The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-24
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
1T is ,kpEFENsIsLE FROM EVERY
POINT OF VIEW.

Z
cussion Of the Hanna-Frye-Payne sub
sidy proposals is the extent to which
political and economic theories are rel
egated to the rear. The reason for this
is plain, however, when the bill itself
is considered.
Politically our people are divided as
to the theory Of paternalism between
protection and free trade, and as to
each, while it's opponents may not con-
cede its propriety, on the one hand they
are prompt to appreciate the weight OF
certain considerations urged in it's be-
half and to recognize the sincerity
with which these are pressed, and on
the other, as to matters not involved
by their opposing theories, they are
apt to agree on first principles. Here,
for example, the general distrust Of the
legislation proposed and the growing
opposition to it involve no political
theory.
From free trade standpoint one
could defend a bill to facilitate export
Of American products in ships owned
by American citizens by granting to
American capital that freedom to pur-
chase foreign ships which by our laws
Is given American shipbuilders and
owners to purchase foreign materials
and supplies, including labor, and from
a protectionist standpoint one could
champion measure which would try
to attain the same end by distributing
government aid either to exporters in
inducing shipments abroad or to vessel
owners in such way as to prompt them
to carry export cargoes at lower rates.
The trouble with this bill, however, is
that on inspection it has become clear
to our citizens of all political beliefs
that as an economic measure It is
equally indefensible from either a ''free
trade" or protection standpoint;
that our export trade, our shipbuilding
industries, our ocean carrying business,
as such, are each equally far from the
aims Of the concern of the promoters
Of this bill-that is, it is in no proper
sense even protective or other public
measure at all, but simply steal, de-
tended by hypocritical concern for in
terests which it is not intended to sub
serve and worthy Of support only by
those whose expected share in the pro-
ceeds shall be such as to Justify the
loss, great or little, Of self respect and
repute involved in thus conniving to
deadbeat the public for personal gain.
The present issue, therefore, is not
for or against any economic theory, but
on behalf Of the taxpaying public, that
earns its own living, against tax eating
capitalists, to whom, for example, the
most representative protection" news
paper Of the United States, the Repub.
lican New York Press, thus editorially
alludes in its issue of Dec. Is, 1900:
THE SHIP SUBSIDY JoNAHs.
The 'nine gentlemen" OF the American line are
engaged in an entirely legitimate business They
are carrying American mails, and they ought to
be paid SO that they can carry them in American
Deutschlands and Oceanics instead Of sticking to
little. slow, old Parises and New Yorks. They
should not be let off again with the building
OF st. Pauls and St. Louises, but compelled To
the construction of vessels which the postofice
would select with the sole eye which it is bound
to have to celebrity of service. The increase of the
mail subsidy Of 81 knot vessels when % knots is the
typical speed of the fast mailboat of the day is
farce, not to call it anything harsher, upon its
face. But, whatever it is let the government deal
with 1t separately upon its merits and not mud
die it up with measure designed to freight the
surplus products of American farms, mines, for
ests and factories'' which these vessels-having nc
cargo space for grain, coal, lumber and locomo
tives-aever carry.
With this separation the bill would be without
logical opposition in congress or the country
and we fail to see why it should lose the votes o.
the many senators and representatives whom tht
American line has been carrying to Europe anG
back every summer for the last ten years in antic
patton of this particular roll call. 1t may bt
true OF our, government, as Hamilton said Of thu
English, that 1t cannot be worked without brib
cry, but there is no reason why the measures ant
men which require bribery should be mixed w
with those which do not.
Just before the late Christmas vaca
ton it was announced that arrange
ments had been made to "take in' al
recalcitrant shipping interests, and II
may therefore be expected that witt
great flourish of trumpets there will
soon be announced amendments which
it will be claimed, will SO broaden The
scope Of the bill as to make it truly
popular. In view, however, of three
years. experience with amendments tt
this very bill, announced in just thi.
way, we may be entirely confiden
that, SO far as concerns the lions shar,
Of the subsidy provided for, it will no
be diverted from the pockets Of thos,
who devise this bill.
It may well be, indeed, that Dives
has quieted Lazarus with few COLI
victuals and the little dogs with a dis
tribution Of bones, but that he has &C
tually reformed and has either givel
his goods to the poor or stopped steal
ing their earnings for himself is to-
much to believe. The Hanna Griscon
coterie is most decidedly mot mad
that way" 1t will be easy at any mo
ment by watching its attitude to know
the character of the bill in whateve
shape it may be amended. If it i
really made such as mainly to benefi
the interests it processes to favor, j
will be practically without supporters
except new ones. If the Hanna Girls
com interests are still clamorous in be
half OF any amended bill, it will meal
that they who know best just what vii
be its effect are still convinced that it
in the main for their personal benefit.
It Goes Too Far.
Some of the best friends Of the pre-
tective system are afraid of the reac
ton likely to be induced by the sui
sidy. The North American quotes Ser
ator Cullom as saying, st believe ther