The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-07
a Chance for Fraud.

Chance Tor Fraud.
"It also provides that space purchased
or contracted for on a ship can receive
the tonnage bounty. As the Government
has no means of knowing whether such
contracts are bona fide the possibility for
great fraud is quite apparent. Again, all
ships purchased contracted for abroad
prior to February /. 1893, are to be ad
mitted 10 registry, thus giving those who
know in advance of this provision an ad
vantage. Add to this that all ships built
in American yards during the next five
years are entitled to bounty and it gives
those on the inside an opportunity to
monopolize the full capacity of all the
shipbuilding yards in the United States
for that period. Can it be doubted that
these people have availed themselves of
both these provisions and are prepared to
shut out all competition and thus form
another oppressive trust?
"A principal reason urged for the pass
age of this bill is the decline of our mer-
chant marine. The decline in our for
eign shipping came at a time when the
shipping was transferred from sailing YES
sells to steam vessels. from wooden boats
to iron and steel boats and was caused
by our inabil y to manufacture iron and
steel as cheaply here as in Europe. Dur
ing this transition period and until the
present time our laws prohibited the pur-
during the most receut years that We
could compete with Europe in iron prod
ucts. but al present we are commercially
equal, II not superior in all that Is re-
Quired in shipbuilding, and are now max
ing most rapid advancement in this in
dustry. Yet at this very time these boun-
ty grabbers demand subsidy. The fact
that our shipbuilding yards are being en-
larged and improved and new ones being
built should be proof enough that this i'm
portant industry is fourishing at the pres
ent time. All our shipyards are now busy
without bounty.
with or without this subsidy our mer-
chant marine will grow very rapidly; how
ever. our shipping interests are best con-
served without this bounty. fer il viii
leave this industry On a fair, competitive
basis. thereby making it more stable, self
reliant, and more seTyiceable to the ccuu-
Try at large.
4 Combination Forming.
1T has been stated by the press that
already combination OF the largest ship
building plants in the country is in pro-
cess of formation, and that the deal would
be consummated upon the passage of the
Ship Subsidy bill. Whether this report
has any foundation in fact is OF little
Importance for in case the bill becomes a
law such a combination or trust is NOR
ally certain to be formed.
a monopoly such as this measure
would create might exact exorbitant rates
Cn all freight, thereby affecting the farm
ers. the miners of coal. ore and oil, the
rnanufaG1ur urers of iron and cotton, and all
that are engaged in the production of
commodities that make up our exports. In
case active competition should arise the
combinations securing the Government
subsidy could readily crush out any oppo-
sition. If the Government ; ever justified
in granting subsidies to transportation
companies it is an imposition on its citi-
zens If il fails to regulate in some manner
the carry ing rates. Yet this most impor-
tant matter is left wholly to the caprice
Of these receiving this great boun;y
II have the opinion of many coed Re-
pubiicans that II Congress shall enact
such discriminating law the party can
not hope to elect a Republican Congress
next time nor a Republican Administra-
tion in 1904 President Harrison. Presi-
dent Cleveland, and President Mckinley.
in messages to Congress. called attention
TO the absorbing question of trusts. The
last platforms of both the Republican and
Democratic parties pronounced against
trusts; the lower house Of this Congress,
by vote of both parties passed an anti
trust measure which lies smothered in the
Senate, and the great ocean trust scheme
is urged to the front"