The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-14
ECONOMIC PROFESSORS ON THE SUB
SIDY SCHEME.

OIL OOTIGME.
An Effort of the Subsidy Press Hu-
reau to Develop Support Proves a
Boomerang.
The press bureau maintained by the
subsidy bill lobby and their senatorial
confreres has been doing heroic service
of late. For some time Mr.. Alexander
r. Smith, one of the well known whoop-
ers-up of the ship subsidy propaganda,
has been the director general Of this
bureau. Recently Mr.. George w. Rou-
yer, formerly the head of the Washing
ton bureau Of the New York Herald
and later the press representative Of
the Republican national committee, has
been given high position on the staff.
His acquaintance with Washington
newspaper men as we'll as with repre-
sentatives and senators makes his serv-
ices very valuable. He is high priced
man, but this is high priced bill.
This press bureau In branching out
for new means to influence the public
and thereby the senate has lately sent
out letters TO a number Of college pres
idents and political economists asking
for expressions concerning the subsidy
bill. A number OF replies have come in,
but they have not been printed. Their
conclusions were on the wrong side of
the question.
For instance, Professor f. H. Gid
dlngs Of Columbia university In writ
ing Of the bill said: This bill believe
to be thoroughly rotten piece of NOR
al and political depravity. 1t Is per-
fectly well known that the United
States can build steel ships better and
cheaper than any other nation. There
fore it is difficult for even an unsophis-
ticated mind to escape the inference
that the subsidy bill is a steal, known
and intended to be steal"
Professor Mayo-Smith Of the chair of
political economy, Columbia university
said, There is no certainty that the
necessary facilities for export trade to
countries offering the most desirable
markets for the United States will be
secured"
Said Professor S. M. Macvane of the
chair of economics and history, Har-
ward university, IF the Republican
party wants to commit suicide, the
passage of this ship subsidy bill would
be all that would be necessary"
Professor L. N. Carver of Harvard
university said, lowing to the develop
ment of the steel industry, this would
be the worst occasion for placing
bounty on shipbuilding and the one
time in our history when it is least
needed"
Professor Charles H. Hull of the
chair of economics, Cornell university
said: "Such congressional dictation
may be In some cases for the public in
terest but the presumption is strongly
against ITS being so. In this particular |
case have seen no argument of public |
that seems to me strong enough |
70 overcome the adverse presumption. |
what forces of private interests are at |
work the mere economist has no means
If knowing"
Said Professor Daniel of the chair of
political economy, Princeton, 'In gen.
'ral, subsidies such as those proposed
ire, In my opinion, iudefensible."
Professor James w. Crook of Am
lerst said. Our experience is against
he efficacy of such a system"
Professor F. r. Jones Of Union COL
eye said. Not one sound economic ar
'ument can be urged in support of the
hip subsidy bill. The principle involv-
q Is species of paternalism. having
zone of the redeeming features Of the
protection theory and all of 1t falla-
ies''
These are but samples of a large
lumber of adverse opinions expressed
y college professors and political econ
mists. They are men who have no
hips to sell and no exports to ship and
those views are entirely unbiased.