The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-10

in limited way, to the principle of subsdizing
the merchant marine, it will be comparatively easy
to enlarge the operations of that principle once it
has been put into practice.
The fact is, however, that the dominant sent4
ment of the American people is distinctly and
definitely opposed to the whole ship subsidy pro-
ect, which they regard as only thinly yelled
scheme 70 employ public funds for the advance
ment of private enterprises They are suffering too
erevously under the exactions and extortions rem
dered possible by the present high protective tariff
to be willing to assume the additional burdens
involved in giving protection to the shipping in
terests of the country in the form of unearned
donations from the public treasury
The i'll temper and shallowness of argument
win which advocates of the ship subsidy bill meet
every declaration against the measure are signif-
sanity revealed III a recent statement made by
Senator Gallinger.
chairman Burton of the house committee on
rivers and harbors some days ago announced that
lie would tight the subsidy bill to finish. where
upon Senator Gallinger retorted with this threat
am TREND OF river and harbor legislation
Dut 1t is well that Mr. Burton should understand
that IT he arrays himself against the shippnp hill
he VIII hnd there some men in public life who
VIII carefully scrutinize the measure he nronoses 20
champion, as there is no logical reason ,yhv we
shoud continue to spend hundreds of millions of
dollars on our rivers and harbors largely for the
oeneht of foreign shipping interests and refuse TO
appropriate dollar for the rehabilitation Of tbe
American merchant marine"
his is the height of absurditv and Senator
uailnger ought to be we'll aware of the fact Tho
"unuleds OF millions the nation spends for river
9nu haroor improvements are not largely for the
oeheht OF foreign shipping" as he declares but
eineny Tor the benefit of our domestic commerce
winch is vastly greater in volume and infinitely
more essential to the prosperity of the country than
the foreign traffic of which the senator Is co
solicitous %
Would he penalize our enormous CONSTITUTES
shippng interests by denying them necessary river
ana harbor improvements because Mr.. Burto, and
other congressman of sound Judgment oo,oee The
giving OF public funds for the promotion of ,r,to
business enterprises?
And what does that threat 70 '.scrrt;,;zo o,ro
tully the river and harbor appropriation b; mean
Does Senator Gallinger wish it understood th,. i
Is the custom to include in that measure either
unwarranted or unnecessary appropriations
Would he have the American peope believe
= % o' 'he practice OF senators and representatives
III congress TO carefully scrutinize" measures nro
Vldlng Tor the expenditure of millions of the neo-
pie money, except when they are melted to sucb
scrutiny by opposition to some of their own net
measures? -
IL senator Gallinger's insinuation is based on
TACT 1t points to an amazing disregard of imperative
public duty. If it isn't he has unwarranted,,,
raised suspicion as to the manner in which his
colleagues are i'll the habit of dischargng their
public duties