The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-07
STILL THE SHIP SUBSIDY.
Republican, Quietly Arranging q
Pass the ubiquitous Measure
1T Next session.

No great strain is put upon po,u'
Jar credulity in accepting the state.
ment from an authorized republican
source that arrangements are being
quietly made to pass the ship subsidy
inquiry at the next session of congress
The prime and most active advocates
OF the measure have never thought OF
abandoning their original purpose and
are now quietly making an effort un-
der the most approved methods to ac-
quire h necessary support in con
gress. This Is to be had on acceptable
terms, provided the people can be rec
onciled to this further drain upon their
resources. and it is largely with the
local molders Of public sentiment with
in the republican party that the plu-
~tocratic lobbyists are laboring. They
are not footing fanfares from noisy
horns. firing canno or beating tom
toms, but employing the quiet methods
ofthe literary bureau.
What they seem 10 handle as their
knockdown argument amounts. when
analysed, TO a point blank assertion
sH"h - ia tAnul win ludht IL dD-
solutely imperative that the merchant
marine be placedin control Of our car
rying trade, through the bounty of the
government. The answer to this dog
matte assertion Is that the canal, even
when built, will have little to do with
the expansion of our sales in foreign
markets, for they only take such sur
plus of our production as they must
have, and would take no more if the
American fleet were Jaeger than all
the rest combined. But if il be granted
that the isthmian waterway is goingt to
make a greater call upon our
and means of transportation, that fact
will in itself make sea-going vessel
property remunerative and invite cor
porate capital without reference to
government aid. The fact is that the
canal is a remote contingency when
considered in connection with present
conditions, and can only be used in this
connection for purposes that are I'M
justified and misleading.
The purchase of a large English
transportation line by the syndicate
which J. Pierpont Morgan represents
made without any reference to
the canal. Yet we have no doubt that
II a new subsidy bill be introduced next
term it will make liberal provision for
this same fleet. But that ii is in itself
q paying venture is evident beyond dis
pute in the fact that the shrewd pro-
moter went after it and paid as per
more than the shares showed Il
TO be worth in the judgment gifts Eng
lish owners. Another fact that should
tend TO set the popular mind against
the proposed subsidies is the fact that
the movement to capture the people
is under the personal direction Of
Griscom, Of the Interna-
tional Navigation company, the man
who had modestly and adr oiiiy man.
aged to feather his own nest, inside
and out. by the provisions Of the bill
defeated by the last congress.
1t will be recalled that the smooth
Mr.. Griscom had so arranged his hop
as to catch all but the bran and
middlings of the subsidy grist. He had
way the best of all the proposed legis-
retroactive, present and future.
by connivance or an intuition
that can discount miracles, he had all
inside information and had his inter
ests in a position to rake down the
of the subsidies. He had no rival
rs the prince Of grabbers. He dictated
the bill. He enlisted its powerful and
wealthy supporters. he formed the re-
ports of committees and inspired the
speeches of the subsidy champions on
the floor. Yet he had the humility Of
Iriah Heap when interviewed for pub
nc information. knowledge of what
has brought about in the alienation
of national statesmen from their al
Iegiance to the people. and Of the mo-
that actuated him, should dis
'redit him and his movement to re-
i've the subsidy scbeme.-Detroit Free