The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-01-26
SHIP SUBSIDIES.

Mark Hanna is nothing, II not new
and sensational. OF course his
schemes all have the well-known
SAVIOR of plundering the government
and incidently feathering either his
| own or his friends nests. The latest,
so far as we know, is the ship subsidy
bill. This bill, like all others which
the willy Senator has a hand in is for
the purpose of creating another trust.
1t is proposed by it to create a trust
in Ocean steamship rates. 1t was
drawn and brought to Congress by
voluntary committee of ship owners
and builders who will receive the
bounty which the bill proposes to give
from the public treasury. The duties
and obligations imposed upon the re-
cipients of this bounty are such as
they have themselves voluntarily sug-
gested and therefore naturally en-
tirely satisfactory to the interests
which have organized this movement
TO secdre the vast sums carried in the
bill as gratuity to be used in carry
ing on their private business and en-
larging the profits thereof.
The bill provided not simply for
bounties, but for bounties which once
granted, cannot thereafter be taken
away.
1t is simply q scheme to feather
their own nests by drafting money
out of the United States Treasury
under the disguised purpose of re-
suscitating the American merchant
marine.
What we need is what England pos
sesses, great fleets of inconspicuou5
freighting steamers that can ply to
all parts of the world and bring in
revenue by honest, legitimate services
to their owners and to the country.
These craft England possesses almost
to the exclusion of all other nations,
but she does not pay their owners
subsidies or assist them in any way
out of the public treasury. She sim
ply tells them that they can buy their |
vessels where they wish, and that |
when the English flag is hoisted over
them she will accord to them that |
general protection which all British |
subjects enjoy.
1t is impossible that conditions such |
as this can ever come from the pass
age of the Hanna-Payne subsidy bill.
A few companies and individuals are |
to divide $0,000;000 year among
themselves, but the ship-owners of
humble means, the men who would
like to invest a few thousand dollars,
and become with others part-owners
of IL tramp steamer, will not be bene-
fi5ed by this bill, which is the work of |
large plunderers. On the contrary,
tho former, realizing that subsidies
are not to go to them, will not venture
their capital in maritime Investments.
But until this willingness is shown, we
shall never have a great merchant
marine; we shall pay out millions each
year to fill the Golfers OF certain
wealthy men aud great corporations
in Philadelphia and New York. We
may have the Stars and Stripes float
ing at the masthead of Il few dozen
swift mail steamers, but the day OF
the genuine revival of an American
merchant marine will be pushed by it
far into the future.
IMPROVED METHODS OF BOOK
KEEPING.
The committee appointed on the 8th
day of January for the purpose of ex
into the present system OF
book keeping in the County Commits.
s;ouers' office and recommending or
suggesting such changes or moditicA
proper 10 order to conduct the affairs
OF that office in a modern and practical
manner, have, after q careful inve sti-
CATION, made their report. 1t is too
lengthy for us to print in full. 1t
numerous changes from
the present system, explaining at
length the reasons for so doing.
We note among the suggestions an
arrangement of the assess
ment books, together with convenient
records of transfers and attachments
thereto. They also advise
a now system of book keeping, faciIi-
tating the settlements of that office
with the Treasurer and adapted to the
new County Treasury law. They
further suggest method of keep
ing account of the orders for funds
paid out on account of public roads
for the several districts, and the CLASH
fication and filing of the vouchers for
the same.
There are other timely recommen- i;