Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-27
WHAT THE HouNrY BILL DOES.

with all the amendments which the ad-
vocates OF the ship subsidy bill accepted
in the senate in order to enhance the
prospects OF that measure its principle re-
mains vicious and the objections TO it are
quite strong enough to require its rejec-
ton by the house.
A synopsis OF the main provisions OF
the measure will show how richly it de-
serves the death which we hope awaits IT
in that body.
The bin carries triple subsidy scheme.
It provides first a subsidy for carrying
the mails.
Contracts for this bounty vary. run If
teen years and cannot be altered by sub
sequent legislation.
Bids for this mail service Is to be con-
fined TO American built ships. among
which there is so little competition that a
pool TO force the government to pay ex-
orbitant prices is practically certain.
The exaction OF the highest rate of
compensation permitted by the bill may
be expected. The provision in the bill for
competition amounts to very little.
The frauduIency OF the scheme in this
particularly Is indicated sufficiently by the
fact that pay for mail carrying does not
depend upon the quantity or weight
carried. but mainly upon the ton
mage OF the ship and the number of miles
travelled, the faster ships to get higher
rate than the slower ones.
They viii all draw heavily from the
treasury whether they carry much mail
matter or little.
This section Of the bill was manifestly
framed with the design of bountying ship
owners rather than the Improvement Of
our mail service.
The second subsidy provided by the
bill is a general one. 1t is a bare-faced
bounty 70 be paid out of the taxes upon
all the people OF this country.
AS Dogberry would say this is 'the
cream OF the correspondence" The
amount Of this subsidy depends upon the
tonnage Of the ship and the length Of her
voyages. Additional pay will be received
by ships hereafter built.
The third class of bounties given
by the bill will be received by ships
engaged in deep sea fisheries and
provides for part payment of the
wages OF the crew. Ships of this
character may lie idle three-fourths OF
the time and stil hold good their titles to
Subsidies LEoul AuG government 1MClE
owners are 10 receive fine gratuity from
the government for attending to their
own private business.
The main plea for this whole ship sub
sidy scheme is that the high price OF
American labor and the consequent great
er cost of ship-buiiding in this country
make IL impossible for American shipping
to thrive without this artificial aid.
But there Is no assurance that American
labor will get the full benefit OF this burd-
en- upon the American taxpayer to be laid
in his name.
It Is probable that he will receive COM
paratively a small part Of 1t.
IL is an admitted fact that the great
majority OF the men In crews OF American
ships are not citizens OF this country.
On the ships that will receive the small
er bounties 1t is required that not more
than one-fourth Of the crew shall be Am
orleans. The proportion Is to be gradu-
ally increased. but at the end OF five years
no more than one-half Of the crew need
be Americans.
The price OF labor where first only one
fourth, and finally no more than one-half,
Of those employed need be American cit
eigner, and II the scale Of wages should
remain high the foreigner would have as
good. or better. chance to get the bene-
1T as viii the American.
The real intent OF the supporters Of the
bill was revealed by their rejection of
number OF amendments. One by Senator
Allison requiring that a ship should have
a cargo equal to 80 per cent Of its carry
ing capacity was voted down,
The carrying trade was. thus subordin-,
ated TO consideration Of profits to the
ship-owners. An amendment that pro-
posed to apply the antitrust law to sub
sidized ships was also rejected and the
supporters OF the bill actually rejected
an amendment 10 exclude Chinese from
the crews Of such ships.
It is cheap labor and not well-paid la
Dor that they are after.
An amendment limiting the expenditure
under the bill to $4,000 was first accept
ed and then knocked OUT
The $s.VO0.OOO year limit applies only
to mail subsidies.
A provision that foreign-built ships shall
not be admitted to the benefits Of the sub
sidy is a deIus.on and a snare. as no for
eign-built ship can now be admitted to
American registry without a special act
OF congress, and any such ship can be
admitted hereafter by act Of congress just
as II must be now.
There Is a very hopeful prospect that
this preposterous measure may be defeat
ed IN the house.