The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-28

oppose it, and many Of the republican
newspapers openly night il. 1t is a
sham and a cheat
In the congress and out OF congress-.
the -antagonism to the Infamous robber
bill has developed. The people begin
to comprehend the iniquity and plum
dering purpose Of the vile scheme. It
will cause enormous expenditure and Ii
is based upon class notwithstanding
the great masses for the farther en-
richment of a few money sharks. The
opinion is now widening. after proper
examination and inquiry. that this
country can build its own ships and
every whit as cheapiy. as the British
or Germans or French can build ships.
The Philadelphia Record throws light
in this wise:
One reason why such ships are not
built here is that American s~hipbuild-
erS enjoy such large profits. IN build
ing vessels for the coaSting trade lin
which they have no competition) that
they have not cared to enter into COM
petition with foreigners 70 build ocean
going ships for lesser profits. Another
reason is that ship-owners are waiting
for the enormous subsidies which would
be distributed under the Hanna-Payne
bill. The construction of large mer-
chant ships in American yards for
ocean trade at this juncture would De
an object lesson and a fatal argument
against the scheme"
Think of that, my countrymen," as
General Ransom would say. 1t would
be hazardous to h LUIS of devourers
and burden-layers to have ships built
in this country lest 1t prove too much
for h Hanna plan Of robbery.
Mckinley of course backs Hanna,
and is in full sympathy with the as
cally, predatory scheme. He will do as
hidden by Mark and call an extra ses-
sion if he "a thereby hasten the pas
sage of one of the vileSt schemes of
plumber ever ~concocted by the v~enality
and cunning of man. Do not pass the
Ubiquitous bill. The new scheme
smacks sharply of the old robber high
tariff tax plan of depressing and ilch-
ing from h people. 1t is Am attempt
to benefi the rich few at the expense
Of the many o 1t is robbing the
masses for the farther enrichment of
money kings. The Baltimore Sun says,
and it helps to a better understanding
of the question:
For instance. Commissioners Cham
berlain asserts that the monthly wages
on an American ship are % per cent.
greater than on a British ship. The
difference in the cost of the labor ex-
pended in the construction of the ship
and the wages paid in operating it
must, therefore, be paid by the Amer
lean people in order that another in
FAINT industry may be nurSed until it
has received many millions of dollars
from the treasury 1t is the old pro-
tective tariff principle over again, the
development of American industries
by bounties extorted from the people
in h shape of exhorbitant taxation.
If the real purpose of those who cham
pion the bill was to create an Ameri-
can merchant marine the object could
be accomplished without the paymen
of subsidies. A policy of free ships is
all that is required to restore the Amer
lean again to the seas"
OF curse there is big money In the
subsidy bill for some people or else
there would not be so much anxiety
and threats accompanying. But the
ship-builders and ship owners of a few
lines-two or three we think-are the
benefactors of the ugly scheme. But
remember that cool-haaded and inform
ed men who have been carefully exam
lining the false bill and the whole sub
ject involved in the p~retence of restor-
ing the merchant marine to our coun-
try. What ships really carry the chief
trade of our country? 1t is o the
steamships but the tramp steamers.
1t is to be hoped for the sake of de-
cency. of honor, of common fairness, of
economy, of principle that the bill
will die-aborning.