The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-02
Circulation Statement.
The Subsidy steal.

sight, and hence, given the necessary
financial backing, are subject TO check
The great Shade would be correct in pro
pounding such a doctrine. especially a:
applied to the Subsidy steal.
1t would be quite superfiuous to go over
the ground so often traversed in thest
columns to prove anew the utterly impu
dent and thieving nature of the Subsid!
job. We have shown repeatedly that
while il pretends to be a measure for tbe
promotion of American shipping, it is in
reality scheme to drive cheap freights
from the ocean, TO distribute nine million
dollars a year among a dozen magnates
controlling the principal American sea
transportation companies. and to put into
their hands the power 10 organize and
maintain q monopoly OF American for
eign commerce.
The real and scarcely concealed object
of the Subsidy job is to give the rapidly
coalescing trusts the opportunity and
ability to corner, absorb, and own the
ocean carrying trade of tie country, ex-
actly as they have combined and con-
spired to absorb the Industries and pub
lie utilities of the nation within it's own
continental boundaries The Subsidy steal
will benefit only the firms and corpora
tions for whose enrichment it was planned.
Neither the American producer shipper,
nor sailor will be benefited by it. On tine
contrary. within few years it will drive
competition QUE of transatlantic trade,
and the farmers and manufacturers of the
Union will be forced to pay the tribute
demanded by the Shipping Trust or let
their wares ret or rust at the place OF
production.
We may be quite sure that legislative
measure comforting such extraordinary
benefits upon its beneficiaries. and OPEN
ing to them such unusually golden OPP
portunities, would be industriousiy and
literally pressed. IL is one of the anus
ing features of the Congressional winter
that ii has not been so pressed until very
recently: hence much of the virtuous op-
position which has developed. But the
financial hackers of the scheme and their
intelligent lobby have learned they
cannot convince the incorrurtible legis-
lators Of the country that hundred and
eighty millions, two hundred millions, or
any other sum OF dollars this interesting
bill may be designed to take from the
Treasury, can be gotten without resort
TO hospitality and generosity unequaled
by anything of the kind heretofore exhib-
tied in Washington even in the days of
the Credit Mobllier and Pacific Mail Sub
sidy steals.
1t is apparent that, in saying these
things, We are thrashing over old straw.
The complete hypocrisy and criminality
of the Subsidy job are known of all men.
They must have appealed to the con-
sciences and sense OF duty of most Demo
cratic Senators. and of all honest men in
that body, whatever their political afflia-
tions. II they have not, nevertheless the
country has been impressed Because II
has, and Duty has sounded no uncertain
call. 1t is perhaps a bit strange that the
statesmen presumed to be in opposition
TO the Republican Administration and the
control of Congress by Marcus A. Hanna
have not met this monster of corruption
with force and arms, and combatted it
at every forward step in its Shiny prog
-ess.
Nothing of the sort has happened
few free lances in tine Senate have risen 10
the emergency and have made a gallant
fight. The Democrats, as representing the
normal opposition, have been peculiarly
and suggestively kind. While the lobby
and the subsidy literary bureau have been
working night and day to food the coun-
try with educational" matter, showing
the beauties OF subsidy as a means of
building up our mercantile marine, through
the donation OF millions year to the
syndicate formed. or forming, to destroy
or monopolize it. Democratic Senators
have carefully avoided the very appear
anee of obstruction. In the mean time
the enemy has been at work, spreading
printed poison. until Senators from the
South begin to be bombarded with petit
lions and appeals from their section urg-
ing passage Of the act.
Knowing as well as we do the purity and
freedom from influence of Democratic Sen
ators In general. and Southern Democratic
Senators in particular. IL strikes US as
amazing that this propaganda of the sub
sidy robbers should have been permitted
10 90 on as it has, without some effort to
check II. through the dissemination of cor
rect information among Democratic con-
stituencies. II We could believe for mo-
rnent that any Democratic member OF tho
Senate could be swayed In his judgment by
the gift Of army commissions, excessive
favors under the River and Harbor bill,
consulstes, judgeships. or any Of the ordi-
nary courtesies which are regularly ex-
tended 10 opponents of Administration
measures. It might be easy TO account for
the silence and apathy which have aston
isbed the American people. But we could
not and would not fall back upon any such
theory.
The real trouble with the proposed Sub
sidy steal is that. being q steal impure
and simple. It is a proposition which every
man In either house OF Congress is en-
titled to regard from strictly non par
tisan viewpoint. On this account Diff
Guilty IL necessarily presented 10 the
minds and conscienees of even some
Democrats. Many OF them have been for
weeks in a mental slough OF despond over
the matter. Such statesmen have felt all
s1nna that while they should not lend