Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-14
DENouNcE SUBSIDY BILL.


BOSTON. Mass, Oct 1O.-An interesting
coincidence of a wide difference of opinion
upon the much discussed ship subsidy bill
has been shown in Boston this week.
Senator Hanna, of Ohio, and Senator
Frye, of Maine, and other heavy weight
Republican leaders held a conference, al
ter which they announced the decision,
which everybody knew beforehand, that
their old ship subsidy bill would be pre-
sented and vigorously pressed at the next
session of congress. They likewise pro-
claimed with becoming mildness full con-
fidence of it's passage.
During their conference, just before
their conference and just after their con-
ference labor organizations and political
conventions were passing resolutions de-
nouncing the ship subsidy bill.
The national convention of Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers, representing all
centers of the iron industry and fairly
voicing the opinion of labor in all the
large cities. declared that the ship subsidy
bill was a robbery of the laboring and
producing classes in order to give addi-
tional profit to great industries already
rich and announced their purpose through
their local unions to endeavor to defeat
any congressman who supported the BILL
The National Spinners' Association de-
clared that the subsidy bill paved the way
to a shipping trust and did nothing to-
warn IGuuClub AoNIS "a SAN
est OF the producer and offered no help
to the wage Garner.
The Massachusetts, state Democratic
convention denounced the bill as raid
on the public treasury in the interest of a
few ship builders and ship owners.
And lastly the Massachusetts state Re-
publican convention, instead OF rallying to
! the support of Senators Hanna, Frye and
their confreres, gave the ship subsidy
proposition this wee bit of plank:
'We favor government aid in building up
our merchant marine on a just and equita-
BILE basis toward all American citizens
Under this declaration everybody in
/ America, except the promoters of the
Hanna brand of ship subsidy legislation,
can claim reward. 1t is so commonly
known that the old subsidy bill is in the
| interest of those who drew 1t that they
cannot claim without evoking smile that
| il is con a just and equitable basis to-
ward all American citizens" But under
| this broad declaration European tourists
can claim benefit; American citizens who
wish to purchase foreign ships and give
them American registry can claim the
right to do so; those who wish nothing
| to fly the American flag and get subsidy
unless built in America can fairly con-
strue this plank their way; fast vessels,
slow vessels, sail vessels and every other
old vessel can claim that it should come
in under this ''just and equitable basis.
| The resolution Of the Iron workers was
| in these pointed words:
whereas, It is an important duty of
every American citizen to use his influence
toward the promotion of the general well
/ fare and to discourage every policy which
i would be unfair and harmful; and
| Whereas, The bill commonly known as
| the shipping subsidy bill, agitated in pre-
vious congresses and to be vigorously
| pushed in the next congress, carries an
/ aggregate appropriation of at least one
/ hundred and eighty million dollars Tor
the benefit of a favored few and largely
/ for additional profit to steamship lines al
ready prosperous and awards tremend-
| Gus proportion of the gratuity to fast pas
4 senger ships which perform an inconsider-
able part in the commerce of the coun-
/ try: and
whereas, This bill is so drawn as to
| give no recognition to the laboring people
or benefit to the producing classes, but
| confers unearned advantage upon those
| who advocate it's passage. thereby being
| a species of class legislation which has
met with denunciation at all times by the
best men of all parties; therefore,
Resolved, That we. the National Asso-
| citation of Bridge and Structural Iron
| Workers, regard this as a measure which
seeks to give to special interests an un-
/ deserved bonus of many millions collected
/ in taxes from all Inc people and as un-
| wise, unfair and unjustiiable. and we re-
] spectfully protest against its enactment
| by congress; and
"Resolved further, That the secretary
of this convention is hereby instructed to
| send copy hereof TO each local union and
| that the secretary of each local union is
hereby instructed to send a copy to their
| congressman and to request him to OPP
pose the shipping subsidy bill and to say
| that If he does not vote against said bill
the iron workers will oppose his re-elec-
ton to congress regardless Of party at
/ fliations."
The National Spinners' Association were
not less clear in understanding or felic-
itous in expressing their condemnation OF
/ this proposed raid On the public treas
ury." Said they:
Whereas, The duties Of citizenship in a
republic require every man to take an
/ active interest in public affairs, we APP
/ plaud the desire to build up the merchant
| marine of this country to the end that
! American freight shall be exported in
/ American ships, but we do not regard 1t as
/ a misfortune that the export trade has
/ grown with such tremendous rapidity that
/ ships of all nations have been called into
/ requisition to carry it. We observe with
/ pleasure that the shipping industry is now
/ growing more rapidly than for many
/ years previous; and,
| whereas, The shipping subsidy bill
/ which has been before congress and the
/ country for discussion discriminates in
| favor of certain shipping interests, so al
i lied together that they could, by the aid
| of the subsidy proposed for their benefit,
| form a shipping trust which would con-
1 troll the shipping business of this country,
/ and this bill offers no help to the wage
| Garner or producer and holds out no hope
/ for a reduction in the freight rates In
which the masses of the people are inter
/ ested; therefore,
Resolved, That we. the National Spin
ners' Association, in convention assem-
| bled, protest against the consideration or
| passage by the next congress of the ship
/ subsidy bill, and urge upon our respective
representatives to oppose it,"
xatHIUrO RI Att ANITA