The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-26
NOT DEAD, BUT sLEEPETH.


The general opinion is that the ship
subsidy bill is not dead but sleepeth,
awaiting the morn of an extra. session,
when it will awake and take It's place in
the strenuous life of the new admins
tration.
Some of the more Objectionable features
OF the bill will be pruned down to meet
the necessity for votes, then it viii be
presented as party measure and rushed
through. If this be the programme it
will win. If it win as a party measure,
substantially as it is now framed, the
fate of the party will not be difficult
election.
The thorough discussion which the SUBJ
ject of ship subsidy received in the press
has opened the eyes of the public and
taught the people many things which
they will not forget.
Before this I1anna-Payne bill was in
trodaced, the general public knew moth
ing about the policy of granting subsidies
to ships and cared less. There was a
general understanding that our merchant
marine had been driven from the seas,
but few knew the cause or cared to look
the matter up. Those who were interest
ed enough to trace an effect to it's cause,
declared that the war of the Rebellion
hacked ley our foolish navigation laws
destroyed our foreign shipping.
Hanna and the friends Of the steamship
lines, however, assured the people that it
was the want Of the fostering care Of the
government They declared that the
prominent position occupied by England
i'll the world of ocean-trade was due to
lavish subsidies; that the United States
could not compete with Europe in build
ing ships, nor in navigating them; that
unless $4,000, 600 were given to the existing
lines, there would be stagnation in all
departments of foreign trade; that it
start the hammers in the ship yards
and send the stars and stripes to every
nook and corner of the globe
The road to this $9,OGO.GOO per annum
counted upon the assistance of the press
and failed.
The public soon learned that there had
been false lights shown. 1t learned that
England instead of paying general sub
sidy to its shipping, pays only a small
sum to lines carrying the mail to definite
freight 1t has learned that ships can be
built in the United States cheaper than
in Europe. 1t has learned that our pro-
hibitive navigation laws and not a lack
of government aid was the prime cause
of the disappearance of the American
flag from the ocean. 1t has learned that
a subsidy, to be of any value as an aid
of export commerce, must be used to open
new markets and not to assist old and
established lines to declare semi annual
dividends.
1t has learned that the Hanna-Payne-
Frye bill was an anomaly in subsidy
IeBiSldllOIl-I II was without mOQ6k
in the worlds legislation; that it was a
well laid scheme to steal from our Uncle
Samuel the round sum of $9,O09,O COO with
out becoming liable to criminal prosecu-
ton. This is what the public has learned
through the discussion.
Hanna, Frye & Company have learned
something also. Hanna has learned that
he is not the whole thing in the senate.
Frye has learned that Hanna is a mighty
heavy load to carry even with a good
cause. Frye has learned also that in
framing a bill it is not best to allow
those who are to be benefited to dictate
all the conditions.
They all have learned the force of pub
lie opinion as moulded by the press They
have been taught that the press. al
though subservient to party bosses at
election times, Will not tolerate an open
handed steal under the guise of Iegisla-
tion.
The G l b e has all along maintained
that properly applied subsidy might at
this time be.e5pedient. But this subsidy
must be employed to open Up new mar
kets and to establish new lines. 1t Is
49, ~ s-sas4sa s-sss..fs