West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-01-31
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
" IS iN0EFENSIeLE FROM every
POINT or VIEW.

Even the protcctioni-ts Cannot De-
fend 1.-THE New York rrcs. Wig
orcusiy Opposes the Measure--rhc
Bill Designed For thc pcrsonalCain
OF "A Few Big shtpowacrs.
a striking feature OF the pending dis
,ussion OF the Hanna-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 bin itself
Is considered.
Politically our people are divided as
TO the theory OF paternallsm between
protection and free trade, and as TO
each. while Its opponents may not con-
cede its propriety, ON the one hand they
are prompt To appreciate the weight Of
certain considerations urged In it's be-
half and 20 recognize the sincerity
with which these are pressed. and on
the other. as 10 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 10 Ii involve no political
theory.
From free trade standpoint one
could defend bill TO facilitate export
OF American products in ships owned
by American citizens 10y granting TO
American capital that freedom to pur-
chase foreign ships which by our laws
Is given American shipbuIlders and
owners to purchase foreign materials
and supplies. including labor. aud from
protectionlst standpoint one could
champion 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 cargoes at lower rates.
The trouble with this bill, however. Is
that on inspection 1t has become clear
10 our citizens OF all political beliefs
that as an economic measure II Is
equally indefensible from either "free
trade" or 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 blll-that Is. II is In no proper
sense even protective or other public
measure at all, but simply steal. de-
Tended by hypocrltical concern for In
terests which 1t is not Intended to sub
serve and worthy OF support only by
those whose expected share In the pro-
cecds shall be such as TO Justify tho
loss. great or little. OF self respect and
repute Involved In thus connivlng 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 Its 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 It's issue OF Dec. 10, 1900:
THE SHIP SUBSIDY JONAus
The mine gentlemen Of the American line are
engaged In an entirely legitimate business. They
are carrying Aincrican mails and they ought 10
be paid so that they can carry them In American
Deuischlands and Occanics instead Of sticking 20
little. slow. old Pariscs and New Yorks They
should not be let OF again with the building
Of st. Pauls and 81. Iouises. but compelled 20
the construction of vessels which the postoihce
would select with the sole eye which IL Is hound
70 bave TO celebrity q service The increase Of the
mail subsidy Of 81 knot vessels when 2s knots Is the
typical speed oi the fast mailboat Of the day Is
farce, not 10 call Il anything haraher. upon its
face. But. whatever IL is, let sac government deal
with 81 separately upon its merits and not mud
-lie II up with measure designed TO freight the
surplus products 81 American EARNS nfncs for.
csts aud factories" which these vesseis-havng no
cargo space for grain, coal, lumber and loco5no-
tives-nevcr carry.
with this separation the bill would be without
logical opposition in congress or the country,
and we fail TO see why II sboald lose the votes of
the many senator's and representatives. whom the
American line has been carrying 60 Europe and
back every fof thc last Ten years In autici-
patton of this particular roll call. II may be
true of our government. Hamilton said Of the
English. that 81 cannot be worked without brib-
cry. but there 10 reason why the measures and
men which require bribery should be mixed up
With those which do not.
Just before the late Christmas yaca-
tiOn IT was announced that arrange
ments had been made to "take i'm all
rccalcItrant shipping interests. and 1t
may therefore he expected that with
great flourish OF trumpets there will
eoOD be announced amendments which,
II will be claimed. will so broaden the
scope OF the bill as TO make IL truly
popular In view. however, of three
years experience with amendments TO
this very bill. announced In just this
way, we may be entirely confident
that, so far MS concerns the lions share
OF the subsidy provided for. It will not
be diverted from the pockets Of those
who devise this bill
It may well be, indeed. that Dives
has quieted Lazarus with n few cold
yictunls and the li,tle dogs with n dis.
tribution OF bones. but that hc has nc
tually reformed and has either given
his goods to the poor or stopped steal
ing their earnings for himself Is too
much TO believe. The Hanna -Griscom
coterie Is most decidedly mot made
that way" 1t will be easy ut any mo.
ment by watching It's attitude TO know
the character OF the bin iD whatever
shape II may bc amended. If It is
really made such as mainly to benefit
the Interests u processes to favor. II
VIII be practically without supporters,
except new ones. If the Hanna Girls
com interests are stiil clnmorous In be.
half Of any amended blu. Il viii mean
that they who know best Just what VIII
be It's effect are stlll convinced that It Is
In the main for their personal buuent.