The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-03-13
THE SUBSIDY BILL.
Correspondence to The Commonwealth.


MARCH 10TH, 1902.
On Wednesday and Thursday of last
week, Senator Alexander S. Clay, OF
Georgia, presented in an able and COM
prehensive manner the democratic at
titude toward the ship subsidy bill, but
Ire length OF his speech precludes the
possibility OF giving even an epitome
ever, Senator Clay consented to make
the following brief statement for your
readers
"My opposition to the measure, In
which I am supported by the entire
democratic minory of the Committee
On Commerce, is based on the fact that
it Will increase the expense of trars-
porting the foreign mails from $780,
600 to upwards OF 100000 without
securing to the government any ade-
uuate return. I desire to see the mail
service OF the United States as perfect
as that OF any country in the world,
but this bill does not provide for the
establishment Of single new route,
| nor ;or the construction of a single
new ship. By the provisions of the
! bill this greatly increased sum will be
paid to the owners of ships already in
com mission and sailing over routes
now established.
!. off there is need Of increased facili
! les fer transporting the mails why
has rot the Postmaster General been
called before the Committee as an ex-
pe,t witness, to Indicate in what direc-
ton the Increased funds may be best
expended?
| ''As to the simple subsidy provision
OF the bill, there is no necessity for
srch legislation. Our shipping trade
is constantly Increasing. We retain,
by statute, all OF the coastwise trade
for our vessels and as, in the past, that
bas been the most profitable, it has alb
sarbed every increase in American
Shipping, but there are now ample
vessels engaged in it and the attention
Of American ship owners is naturally
turning to the foreign trade. Our
ship yards have orders exceeding their
utmost capacity. Our vast mineral
resources, our improved methods oil
production and the superior productly.
ity Of the American labozer and artisan
combined more than counterbalance
any difference there may exist between
American and fereign wages, and with
out this unnecessary and extravagant
legislation the American shipping in
dustry VIII, in the near future, lead
the world III its field as do American
industries ia other Ines.
"There Is one important point, how
ever, which should not be lost sight
Of. The most serious detriment with
which the American ship owner has
to contend is the fact that our tariff
duties rob him OF so large share of
the profits on the cargoes which he
must necessarily carry on his return
trips from foreign waters. II our re-
publican friends honestly desire to
benefit American ship owEers, let
them revise the tariff and SO modify
Or remove this serious obstacle. The
|
both directions without let or him
dranee by tariff duties and his profits
are eminent,y satisfactory. Taking a
lesson from this, the majority can ma
erlaliy aid our foreign commerce and
simultaneously benefit American con-
somer5 without the expenditure OF
one penny of the funds IN TIE United
Sta'es 1'resrry."
| Senator Clay was followed On Friday
! by senator Hanna, who, with a sledge
hammer style OF oratory, reiterated all
tbe republican sophis.riea in regard to
prote elton and claimed that because in
the past It had hean the policy OF the
government to build up Dollhouse in.
dustrles there must be 40 deviation
from that policy. The debate on this
E''l! will continue until the l7th inst,
when vote vii! he taken. Senator
Vest Will address the Senate on the
subject soon, it his health will permit.
HOW TO CURE THE GRIF