Washington sentinel., 1901-03-02
ECONOMIC PROFESSORS ON THE SUB
SlDY SCHEME.

9tgI 9SllN WIS.,
An Effort of the Subsidy Press Bu-
reau 10 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-
zer. 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 a high priced
man, but this is high priced bill.
This press bureau In branching out
for new means 20 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 +. II. Gid
diugs Of Columbia university in writ.
ing of the bill said: "This bill believe
to be a thoroughly rotten piece Of NOR
al and political deprayity. 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 uns0phis-
ticated mind to escape the Inference
that the subsidy bill is a steal, known
and intended to be a steaL'
Professor Mayo.Smltl 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 viii be
secured"
Said Professor S. NJ MacYane 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 II. n. Carver Of Harvard
university said, owing to the develop
ment Of the steel industry, this would
be the worst occasion for placing a
bounty on shlpbuidmg and the one
time In our history when it is least
/ needed"
Professor Charles II. Hull of the
chair Of economics, Cornell university,
said: such congressional dictati0n
may be I'm some cases for the public Inc
| terest, but the presumption Is strongly
| against its being so- In this particular
| case ! have seen no argument of public
| interest that seems to me strong enough
| to overcome the adverse presumption.
| What forces Of private interests are nj
work the mere economist has no means
| Of knowing"
Said Professor Daniel of the chair of
| political economy Princeton, "In gen.
eral, subsidies such as those proposed
are, fin my opinion, indefeuslble."
| Professor James W. Crook Of Am
herst said, "Our experience is against
the efficacy Of such a system"
| Professor f. r, Jones Of Union col
| lege said, mot one sound economic ar
| gument can be urged I'm support Of the
| ship subsidy bin. The principle iuvolv.
! ed is a species Of paternalism, having
none Of the re6semfng. features Of the
protection theory and all Of it falla-
| cies."
These are but samples Of a large
number Of adverse opinions expressed
by college professors and political econ
omists. They are men who have no
ships to sell and no exports to ship and
| whose views are entirely unbiased.