West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-08-29
SHIP SUBSIDY CLAIMS ANALYzep
The mn VIII Neither Promote Conn
mercc Nor Provide Fast Cruisers
For Time Of war

The mn VIII Neither Promote Conn
mcrce Nor Provide Fast Cruisers
For Time of War.
The subsidy bill claims TO be a bln
to promote the commerce OF the coun-
try and its foreign trade and TO profit
ably employ the surplus products OF
the farms OF the United States.
To Justify the expenditure of the
Sa,OOO,0O0 n year proposed by this bill
IL ought TO be shown that all these
objects are accomplished by this bill
better than they could be by any other
means; for If the other so called oh
Jects of the bill-to provide cruisers
and Transports TO be considered
by themselves, IL is clear that n cheap
or and surer way OF having efficient
service would be for the government
TO build its own ships.
Just how the bill will not promote
the commerce in manner at all com
mensurate with the enormous cxpendi-
ture is easily seen by study of one
outward voyage, taken at random, OF
the steamship New York, vessel be-
longing TO the international Navign-
ton company, the chief beneficiary OF
the bill.
ON her first voyage from New York
In 1900 this ship carried cargo TO the
value OF less than 100000, and OF this
only $4,000 was agricultural pEod-
ucts. Now, compare the statement OF
the president OF this company with
one made by Mr.. Stratton, represent
hnfnpn Ia
January, 1899, the board of underwrit.
ers of New York ana the American
bureau OF shipping. Mr.. Griscom has
repeatedly said that the cost OF his
four fast steamships was $4,000. 600
Mr.. Stratton. at the hearing mentioned
above, said, when speaking OF the re-
lationship existing between vessel
and her cargo, Say ship Is worth
S5O0,000 or $l.O000O0 and that vessel
goes to seattle cargo Is worth OH an
average twice what that ship Is," and
little later "If you find a ship is
worth $5O0,000, you will find the cargo
Is worth Sl.100,OO0 or 81 ,2OO,O 900"
On this basis ship worth $2,OO0,OOO
to S2,5O0,000 ought TO have cargo
worth from S4,OOO,OO0 to S5OOO,00O. in
stead OF one worth less than three
quarters OF a million Of dollars.
Surely this ship, which under the
proposed bill would receive a subsidy
Of n quarter Of a million dollars or
more year-that is, about one eighth
Of the entire subsidy to be paid Amer
lean steamships already built before
Feb. /, 1S00-cannot be said TO pro-
mote commerce or foreign trade or
provide profitable employment for the
products OF the farm to any apprccEa.
bic extent.
Whatever else she does she cnnnot
in any way be said 20 help I'm any of
the commercial objects OF the bill un-
less the promoters and supporters Of
the bill can show that Mr. StrattOn is
as Ignorant" as they claim every one
not agreeing with them must be.
The defenders OF the bin arc con
stautly setting forth before those who
In their Ignorance" are opposing it
that the British and German govern
mCnts and other nations are subsidlz
Ing their fast steamships for war pur-
poses I'm case Of need and We must do
ns much. Then they appeal TO the
work done by tho two ships OF tile In
ternational Navigation company I'm the
late fracas with Spain as an instance
of what might happen again. But the
bill 9s now amended gives no subsidy
for speed beyond Is knots. while the
fast ships Of the English and German
merchant marine attain q speed Of %
knots or better In the event. then. 81
war with these countries the New
York. which can make at most II
knots. her owners say could neither go
in pursuit ~ the cucmy's fast ships
nor run away from them But by the
bin no new fast ships arc 90 be- called
into existence. so that the go called OBJ
icct ~ providing fast cruisers is not
fulfilled by the bill n fails as lament
nbly as it does 10 promote commerce
and foreign trade.
lnasmuch rs the government ln 1899
employed as temporary transports for
her soldiers 10 and from Manila (sce
report ~ commissioner of navigation.
pages 900 and 2OJ) certain ships which
would under this bin have been sub
sidy winners had the bill been iu force.
we can Judge the kind of ships that
would De used were this bin now in
operation. There were eight Of these
vessels One was 1l years old, one ~.
one Us and the other six from - 60 40
ycars old.
This Us tie Kind Of ships Tho compa
nics would turn otcr to thc govern
mont Co carry hc- soldiers n they were
called on for transports 10 is not
worth whilc 10 pay $ouroO0O a year
FOR the sake of having uis sort q
thing. II would hc mr. cheaper to buiid
some ships md WHOM There wac no
need Of them 60 give The uso of Iom
20 some poor company Chat could u0t
mako both ends meet without t.-ging
from the whole country
In his speech before tho eeUaio or
Friday. Feb l5 senator pGkms of
California showed that tle entire sum
~ Sao0oocu vm alIeadt falon un and