The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-02-06
SHIP SUBSIDY SCHEME.
Certain Proof That the Whole
Thing Is Jobbery.
SENATOR fRYEs LITTLE JOKER.

A Trick 60 slip Foreign BuiIt ships
Across the Bar-It In Impossible TO
Honestly LeEisiate Money Out of
the Treasury Into Private Pockets.
Senator Frye's revised and amended
ship subsidy scheme still fails to con-
vince those best informed regarding
the interests of American commerce
that 1t is intended In good faith to en-
courage American shipbuilding, says
the New York Times
The committee of the Merchants as
sociation of this city appointed to con-
slider the matter has called the atten-
ton of the senator to clause In his
bill under which foreign built ships
bought, as entire lines have been
bought very recently and as it is re-
ported still more extensive lines are
about to be bought could be admitted
to the subsidy plan supposed to be for
the benefit solely of American built
ships. This clause occurs in section 6,
title 2, of the bill as reported. 1t re.
lates to the general subsidy" as dis
tinguished from the mail subsidy. This
subsidy is l cent per gross registered
ton for each 100 nautical miles sailed
on each of not more than sixteen en-
tries per year. Under the section re-
ferred to this would be paid to 1.-THE
owner or owners of any vessel OF the
United States duly registered by citl-
zen or citizens of the United States Tin
Guiding as such citizens any corpora
tion created under the laws of the
United States or of any Of the states
thereof)." 1t is urged by the commit
tee of the Merchants association that
this language would include all foreign
built ships purchased by American cit
liens and corporations as soon as they
were admitted to register, which could
be done by a simple act of congress.
with or without conditions.
The objection is, from the point of
view Of the association. valid and
strong one. The association Is not OPP
posed to subsidies that will promote
American shipbuilding, but it is utterly
opposed to giving subsidies at any time
and ON any terms to ships built abroad.
1t asks, and very properly, that the
pending bill shall be changed so as TO
make this impossible without direct
legislation by congress on the granting
of the subsidy. The answer Of the ad-
vocates of the bill is that under the law
as it stands foreign built ships cannot
obtain an American register and there
fore cannot obtain the subsidy. But 1t
is not denied that they could get the
subsidy il they were by act of congress
admitted to American register and that
they could not get 1t at all If the sub
sidy were In terms confined to Ameri-
can built ships. If Mr.. Frye wishes the
subsidies to go to American built ships
alone, it is the easiest thing in the
world to say so in the bill. II he wishes
a wide opening in his bill by which
subsidies can be made easier for for
eign built ships. he has provided it. II
he refuses to close the opening, he
must be content with the differences
that will be drawn as to his motives.
He cannot afford to be too naughty in
the matter because II is too well
known that his bill Of last year did di-
rectly provide for subsidies to foreign
built vessels and was so violently and
justly opposed that he has been forced
to abandon that part of his plan.
For ourselves, we are entirely op-
posed to subsidies either for carrying
the mail or for encouraging shipbuild
ing. 1t is practically impossible to leg
islate money out of the treasury into
the pockets of private individuals hon
estly and fairly. The attempt has al
ways involved jobbery and always
will, and the history of our politics
contains no backer or more disgusting
chapters than those recountng the
true story of such iobbery. This very
clause is case in point.
A committee of disinterested mer-
chants points out to congress the exist
ence of possible and probable job in
this subsidy bill, and apparently it has
its labor for its pains. The whole
business is going on in an atmosphere
which either beclouds the brains of
legislators who would prefer to be hon.
est or stimulates the greed and craft
Of those who have no desire in that
direction. 1t is a miserable state of
things, and 1t would be better for the
good name of the American people and
} of their servants In congress II it could
be done away with entirely.
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