The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-15
THE SHIP SUBSIDY STEAL.

Some think it doubtful whether the
attempt to steal nine million dollars a
year from the Treasury for the benefit
of private ship-owners will succeed.
We hear great deal of a protection
sentiment and subsidy sentiment
growing up in the South. We hope
this is a mistake. We hope the South
can reach material prosperity and de-
veIop her industries without passing
through this strange form of popular
insanity. We have been plundered SO
long by protective tariffs, sugar boun-
ties and other subsidies, that we ought
not to surrender at this late day and
Join the band of robbers. We need not
fiatter ourselves that we will get due
share of the plumber. We will be
outwitted, cheated and swindled at
every turn. We win have as small a
chance in this game as the average
country lad in a game at the faro
bank.
The only plan for us to pursue is
the plain, simple, straightforward, hon
est plan of opposition to all subsidies,
bonuses, tariffs and other forms of
public plumber for private benefit.
The Ship Subsidy Bill will give Il
bonus of $304,OOO per annum to the
fastest sailing passenger ships. just
think of it! This burden laid on the
people annually to enrich some already
wealthy ship-owner or ship-company.
The wisest and most independent
journals and thinkers throughout the
country, even in New England and
Pennsylvania are at last opening their
eyes to the danger and the injustice
of governmental bounties. The Phil
adelphia Ledger has recently denounc-
ed this Ship Subsidy Bill in the strong
est possible language. An extract
from the Boston Herald is given below.
When Boston and Philadelphia speak
in such terms of this measure, surely
the South, the long plundered, non
subsidized, taX-paying South should
still maintain it's integrity and OPP
pose this measure.
The Herald says:
Senator Hanna does not let the
grass grow under his feet on the
Shipping Subsidy Bill. Well, who sup
posed that he would? Not the Her
aid, assuredly, for we know his man
ner of fighting, and we must say that
we rather admire him for it. In this
matter he has very bad cause, and
we hope to see him beaten; but,
whether good or bad, he always pur-
sues his task with the EXTREMIST vigor,
and takes a good deal of beating be-
fore he thinks of giving up. We trust
the opposition to the shipping bill will
be handled in a similar spirit. If SO.
we are confident that the scheme Will
collapse. Mr.. Hanna can work polit-
zeal miracles, but he cannot stretch
the duration of this Congress beyond
the 4th of March; and, that being so.
the Democrats, provided they do their
duty on the question, will be able to
crowd him out.
'sThe debate on it was opened by Sen
ator Frye, who has charge of the
measure, with an elaborate speech, in
which he marshalled an array of sta
tistics to prop it. He intended them
to be impressive, but their effect was
marred by an admission which Sen
ator Clay, of Georgia, drew from him
regarding the very unequal distribu-
ton of the subsidy. Mr.. Clay asked
if it were not true that a twenty-one
knot ship would draw $304,000 Il year
under the bill. At first Mr.. Frye was
inclined to fence with the question,
and tried to meet the inquiry by say
ing that the amount which such yes
sci would draw would be about $4,000
in excess of her coal consumption and
handling. But the Georgia Senator
was not to be bluffed. He persisted
in putting his inconvenient inquiry,
and Mr.. Frye was obliged to ADM t
that such ship would have a subsidy
of $3O4,000 per annum. Then Mr.. Clay
added the damaging statement: J
understand that the ten knot and
twelve knot ships, which carry the ag-
ricultural products of the country, do
not receive more than one-third of the
subsidy of the fast passenger vessels.
which carry no agricultural products.
Evidently, it is not the farmers who
are to reap the lions share of the
benefits from the job Of this subsidy
bill"