The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-01-20
AGAIN THE SHIP SUBSIDY.
Something That the People Will
Soon Express Their
Opinion On.


ln many respects thenew shipsubsidy
+ Bin prepared by the merchant marine
commission. Is one Of the worst bills
dealing with this subject that have ever
been before the country Under it tao
government would be compelled to Isy
a subyention" Of s. a gross ton TO al y
American vessel running 70 a foreign
port, 10 matter how short the vc5 -ge.
Nor would it make any difference Us to
the character OF the vessel This tonus
would 90 TO the great ocean grey hounds
which carry practically no freight.
These ships average about 1900 tons.
SO they would get $4,000 a year itlout
rendering any service 70 the government.
They are already paid for carrying the
mails This money. therefore says the
Indianapolis News Gnd) would be a
present TO them Little ships ind big
ones alike, whether they carry any
freight or not, are expected to be taken
care OF.
Another interesting feature is the pro-
vision that ships, TO get the "subyen-
ton, need only have e-sixth of their
crews American One Of the great argu-
ments for the subsidy is that our ship
owners cannot afford to pay the high
wages demanded by Americans. This
very report deals with the handicap
upon American shipping created by sub
sides and bounties bestowed upon most
OF the merchant fleets Of foreign gov
ernments,' and reference is made to
the lower cost Of foreign ships and the
lower cost of maintenance of these
ships due in both cases, primarily TO
lower wages. Yet there is nothing In
this bill compelling ship owners TO pay
higher wages and under its provisions
they may employ crews five-sixths for
eigu. In other words, il is urged that
we shall pay ship owners s. year a ton
in order that they may pay high wages
and then permit them to hire cheap for
eign labor to sail their ships.
Nor is the provision looking to the es-
Enlistment Of naval reserve or militia
by any means unobjectionable The plan
is TO enroll officers and men engaged in
foreign trade or employed on deep-sea
fishing boats. these men 70 be paid an
annual retainer of from SIS 10 Slo0 No
officers and sailors engaged il the coast
WISE TRACE or in the lake trade could get
into the naval militia We shall doubt
less hear much of this naval reserve
scheme from those who are anxious to
cover up the subsidy feature Of this
vicious bill IN addition 10 every thing
else il Is proposed 90 impose a tonnage
tax OF from cents TO SLIGO on all vessels (
entered IN any port of the United States
from foreign port, and To increase the /
tonnage taxes on all vessels. American /
or foreign. now entering cur ports IL for (
sen trade
As has been said there is no discrim- \
.natiou In reeard 10 the size or character 4
II the vessels or as TO their speed The
areest subsidy would go to the biggest 4
ships which carry no freight Nor is .
there any requirement as to the number
IF trips to be made in year though
here is a provision that the largest sub
idy shall be paid TO ships engaged" in
oreign trade or deep-sea fishing for
= months The subsidy is then graded
own TO 81. and $3.50, for ships so en-
tagged for nine or six months. AS far
IS we can see the bill is Objectionable
rom every point Of view. IL does not re-
zeal the law under which mail subsidies
re now paid, though it provides that
hips receiving the new subsidy shall
AIRY the United States mails free OF
barge IF the postmaster general shall
o require But it Is suggested that he
ould be a brave postmaster general
who would stand up against the com
med shipping interests Of salt water
orts and refrain from paying them the
rcinary mail rates in addition to the
lbsidy under this act"
Some day-we hope-the American
eople will have merchant marine. II
hey ever get it il viii be by repeating
be silly taxes now imposed on material
ding into ships. wiping out our foolish
allowing our people 70 buy ]
lips where they please and sail them
nder the American flag As for this
III. we think that the political party I
lat consents 70 father IL will hear from
e people in a way that will not like