The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-22
Ship Subsidies Again.

+ There are evidences Of neWis5ife in
the ship subsidy agitation, a1id there
is no doubt that in some form or other
it will again be brought to the atten-
ton of congress. American shipbuild-
ers and owners are contendinge for it
on the ground that they must have
it or perish SO far as the foreign ship
ping trade is concerned A move
ment has also been started to enlist
the support Of working men. The
Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and
Iron Shipbuilders of America have me-
morialized the president in favor Of
national assistance to the American
marine engaged in the foreign trade.
They argue that if American foreign
commerce were carried in American
ships, there would be work for 100000
instead of $4,000 men in the shipyards
and employment on ships for 100000
men instead of $4,000. The brother
hood asserts that unless congress acts
favorably there will be a falling off
ployed in shipyards, with a reduction
in wages for those who are retained.
The Journal has consistently
opposed direct subsidies for the pur-
pose of encouraging American ship
ping, but it is possible that changing
national assistance to our merchant
marine, distasteful as the word sub
sidy has become to our people. The
situation has not yet developed to such
a point that it can be asserted that a
subsidy policy would now be a wise
one, but it can do no harm to speak
of the changes the situation has under
gone. ..-. -
So. The purchase of a large portion Of
the British mercantile marine by the
international Mercantile Marine assoc
citation, controlled by American capt.
tai, has led the British government to
plunge into a generous subsidy poll
cy. The Cunard company has re-
ceived from the British government a
subsidy that will amount to $780,
900 in twenty years. The International
association has been tied up with a
twenty years contract of such a ma
ture that even the American govern
ment could not buy one of its vessels
without the consent of the British
government. This makes it inpossi-
fleet for twenty years, even if con-
gress would permit him to do SO. -
Thus, while vessels owned by Amer
leans cannot be used by the United
States in case of war, the British por-
ton of the Morgan fleet cannot in any
way benefit from American subsidies
In view of the fact that it costs more
to build and operate American ships
it seems to be tolerably certain that
there is no hope for a, great expan-
sion of our Ocean-going merchant ma
rine, when,. in addition to these nat
ural handcaps we are confronted by
Immense British subsidies. The ques.
/ ton to be decided is whether we de-
l.sire a merchant marine or not.unde1
1.-THE conditions that are imposed. Il
begins to look as if we cannot have
one without national assistance. But
perhaps the game is not worth the
candle of saddling the nation with
another infant Industry Besides we
have got to give the rest of the world
a chance to earn a living. Our pro.
tective tariff has shut outs foreign
goods to large extent but we have
kept only per cent of our, foreign
carrying business for ourselves. Il
now we take that business away from
the foreigner, his purchasing powe,
in the American market will be re-
duced. What will be- the use Of a big
merchant marine with no freight to
carry? Still American pride would
like to see a goodly share of American
trade in American ships. =. -. go {.