Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-01-19
SHIP SUBSIDY ONCE MORE.
s~custning That the People Will
Soon Express Their
Opinion On.

Soon Express Ineir
Opinion On.
!. In many respects the new ship subsidy
bill prepared by the merchant marine
commission, is one of the worst bills
dealing with this subject that have ever
been before the country. Under 1t the
government would be compelled to pay
a 's%ubvention" of S. a gross ton to any
American vessel running to a foreign
port, no matter how short the voyage.
Nor would it make any difference as to
the character of the vessel. This bonus
would go to the great ocean greyhounds
which carry practically no freight.
These ships average about 1000 tons,
SO they would get s55 900 a year without
rendering any service to the government.
They are already paid for carrying the
mails. This money, therefore, says the
Indianapolis News CInd.) would be a
present to them. Little ships and 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 "subven-
tion," need only have one-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 IDEALS 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, tc
| lower wages" Yet there is nothing in
| this bill compelling ship owners to pay
higher wages; and under its provisions
they may employ crews fi~ve-sixths for
eigu. In other words, it is urged that
we shall pay ship owners S. a 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 a 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 to be paid an
annual retainer of from SIS to 500. No
/ officers and sailors engaged in the coast"
wise trade or in the lake trade could gel
into the naval militia. We shall doubt
less hear much of this naval reserve
scheme from those who are anxious tc
cover up the subsidy feature OF this
vicious bill. In addition to everything
else it is proposed to impose a tonnage
tax of from s cents to SLIGO on all vessels
entered in any port of the United States
from a foreign port, and to increase the
tonnage taxes on all vessels. American
or foreign, now entering our ports in for
eign trade.
As has been said there is no discrim'
nation in regard to the size or character
of the vessels or as to their speed. The
largest subsidy would go to the bigges'
ships which carry no freight. Nor j:
there any requirement as to the number
of trips to be made in a year, though
there is a provision that the largest sub
sidy shall be paid to ships engaged il
foreign trade or deep-sea fishing TO,
IL months. The subsidy is then graded
down to 81, and $3.50, for ships so en-
gagged for nine, or six months. AS ia
as we can see the bill is objectionabl
fcsfn every point Of view. 1tdoes not re
peal the law under which mail subsidie
are now paid; though it provides tina
ships receiving the new subsidy shall
carry the United States mails free 0
charge eff the postmaster general shal
SO require" But it is suggested that h
would be a brave postmaster genera
who would stand up against the com
bined shipping interests Of salt waite
ports and refrain from paying them tn
ordinary mail rates in addition to tn
subsidy under this act"
Some day-we hope-the America
people will have a merchant marine.
they ever get it it will be by repealin
the silly taxes now imposed on materis
going into ships, wiping out our FOOLS
restrictions, allowing our people to bu
ships where they please and sail thel
under the American flag. AS for th1
bill, we think that the political part
that consents to father it will hear frol
the people in a way that 1t will nj
like.