The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-21
THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
Press Bureau Efforts to Promote the
scheme Fail.

scheme Fail.
Those Senators who are opposed to the
passage of the Ship Subsidy bill, which
comes up today, are rejoicing over what
they term the boomerang results achieved
by the elaborate press and literary bu
reaus established by Messrs. Hanna and
Frye, in the interest of the bounty meas
ure. These bureaus are being operated on
a very extensive scale, and cost lot of
money, it is said, therefore the opponents
Of the shipping scheme are overjoyed that
all efforts TO boom the bill have dismally
failed
According 10 those who claim to know
the operations of the bureaus, one OF the
main plans prepared was a system of re-
quests forwarded to the foremost econo-
mists of the United States and heads of
the great universities, asking for express
sions of opinion as 10 the merits of the
Subsidy bill. 1t was supposed that ma
jority of the answers would be favorable
10 the bill. and that these could be widely
published as the attitude of the unpreju-
diced economic thinkers Of the country
who had carefully examined the bounty
measure.
The results obtained are said to have
come in the nature Of surprise, and the
opinions of the educational experts have
not been circulated for obvious reasons A
Senator who has obtained copies of some
OF the opinions for use in a speech against
the measure gives them as follows:
Columbia University-Prof. Mayo
Smith, of the chair of political economy
and social science: There is no certainty
that the necessary facilities for export
trade to countries offering the most de-
sirable markets for the United States will
be secured T. H. Giddings professor of
sociology: This bill l believe to be
thoroughly rotten piece of moral and po-
litical depravity. II is perfectly we'll
known that the United States can build
steel ships better and cheaper than any
other nation. Therefore it is difficult for
even an unsophisticated mind to escape
the inference that the subsidy bill is a
steal. known and intended to be steal
"Harvard-Prof. S. NJ. MacVane, eco
Monies and history: This country will
stand the protective tariff as has been
shown by experience. because that is not
q direct bounty. But the sugar bounty
the people will not endure. In this (ship-
ping subsidy case, If the Republican par
ty wants to commit suicide, the passage
of such a subsidy bill would be all that
would be necessary Prof. T. n. Carver:
AS the steel industry has been fully de-
veloped for only short time we have
be the impetus IT Will give to shipping.
This would be the worst occasion for
placing bounty on shipbuilding. and the
one time in our history when it has been
least needed
'Yale-President Hadley: All things
considered, it would be hard TO show any
commercial gains from subsidies which
compensate for sums spent in this way
Prof. Sumner, economics: 1t is to be
hoped that sound opposition party will
be called into existence by these pro-
ceedings
''Cornell-Prof. Charles Hall, chair of
economics: Such Congressional dictation
TO industry may be in some cases for the
public interest, but the presumption is
strongly against its bei'FS SO. In this
particular case ! have seen no argument
of public interest that seems to me strong
enough to overcome the adverse presump-
tion. Indeed the arguments of alleged
public interest have practically no
strength at all. What forces OF private
interest are at work the mere economist
has no means of knowing.
"Princeton-Prof. Daniel, chair OF po-
Iitical economy: In general, subsidies
such as those proposed are, in my opinion,
indefensib1e.'
University Of Pennsylvania-Dr. Joseph
French Johnson sizes up the situation in
a nutshell: Cur capital has not gone
into the shipping business during the last
fifty years because more profitable open
ings were found for it on land. The pros
perity Of American people has been indie
pendent of foreign trade and foreign mar
kets. The country has now reached a
stage OF development in which foreign in
vestments are becoming essential Steam
ship lines owned by Americans and OPP
Grated under the American flag, Will GER
taiply aid our progress in this direction
Financial connections and developments
will inevitably follow the expansion of
American commerce on American bot
toms. But while the expansion of our
commerce seems necessity. i question
the methods proposed to bring about this
result. This scheme to subsidize our
merchant marine / regard as a forcing
process
'Amherst-Prof. James ". Crook: Our
experience is against the efficacy of such
q system. subsidy which equalizes
American and British cost conditions is
likely to invite further British subsidiz-
ing which. to prevent American interests
from damage and perhaps ruin would re-
quire further substituting on our part
Where is the process going TO end?'
'Dr. John Bascom. of Williams College
believes that the bounty would benefit
only few rich men. and that the natural
enterprise Of the country will eventually
bring about the desired results. Prof
Adams. Of the University Of Michigan, be-
Iieyes that there are better methods than
those proposed for stimulating maritime
commerce. DR.. Lindley Miller Keasbey,
OF Bryn Mawr College. approves of the
principle of subsidies but thinks that It
should be a general bill and not in the
Interests of private parties Prof F r
Jones, OF Union College (Schenectady.
n. W, says: Not one sound economic
can he urged In eupport nf a.
ship subsidy bill. The principle involved
is a species OF pRternalism. having none
Of the redeemins features of the protec-
CASTORIA furnfsats and Children