The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1901-02-28
SHIP SUBSIDY FACTS.
Net a Dollar Would Go to a
Southern Port.
ALL BUzzARD AND NO TURKEY.

The Benefits would All Go TO the
Original Holders of the Treasury
Teat-No encouragement For Small
ships-Fntal Defects of the Biil-A
Gift Enterprise.
The appeal has been made to the
south to support ship subsidy policy
on the ground that 1t would develop
southern commerce. Many southern
business men on this broad statement
of the case have announced their readi-
ness for such an experiment. Any pol
icy holding plain and tangible benefits
for the people must be considered re.
gardless of mere political doctrines.
The question pressing in this way, 1t
naturally takes this turn: Will the
pending subsidy bill bring relief to the
south? AS a consequence of its pas
sage would 1t result in the establish
ment of ship lines between southern
ports and those of Europe or Of South
America? Are its provisions such that
chance at claiming it's benefits? Are
its inducements based upon service to
shippers or upon tonnage only possible
to capitalists?
Our Washington correspondent, says
the Atlanta Constitution, gives an in
teresting letter on the subject.
In the first place, not single dollar
b ~
and the limitations of the bill are such
that its continued benefits would 60 to
the original holders of the treasury
teat. In the second place, there is nc
provision by which a distribution OF
the subsidy could be forced so as to be
claimed by competitive ports. In the
third place, existing ship capital is
thoroughly protected against the incur.
slons Of local volunteer capital. Even
in the original awarding of the subsidy
1t goes to speed and tonnage, already
fixed beyond recall in the big ports, and
competition Is impossible. The only
possible escape Is that some railroad
lines anxious for steamship connection
might venture on some new lines
which might possibly at some time or
other have southern port for its start.
ing point. The whole case for the
south Is one of unsatisfactory expecta.
tions. against which we have to consid
er the railroad influence in favor OF
long hauls. the intrenched position OF
the present ship lines and the combna
tions of metropolitan wealth.
The subsidy goes first to ships as o
reward for speed. which locates the
benefit to New York, Boston and Phila-
delphia. 1t goes second for tonnage
not tonnage of freight carried. but ship
tonnage. which limits the bulk Of the
benefit to the large ships of the cities
already named. The slow going, small
tonnage ships. with which every new
port must start, although they may
carry most freight, get the least bene,
fit. But the big ship lines may build
new ships which they may choose tc
head out from Savannah or Mobile
Why confine the initiation of effort tc
these colossal combinations instead OF
throwing the opportunity open to every
port to make the most Of its local capi
tai? 1t Is but the story of the turkey
and the buzzard over again-the tur
key flies north of Baltimore, the buz
zard south.
AS The Constitution has limited here
tofore, there is precedent by which
ship lines might be aided by giving
them legitimate employment, as in the
case Of the fast railroad lines. Savan
nah might establish line to some
point In South America. Mobile one tc
the coast Of Africa or Of Europe, ant
so on. The government has to sent
and pay for its mail service all ovel
the world. Why not make Savannah
distributing point for the territory
its ship lines would cover, doing the
same thing with Mobile. This would bt
IN inducement in such direct terms
that we could understand it. 1t would
be legitimate use Of the government
contracting power to build up our owl
ports. 1t would furnish an inducemen
for ships flying the American flag t
60 out wherever there was enterpris,
enough to launch boat 1t would bt
free from the gift enterprise feature Of
the subsidy bill, and 1t would stimulate
local enterprise instead Of playing int
the hands of existing ship owner!
abundantly able to take care Of them
selves.
The hypothesis as to what the shll
subsidy bill may do has the fatal defec
that 1t must forever wear it's hypo
thetical dress. 1t will never 60 through
the weaving process. The big man ant
the big ship will remain at New York
while we want to encourage smallel
men with more modest ships to b'
encouraged to push out from Charles
ton, Savannah, Brunswick and all tn
way down the coast. q
An Old Deception.
II has been given ont that Spn8 tOI