The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-31

The Colossal Subsidy steal.


challenges the opponents of the subsidy
steal to leave cover and come out and
fgh,, He is credited with having 'pia-
Gated" some Democrats. and frightened
others with threats OF vengeance in the
River and Harbor bill. He is satisfied
that Senators Allen, Butler. and Petit
grew unaided cannot carry on the strus-
gle through weary day and night sessions
to the end of this Congress. All the in
fuence, power. and patronage of the Ad-
ministration is behind the job. In The
White House. as in the Yellow House, the
determination seems TO be memorable TO
place the Subsidy bill upon the statute
books al once, and so clear off one OF the
greatest of the campaign liabilities,
whether appropriation bills fail of pas
sage in the mean time or not.
1t is sad commentary upon the degen-
eracy of the Democratic party that its
representatives in both houses of Con-
gress are not today offering solid front
and brave and intelligent resistance to
one of the most gigantic and barefaced
schemes to loot the Treasury for the ben
eft of cut and dried combination ever
heard of in this or any other country.
But they are not. ANY small mess of pot
tage, in the shape of an appointment for
relative. or an appropriation for the i'm
provement of some mountain brook OF
valley frogpond, is sufficient TO close the
eyes and mouth of the average Demo
cratic statesman of these days.
It is easy to reply to this that the
American people have declared their de-
light in being robbed, and their preference
for the robbers. and. therefore ought to
be left alone in their glory TO enjoy the
consequences. But the American people
may not always desire to be in the power
of exploiters and looters, or TO pay black
mail until they have been completely i'm
poyerished. While the robbers are taking
money, Democratic Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes should be making history for
the enlightenment of the country. With a
few honorable exceptions, they are silent
and acquiescent while the Republican
saturnalia goes on.
In these deplorable circumstances, it
seems impossible TO stem the tide of cor
ruption. 1t is only feasible TO let the
American people know what they are get
ting in return for their November ballots;
and that certainly is not much in bulk or
value. On the contrary. their pockets
are being and will continue to be picked.
The subsidy Job, for example. will mulct
them in the neat sum of nine million dol
lars annually for thirty years, or. as the
bill now stands. total of Two hundred
and seventy million dollars. What is
largesse2
The country will gain absolutely moth
ing. The promoters and hackers of the
job make a number of claims of public
necessity or utility for it. They declare
that it is a prudential military measure.
since, in case of war, it will provide
the Government with large feet of aux
iliary cruisers. There is nothing tangible
in this claim. The average speed of ocean
going cargo vessels is thirteen and a half
knots; that of war vessels from eighteen
to twenty three knots. It does not need ar
guTnent to show that merchantmen con-
verified into war craft would be utterly
war vessels Of any respectable navy;
neither could they get away from them.
Advocates OF the steal pretend that it
is in large part a philanthropic plan to
elevate and prosper the poor, down-trod-
den American seaman. But there is no
Of the bill. Owners Of subsidized vessels
are TO employ Americans to the extent
Of one-fourth OF the crew, but If an
American crew cannot be reasonably OBJ
tanned then foreigners may be shipped
All the owner has to do is TO put down
wages below the point at which Ameri-
cans will work. and the seamen's protec-
live clause ceases 20 operate. II the b;n
were in any sense in the interests of our
mariners, it would provide for and secure
TO them some OF the proposed bounty
money. in prescribing a higher standard
OF wages and treatment. 1t does not. be-
cause the assumption of care for the com
mon sailor is a hypocritical sham, as a
matter of course.
The main contention OF the subsidy men
is that their scheme viii expand our mer-
chant marine until the high seas will be
too small TO hold IT, As 4 mater OF fact,
the bill is so sh-ewdly drawn that prae-
tically Dine-tenths OF the bounty Will be
paid to half dozen concerns already
enormously wealthy and doing q profitable
ocean transportation trade without sub
sidy. OF these it has been estimated that
tho international Navigation Company
alone will secure an annual donation. 10
be added to its present substantial profits
% g So. $40. Another illust ration of the
fayoritism, hardly concealed in this dis
honest measure. IS furnished In the coudi-
lions under which its advantages" viii
apply TO cur Pacific Coast shipping inter
est There all the steamship lines leaving
American ports for Asia are controlled by
the trans-eon tincntal railway lines, which
bin freight through from points Of ship
Taent in this country points OF destina-
ZION across the Pacif la their own ocean
lines exclusively. There is, therefore. no
chance for new American steameaip COM
T,anles not backed by trans continental
railways to come into existence They
could not get cargoSs. The present lines.
owned o. controlled by the railways. viii
get all the sHbl!dy on the Pacific side of
the country.
II the bin were designed to help Amer
lean producers. b. chespeniEg ocean