Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-30
DISCUSS SHIP SUBSIDY
PRIZE DEBATE BY GEORGETOWN
UNIVERSITY LAW STUDENTS.
Justices of United States Supreme
Court Decide Upon Merits
The Winners.

Three of the members of the supreme
Court of the United States, Justices Joseph
G. McKenna Edward u, White and Rufus
W. Peckham, have decided that it Is not
contrary to the best interests of this coun-
try for Congress to substitute the American
merchant marine The learned jurists were
careful, however. to announce that they
Were not passing upon the merits of the
question, but upon the merits of the argu-
ments advanced by contestants of the
debating society of the school of
law of Georgetown University in a
debate which occurred last evening at the
New National Theaters The question dis
cussed affirmed That it is contrary to the
best interests of this country for Congress
to substitute the American merchant ma
rine'
Mr.. Justice White announced the decision
of the board of judges to be in favor of the
negative, espOused by Frank j Hogan of
Georgia. Warren Earl Greene of Rhode Is
land and Walter F.. Albertsen of Illinois.
The affirma tive was handled by Henry V.
Kane Of Wisconsin. Albert r. Denu of
Wisconsin and Thomas ID. Flynn of Louis
lana Mr.. Greene, in the opinion of the
Judges. outclassed his colleagues and oppo-
nents as an individual debater. The prize
an order for law books of the value of 500
was the gift of the faculty.
The prize debate was one of the events of
the Georgetown school year. The theater
neld large audience. and it was an en-
thusldstic. one. The efforts of the several
speakers were loudly applauded. The IN
terror of the playhouse was beautifully
decorated for the occa sion. American flags
ana the college colors of blue and gray
Were used in pTOfusion. Each side of the
stage was banked with palms and other
ported p,nre plants while fragrant cut flowers
were everywhere displayed Mr. Justice
John NJ Harlan was to have served as one
tne JUDGES but indisposition made it
nrCeSsdTy Tor him to remain indoors last
evening Justice Mckenna consented to
serve in his place
Given Cordial Welcome.
After selections by an orchestra. the de.
baters. and Leonard Ericsson of Mime
sofa, the presiding officer. appeared tn
View on the stage. The party was accorded
cordial welcome. Mr. Ericsson made an
explanatory statement. setting forth the
manner in which the society had selected
ths deoaters He added request that the
Judges, In addition to deciding as tn the win
ming side. should name the best indiviG,,nl
deoattr of the evening. whether he be on
tne winning OF the losing team
WI name opened the debate for the at
nrmauve- He declared that the nation which
produces the cheapest material will produce
the cheapest ships. Our labor he sa ii is
- more intelligent than that of other nations
anu We nave more modern machinery The
productivity of American labor trebles that
OF Germany and doubles that of Great
brtdlh- We can therefore out build the
world Subsidy. declared the speaker is A
TAX 1t ultimately stiles a natural demand
Tor ships. and gains only a carrying capaci-
". In order T. retain this carrying ca-s
PdctS- the subsidy must be increased
Begins With a Query.
IF all you say is true why haven't we
the ships? began Mr. Hogan. the first
speaker for the negative. addressing Mr.
Kane He referred to the decadence in
Sbi hull.
that regard the United States is ranked by
England. France. Germany Spain and
Italy One German company alone ac-
cordlng to Mr. Hogan. has p per cent more
tonnage of steam shipping than the entire
similar tonnage under the American flag
We cannot run our ships more cheapIy than
foreign ships are run. the speaker declared
and he added. There is not government
IN the world today. except the United
states. that does not give financial support
10 It's merchant marine. Ought we nrs TO !
profit by the experience of others?"
Mr.. Denu, the second speaker for the af-
frmatIVe. made the assertion that if orr
lake ships are included the United States
possesses. next to Great Britain the great
est tonnage in the world. If American shin
ping is self-suStaining, the speaker wanted
10 KNOW why We should make it a subject
Tor charity The lavishing of public funds
on our merchant marine. he declared is
uncalIed for and unnecessary The pros
perity of the merchant marine in the oDin-
Ion OF Mr. Denu. depends on natural con-
that subsidy would increase shipping
In Humorous Vein
The remarks of Mr. Greene. the second
speaker for the negative, were largely in a
humorous vein. He asserted that no sub
sidy means the driving of Americans from
the sea and the death OF shipbuilding
ashore In the opinion of the speaker a
subsidy is not only beneficial to the, shin
owners out TO the nation well. as it re-
talnS capital within the nation. Primarily
SAID Mr. Greene, subsidies are builders of
trade.
Mr. Flynn. the last speaker for the afFir-
NATIVE. made the assertion that We are I'M
subsidized, in position to compete with
the nations Of the world. The granting of !
a subsidy he characterized as colossal fol-
~. The unsubsidized vessels of England
10 per cent of the whole number-do the
great carrying trade of the world the
speaker set forth. and. he maintained the
attempt to excuse an American subsidy by
ranted.
The concluding speaker for the negative
and of the debate. Mr.. Albertsen, contend
ed that subsidy is primarily a question of
iaDor. and would mean additional employ
ment for American labor on land and sea
our railroads and sugar interests are sub
sidized. he said. and the merchant marine
should not be Disseminated against
want to see an isthmian canal" re-
marked Mr.. Albertsen but / certainly
want to see some American ships pass
After short conference the Judges an
hounced their decision in favor of the neg
atiVe. and the prize debate for 1902 was a
thing Of the past.
Society Officers and Committees.
The officers of the society are: Leonard
Erikss0n. Minnesota. president; Richard p
Whiteley, District of Columbia, vice pres
ident; Edward ]. Lindberg. Arkansas sec
rotary; George T. DeslOge. Missouri treas
urer: Richard Curtin, District of Columbia
sergea nt-at-arms.
intercollegiate debate committee COM
prlses: John z. Grace. South Carolina
chairman; j. Fl. Campbell, South Carolina;
Charles j. Gates. Arkansas
Inc following served last evening as a
reception committee: George b. Pitts Dis
trfct OF Columbia, chairman; Thomas H.
Tatum, South Carolina Francis J. Kill
kenny. Illinois; Jno. A Whelan. District
Of Columbia. Richard Lee Edwards. Texas:
Frank Vera, jr-. Massachusetts: Carl B
Rix. Wisconsin,; George NJ Brady Mary
I'd n Enrd niAr