The Atlanta constitution., 1901-02-11
The Subsidy and the South.


The appeal has been made TO the
south 10 support a ship subsidy policy
on the ground that IL would develop
southern commerce Many southern
business men. on this broad statement
Of the case. have announced their read
iness for such an experiment. Any
policy holding plain and tangible bene-
fits for the people must be considered,
regardless Of mere political doctrines
The question pressing in this way, IL
naturally takes this turn. WIZ the
pending subsidy bill bring relief Ia the
south2 As q consequence OF its pas
sage. would IL result in the establish
ment of shin lines between southern
ports and those n Europe or Of South
America Are its provisions such that
any ship owner can have an equal
chance az claiming its benefits? Are
its inducements based upon service 20
shippers. ar upon tonnage only posi-
BE 70 capitalists
Cur Washington correspond mt. Mr.
Oil. gives an interesting letter on the
subject. elsewhere in t0day's issue.
In the first place. not a single dollar
would 80 10 4 southern port n pres
ent. and the limitations of the bill are
such that its continued benefits would
go 10 the original holders Of the treas
ury teat- In the second place. there
is no provision hy which q distribution
OF the subsidy could be forced SO rs 70
be claimed hy competitive ports In
the third place existing ship capital is
thoruuchly protected against the incur
sions ~ local volunteer capital Even
I'm the original awarding of the subsidy.
il Cocs 20 speed and tonnage. already
fxel beyond recall in the big ports.
and competition is impossible The
only possible escape is that some rail-
road lines. anxious for steamship con-
uection. uich- venture on some new
lines. which rlfghf possibly. NJ some
time or u,Sn.- have n southern port
for its starting point The whole ease
for the south IS one ~ unsatisfactory
expectation. AGAINST which VIC have 20
consider the railroad influence in favor
Cf long hauis. the entrrnchCd position
~ the present shin lines and the COM
biulriCus % metropolitan wealth
The subsidy EuTs first to ships as 2
reward for speed. which locates the
benefit to New York Eoston and Fniia-
deIphil Tt goes second Tor tonnage
tonnage. which limits the bulk of the
benefit On tho large ships a. the cities
already named. Tho sIuw-going. small
tonnage ships with which every new
port must start althourh they may
carry most freight Get the least benefit
But the hiE ship lines may build new
ships which they may choose 10 head
out from Savannah or Mobile. Why
coufue the initiation Us effort 90 these
colossal combinations. .u tcad OF
throwing tbr 0up1rt Gniry open % every
port to make the most 81 It's locGl CAPT
taI2 It Is hut the story ~ the TURKEY
AMI the huzznrt over aEain-the tur-
key nj $ north cf Baltimore. the buz-
ZaTd soutL-
As The Constitution has limited here
tof0re There is g precedent by which
shin limos might t. aided by giving
them legitimate employment rs in the
case az rhc fast railroad lines. Sa-
vannah might establish line to some
point lu South America. Mobile one tO
the coast ~ Africa or of Europe. and
SO on The government: has tn send
and pay frr It's mail service all over
the world Whv NOT make Savannah
n Cist-'but.ug point for the territory
frs shin lines wnuli cover. doing the
same thing for Woliie2 This would he
an inducemeur in such direct terms
that We could understand o.. i- would
Pc a legitimate use of the Governments
coHtrarfius power 20 build un orr own
port. &c wur.I FURNISH an iuiucemenf
for ships flying lic American flag ~
so ont wherever There was enterprise
enough to launch e beat 30 woHld Doe
free from the eft enterprise feature oi
the asidy lil. and DO would stimulate
local enterprise instead - playing into
the hands of existing ship owners
abundantly able 70 take care Of them
selves
The hypothesis as 20 what the shin
subsidy bill may do has the fatal defect
that ID must forever wear its hypotheti-
cal dress u win never 20 through the
weaving process The big man and the
big ship viii remain at New York
while we van. 10 encourage smallel
men with more modest ships 10 -. en-
cOuraeed To push ont from Charleston
Savannah. Brunswick aud all the way
down the coast