The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-01-28
AGAIN THE SHIP SUBSIDY.
Something That the People Will
Soon Express Their
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. Unde 1t the
government would be compelled to pay
q "~subvention" of IS 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 II 900 n
so they would get sos 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 Qnd.) 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 "suDVen-
ton" need only have one-siXth OF their
crews American. One of the great arsu-
ments for the subsidy is that our snip
owners cannot afford to pay the h1gh
wages demanded by Americans. This
very report deals with the handicap
upon American shipping created by sub
sides and bountiCs bestowed upon most
of the merchant fleets Of foreign gov
ernments,' and reference is made TO
1.-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, it is urged that
We shall pay ship owners SIS 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 eserv or militia
by any means unObjectiOrable. h 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 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 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 Il ports in for
eign trade.
AS has been said there is no discrim-
ination in regard to thesize or character
of the vessels or as to their speed. The
largest subsidy would go to the biggest
ships which carry ne freight. Nor is
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" in
foreign trade or deep-sea fishing for
II months. The subsidy is then graded
down to 81, and $3.50, for ships so en-
SdSCu lOG nine, OF SlA HOulIS. ms la
as we can see the bill is objectionable
from every point of view. ItdOes not re-
peal the law under which mail subsidies
are now paid; though it provides that
ships receiving the new subsidy shall
carry the United States mails free OF
charge "if the postmaster general shall
so require" But it is suggested that he
would be a brave postmaster general
who would stand up against the COM
bined shipping interests of salt water
ports and refrain from paying them the
ordinary mail rates in addition to the
subsidy under this act"
Some day-we hope-the American
people will have a merchant marine. II
they ever get it it will be by repeating
the silly taxes now imposed on material
going into ships, wiping out our foolish
restrictions, allowing III people to buy
ships where they please and sail them
under the American flag. AS for this
bill, we think that the political party
that consents to father it will hear from
the people in a way that it will rot like.