The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-30
TO MULcT THE TREASURY.
Evidence That the Ship Subsidy
Scheme Is Yet 20 Be Reck-
oned With.

II would be a mistake 10 assume that
all but universal hostility TO every prop
osition that has yet been made 10 re-
store the American flag 10 the sea has
had Us basis in onmity 10 the idea that
the ocean traffic OF this country al
least should be carried IN American
ships. There is no doubt say the De-
troit Free Press. that the people OF the
country would have a sentimental pride
in the knowledge that In maritime af-
fairs the position held by the United
States was as great as in the CONNER
cial and Industrial world There is no
doubt that the presentation OF satisfac-
tory evidence that some government as
sistancs was necessary 10 start the work
Of UNFOLDING our merchant marine
would be followed by the approval OF the
public provided tie methods suggested
were free from faint Of fraud and mad
equately designed TO meet the end de-
sired as near as such end could be at
tanned without the teachings Of an abso-
Lutte experiment although there is
very considerable mum Ter of people who
object 10 governmental paternalism ID
any form. But there has as yet been no
opportunity whatever to consider the
matter on its merits
So far in the proceedings every plan
has been scheme and every scheme
has shown such palpable evidence that
il was conceived with the idea Of graft.
that raid on the treasury" was the
purpose rather than the upbuilding OF
our merchant marine. and that it has
carried its own condemnation with H.
The first measure introduced. OF which
Senator Frye Of Maine. was the putative
father and Senator Hanna one Of the
sponsors. was so phrased that the direct
beneficiaries would have been the trans
atlantic lines, which are not in need Of a
subsidy at all. There was no apparent
intention on the part Of the promoters
OF the affair to make the substituting
general, there was nothing whatever &c
indicate an intention TO foster steam
ship companies that might undertake
the establishment Of lines 70 ports that
now enjoy no direct connection with any
OF our chief Atlantic or Pacific ports.
The vigorous objection 10 end denun-
citation OF the measure as a graft pure
and simple was effective 10 accomplish
the abandonment OF the original method.
Thereupon the promoters resorted TO
artitice and the maritime commission
was appointed for tie ostensible pur-
pose OF gathering informatiOn-fo the
real purpose Of devisins a plan Of at
tanning the same end by more indirect
means.
In the Lewiston Journal which is sup
posed to De a newspaper in close touch
and sympathy with Senator Frye. there
recently appeared an editorial lamenta-
ton. not on the failure Of the congress
to devise some sensible and honest plan
Of upbuilding the merchant marine. but
on the failure Of The original graft meas
ure to pass. There was a wall because
the transatlantic mails are carried in fast
British ships. that The subsidies paid by
other countries for5id competition for
the business by the unsubsidized con-
Germs in this one-in fact a general rep
tAAA40A VI Aut 04A at AlAtANN AAAl Mtit
advanced when the Frye bill was under
consideration. That was one side of the
case and the side that was doomed to
failure
The other side is presented in a news
paragraph TO the effect that the demo-
Gratis III congress have decided to fight
the subsidy as nothing more than
scheme 70 mulct the treasury for the
benefit Of few big transportation COM
panies That is what 1t is. and the
matter will never win without justi-
fed and vigorous opposition and ii will
be as earnestly opposed ii a law IS
framed according TO the wishes Of the
grafters II the proponents of the meas
ure would first absolve themselves Of
suspicion and then present plan that
would be honestly honest In its purpose
TO accomplish something that is desir-
able. the projec, would be viewed with
more patience and would meet less
heartfelt OnpOsitiOn