The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-07

1T is ludicrOuS to estimate that
against the $9,OOO,OOO per annum
should be Offset any considerable sum
for the free mail carriage provided by
the bill. As noted, the bill induces no
construction of new ships over II
knots, and its inducements for speed
stop at 81 knots on test run. This is
so far behind the practical needs that,
though the International company
(Which would get the greatest share of
speed subsidy received last year two
thirds Of the total paid by the United
States for carrying foreign mails from
New York, the postoffice had to hire
British and German steamers at half
the cost to carry three or four times
the mail 1t committed to the Inter-
national. Nothing could be more
worthless than the right to have mails
carried free by ships. already too slow
to be trusted with them.
AS to American sailors, the bill pro.
vides that subsidized ships ~ have
one-fourth their crew citizens or in
tended citizens; (2) that one American
boy be employed for every 1000 tons
shipping, and 81 that fishermen serving
on ships (subsidized for the year at So
per ton, in case they run three months)
be given 81 per month while actually
employed. AS to these: ~ is nullified
by proviso that IL the master cannot
reasonably get one-fourth Americans
he need not; ~ is made worthless by
proviso that the American boy need
be paid only what his work is worth,
and as to 81, there being no minimum
wage, our government would simply
pay 81 Of ordinary wages for which the
American fishermen would still work.
Finally, the ships which. would get
most Of this subsidy are now compelled
under their mail contracts to have half
American crew and to employ the same
number of American boys, but to treat
them as petty officers; SO that the effect
of the subsidy bill, which releases these
ships from their present contract,
would be to lessen the number Of
American sailors and American boys
employed.
AS to ship owning, the bill leaves in
tact our navigation laws prohibiting
importation of ships or obscene litera-
ture, letting in for American registry
only a few vessels that the authors Of
the bill and their friends had already
bought. AS to shipbuilding, our ship
yards, without subsidy, are already
crowded to their utmost capacity, and
the most advanced types Of steamers
larger than any heretofore built
have lately been contracted for here at
prices lower than foreigners would
build them.
Worst of all, in respect of securing
new shipbuilding, the bill is largely
sham. For example, the owner of an
American ship now running, on giving
bond for $4,000 to build new tonnage.
might draw $4,000 in subsidy before
the bond became available.
Again, as the United States shipping
commissioner notes at page so Of his
report for 1900, tonnage now construct
ing in the United States, whether for
coasting or foreign trade, can be Of
fered to Offset subsidized tonnage in
operation. The result is obvious on COM
pairing the list of subsidy expectants
in regard to ships now built with that
of those now building ships here. That
Is to say, the chief subsidy beggars, al
ready owning both foreign and Ameri-
can built steamers and already, with
out subsidy, building new ships here,
have by this bill provided subsidy for
their present ships, conditioned on
their building new shipping, which, in
fact, they had already ordered.