Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-01-17
CAREFULLY DRAWN BILL.
Some Strong Arguments in Favor
Of the Ship Subsidy
Measure.
ADVANCEMENT OF OUR OCEAN TRADE.
neneAts TO BE Derived BY Americas
Producers Through the Operation
Of such system-WhO the ODDo-
nents Of the Bill APe-S0me yignia-
cant Facts for the People.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, D. e., Jan II.
The American people have been favored
% with a vast amount Of argument, seem.
incy directed against the snpping bill now
pending in congress, but really aimed Vt the
effort that is now being SO strenuously
made to revive and build up our shipping
in the foreign trade. No miasatement has
been too wild, no untruth too ridiculous,
no innuendo too base, no assertion Of venaI-
ity too absurd, to fail Of use in the hands Of
these malignant opponents Of American IN
terests. When the shipping bill first came
before congress, the suggestion was made
that swift ocean steamships were what were
most needed, maj carriers, vessels avail
able az auxiliary cruisers-ocean gray
hounds, in short; and it was alleged that
the slow cargo carriers could take care Of
themselves that they needed no assistance,
they were profitable under present cOndi-
tions, and similar arguments.
When it was pointed out that there was
reason for government aid for slow ships,
oa,r,;ra onlv carooes because thew were
a, d;s,dvan,aao in coa of con. melton Il
Amaricon'built and At A further sadyaa.
tage in cost Of operation, il run by American
oGcors md seanen and Gremen. and this
truth hecame known. then the enemy
turned right.about-face and declared that
the ships that are needed to build up the
American merchant marine are the cargo
oar,iors ,bo vesyels MAT fake AWAY our
farm nroducts and not the swift passen-
oe, steamshins The enemies of the Shipping
In h,vo hlnwn bot and hlown cold. ali in
tbe same breath and tbe pity il that the
American neople are so utterly uniformed
rooarding Tho roal facts concerning Amer
loan .hippinu-concerninp apy shipping-
that they have been easily duped into be-
lievinv ,he most eytrayapant things that
mind could concoct in order to fight and de-
feat the passage Of the shipping bill.
Ara matter Of fact the Shipping bill 10
carefully drawn, on the most scientific
]iun. drawn so AZ 10 barely enable Amer
ican.built and American manned ships to
compete with foreign ships on terms Of
equality, and this is true Of fast ships and
Of dow ships Of steamships and Of sailing
ships-oi any kind Of American ships en-.
gazing in the foreign carrying trade Of the
United Slhates The disadvantages they
labor under, because Of higher cost in con
struction, and because Of higher cost Of p-
Grafton and because Of the subsidies and
bountes given by foreign governments to
their merchant ships, have been carefully
reduced to dollars and cents, and the
amount Of compensation provided in the
bill just offsets these disadvantages. With.
out discussing the details Of payments
this truth may be relied upon, no matter
whit storie. the enemy circulates in oppo.
sition
And now, who are these epemiess Surely
they mua be those whose interests viii
suffer or whose theories will be- dis.
moved If a bill is pos,ed sufficiently effect.
i've to encourage tbp construction Of Amer.
lean .built Sims, These interests md these
theorists ara the 3ormun shipowners their
agents IN tbis country and tbe free trad.
ers Foreign shins now moponolize the car.
ryinv ~ a, Mar cont If our ,mno,t, and ex.
rorr, '. H.. taLa mvoy Irom M. co,n.
- s ""o &, ,", ooo ooo m nod mr. lie eouiv.
w ,"''s T'' ~,~, ;"., fer ,hnr freigh,
aieh' e"cn '.'' ?"'' H. h.,;i. I'D