West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-22
SUBSIDY LEGISLATION.
Again TO Be Brought to the
Front In Congress.
FUNDS FURNISHED BY THE TRUSTS

FUNDS FURNISHED BY THE TRUSTS
Republican Congregational Commit
tee Favorable 60 sub-idtes-organ-
fsed Lobby In wnshington 10 Urge
steni-No Reform OF rru.ss or Tar
ia Thi. session.
The ship subsidy bill that passed the
senate at the last session OF congress
and has since been held up 10y the
house committee on merchant marine
is TO be pushed through at this session
at least so the New York Commercial.
good Republican authority. informs
Its readers. The Republicans did not
care TO add to their burdens by the pas
sage OF this bin just before the con-
grcssional elections: but. having sue.
ceeded In securing majority OF the
next congress. they consider that the
ship subshis steal. the tariff subsidy
steal and the numerous other enact.
ments. present and prospective. that
are TO benefit the few at the expense OF
the many have all been indorscd by the
people.
A majority OF the voters OF the con-
gresslonai districts Of course did not
think when they voted for Republican
candidates that their action would be
considered an Endorsement OF the shlp
subsidy steal. but II is interpreted by
the Republican leaders to mean that.
The same argument is being used by
the trust organs and most OF the Re
publican congressman that have ex.
pressed the opinion that the people vot.
cd TO "let well enough alone" The
leaders have determined that no legis-
latlon against the coal trust, the beef
trust or the steel trust shall be enacted
into law.
To stop public clamor the house OF
representatives may pass n bill for
tarlff commission and for publicity OF
| trust transactions, but the senate VIII
not have time 10 pass upon these is-
sues. But the ship subsidy bill cannot
thus be postponed without defeating II
entirely, for the next congress has
much smaller Republican majority than
the present one. and there Is great
doubt II the bill would pass the senate
II It should again be considered there.
The only hope Of the subsidy schemers
Is 20 push the ship subsidy bill 10 vote
at this session.
There Is another and more potent
cause for pushing this bin at this time
than It's apparent Endorsement by the
voters, and this is hinted at In the New
York Commercial OF Dec. when Il
says:
"It IL asserted. moreover. that the
managers OF the Republican congress
! sional committee have come back from
their recent campaign feeling very
I friendly 10 the subsidy idea and that
/ this win be n new and potent influence
operative In states where the subsidy
has heretofore been weak"
This inslnuation. translated into
plain language. means that the power.
/ full corporations that are to be bene-
1 fitted by the passage OF the subsidy
bills and the defeat OF tariff reform leg
| islatlon paid an unmentioned sum to
the Republican congressional commit
| tee. This corporation fund was TO be
used TO purchase enough votes I'm the
] doubtful states and congressional dis
i tricts 10 re-elect the candidates who
would return the favor by voting for
the ship subsidy steal In particular and
| against tariff reform in general That
this subsidy to the Republican con-
I gressional committee was a large one
! is certain or the managers would not
/ impose such an impoiitic task ON Re
1 publican congressman as TO compel
/ them TO vote for these very unpopular
measures. How much money will be
used by the steamship trust TO induce
congressman to vote for the bill can
be imagined by the large sums already
/ spent on the elections. The short ses-
sion OF congress has generally been.
when the Republicans have been In
! power. prolific OF scandals. This ses-
I sion viii. from the present outlook, ex-
4 ceed former ones I'm the magnitude OF
I the subsidies granted to corporations
and the large disbursements to con-
I gressmen TO bring II about.
The steamship trust has an organized
lobby In Washington headed by Clement
/ a. Griscom. vice president OF the Penn
/ sylvania railroad and president OF one
OF the largest steamship companies in.
Guided In the new trust. Some OF the
railroads. especially the Pennsylvania.
are part owners Of the steamship trust,
and their money and influence win
doubtless be used In the same dIrec-
: tiOn
The Repuslican voters who indorsed
I this carnival OF corrupt legislation
have only themselves to blame for the
subsidies that may be voted and the
continued extOrtion OF the coal trust
and Of the numerous trusts that are
selling their products to foreigners
cheaper than 60 Americans The evl-
dcnce Is overwhelming that The present
Republican congress and It's SUCCESSOR
that has Just been elected sre controlled
by the trusts and corporations. and no
relief can be expected from them. This
situation VIII gradually dawn an the
minds Of the Independent voters and
viii force them to side with the Demo
Gratis in 1904 with n reform Demo
cratic president and n reform congress
tc back him. corruption and extortion
viii be banished from the seat OF na-
tional government and an era Of hon
est politics will result.
Touches the Peopas.