles 60 American ship.
Lewis Nixon points out In the ueccmae
numAsr " Worlds werk that the salaslal
to the Collins Hne OF steamers vas pass
ed by a Democrats majority In consres
and was approved BY a Democratic press
dent
The opposition Of the Portland oreso
nlan is due largely Go the fact thag /
has a'ways opposed auy system 81 pro
lection 10 American industry in any form
and it does not care 10 make an exeep
tion in the case Of the shipbunding O
shlpownins industries. in which Il
doubtful that the citizens of Portland wi
ever take any pecuniary interest. Beliey
snS In free trade, It would rather see IN