Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-01-10
Phillips on Subsidy.

In general l am opposed to the
principle of subsidies, said Thos ".
Phillips lately. The ship subsidy bill is
now before Congress, if enacted into
law, will enhance the fortunes of ship
owners and shipbuilders at the expense
of the taxpayers IF the government
has money to donate why not give
bounties to the farmers and laborers, to
the poor rather than to the rich?
Equal rights to all, special privileges
to none,' is a maxim from which legis-
lators cannot depart without causing
great discomfort injustice and often
disaster, as well as destroying the pat
riotism of our people.
The ship subsidy is of great moment
to all citizens of America. 1t involves
the payment of $9,0O0,0 600 annually dur
a period of 90 years or total of $3.50.
600 900. all of which is to be paid from
taxes by the people. There is no assur-
ance that they will get a dollar in re
turn for the payment of this vast sum.
The men behind this bill number of
whom, are named in speeches and Con
gressional reports, and others who are
openly advocating this measure. are the
richest coterie of men that this country
has known. Their combined wealth
and that of corporations and trusts they
represent can he measured not alone by
millions or hundreds of millions, but by
billions of dollars.
The history of many of these men,
corporations and trusts IS well known,
and the methods by which they gained
their great wealth are still better
known 1t has been grined by monop-
olizing vast industries, by fixing prices
on products, prices ON freight, by dis
examinations in freight rates; by doing
as the Standard oil trust, some of whose
directors are named as being interested
in this legislation, has done, namely,
fixing the price at which they buy,
transport, manufacture and sell petro-
leum, one of the largest items of ex-
port today. They have also oppressed
others and enriched themselves by Sc
curing special legislation. by the enact
ment of unjust and discriminating laws
and by special privileges. We may
well ask in view of such past history,
showing the injustice done millions of
our citizens by many or the promoters
of this measure, who will be benefited
and who injured by the enactment of it
into law
However the mere payment of $3.50
600. 600 to few multi-mlllionaires is far
from the worst feature of the bill, for it
would mean, beyond question. the for
nation of a gigantic ocean carrying
trust, backed by the Government ITSELF
and consequently precluding the pos
sibility of successful American com
petition in this trade for at least gen
Grafton.
The last 40 years has produced or
called to the front two classes Of men;
The political boss and the commercial
or business boss The first-named boss
largely dominates the politics of the
State and nation to-day. The other
boss is fast gaining control Of the bus
mess and transportation Of the country
1t is as absurd to call the commercial
boss a business man as it is to call the
political boss statesman. The meth
ods Of both are similar each seeks
special immunities aud privileges and
feeds either upon the support or sub
stance Of others. Their methods being
alike, they are frequently found in col