Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-08
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
n IS tNoeFeNsIBLE FROM EVERY
POINT OF VIEW.

IT IS TN oEFENSlBlE FROM EVERY
POINT OF VIEW.
Even the Professionals Cannot De- [
fend 1.-THE New York Press Wig
orously Opposes the Measure-The
Bill Designed For the Personal Gain
of a Few Big Shipowners.
A striking feature of the pending dis
cussion of the -Frye-Payne sub
sidy proposals is the extent to which
political and economic theories are rel
egated to the rear. The reason for this
is plain, however, when the bill itself
is considered.
Politically our people are divided as
to the theory of paternalism between
protection and free trade, and as to
each, while it's opponents may not con-
cede it's propriety, on the one hand they
are prompt to appreciate the weight OF
certain considerations urged in its be-
half and to recognize the sincerity
with which these are pressed, and on
the other, as to matters not involved
by their opposing theories, they are
apt to agree on first principles. Here,
for example, the general distrust of the
legislation proposed and the growing |
opposition to it involve no political
theory.
From a free trade standpoint one
could defend bill to facilitate export
of American products in ships owned
by American citizens by granting to
10 TNr1r.
chase foreign ships which by our laws
is given American shipbuilders and
owners to purchase foreign materials
and supplies, including labor, and from
q protectionist standpoint one could
| champion a measure which would try
| to attain the same end by distributing
| government aid either to exporters in
inducing shipments abroad or to vessel
owners in such way as to prompt them
| to carry export scargoes at lower rates.
| The trouble with this bill, however, is
| that on inspection it has become clear
| to our citizens Of all political beliefs
| that as an economic measure it is
| equally indefensible from eithersa free
trade" or a protection" standpoint;
that our export trade, our shipbuilding
| industries, our ocean carrying business,
as such, are each equally far from the
aims Of the concern of the promoters
of this bill-that is, it is in no proper
sense even a protective or other public
measure at all, but simply steal, de-
Tended by hypocritical concern for In
terests which it is not intended to sub
serve and worthy of support only by
those whose expected share in the pro-
ceeds shall be such as to justify the
loss, great or little, of self respect and
repute involved in thus conniving to
deadbeat the public for personal gain.
The present issue, therefore, is not
for or against any economic theory, but
on behalf of the taxpaying public. that
earns it's own living, against tax eating
capitalists, to whom, for example, the
, most representative protection news
! paper of the United States, the Repub
, lican New York Press, thus editorially
{ alludes in its issue of Dec. Is, 1900:
THE SHIP SUBSIDY JoNAHs.
= The thine gentlemen of the American line art
engaged in entirely legitimate business Thel
are carving American mails, and they ought t.
G Deutschlands and Oceanies instead OF sticking t.
little, Slow old Parises and New Yorks. The.
: should not be let OF again with the building
: Of St. Pauls and st. Louises, but compelled t
Y the construction Of vessels which the postofhc
: would select with the sole eye which it is boun
to have to celebrity of service. The increase OF tn
mail subsidy of 81 knot vessels when % knots is tn
typical speed of the fast mailboat of the day>is
u farce not to call it anything harsher, upon it
face But, whatever it is let the government dea
Il with it separately upon its merits and not mud
J. die it up with measure designed to freight tn
| | surplus products of American FARMS mines, fol
ests and factories which these vessels-having n
cargo space for grain, coal, lumber and locomc
: tives-never carry.
vi With this separation the bill would be withou
n logical opposition in congress or the country
and we fail to see why it should lose the votes
W the many senators and representatives whom tn
d American line has been carrying to Europe an
back every for the last ten years In ante
patton Of this particular roll call 1t may |
true of our government, as Hamilton SAID OF u
e English that it cannot be worked withoutcbrll
Ell cry, but there is reason why the measures an
10 men which require bribery should be mixed U
-, | with those which do not.
~ Just before the late Christmas vacs
ton it was announced that Arrange
I ments had been made to take in a
recalcitrant shipping interests, and
NAV therefore be expected that wit
great flourish of trumpets there wi
soon be announced amendments which
it will be claimed, will so broaden til
scope Of the bill as to make it trul
popular. In view, however, OF thrt
years experience with amendments
this very bill, announced in just tn
way, we may be entirely confidel
that, so far as concerns the lions shal
of the subsidy provided for, it will n
be diverted from the pockets OF tho
who devise this BILL
1t may we'll be, indeed, that Div
has uuieted Lazarus with a few CO
victuals and the little dogs with di
tribution of bones, but that he has
tually reformed and has either give
y his goods to the poor or stopped sites
d ing their earnings for himself is t
much to believe. The Hanna risco
VI coterie is most decidedly mot MAJ
that way" 1t will be easy at any m
ment by watching its attitude to kno
the character Of the bill in whatev
shape it may be amended. II it
really made such as mainly to bene
the interests it processes to favor,
oh will be practically without supporter
Ike except new ones. II the nna-Gr
com interests are still clamorous in
half of any amended bill, it will me-
that they who know best just what W
al be its effect are still convinced that it
-, in the main for their personal benefit
ply
1t Goes Too Far.
-. Some of the best friends Of the pl
tective system are afraid of the re;
i IL. L., 10 ixada1aod hyr tho