Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-24
SUBSIDY BILL
FAvORS TRUSTS
CANN0N'S CHANGE OF FRONT
IS SURPRISE
New Measure Providing for "MalI'
Lines ls Only Of Advantage to
capltaIists-smaIl Ship own
ers Frozen Out

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-One trem-
bles to think what will happen to
Speaker Cannon for his change of
front on the question of ship subsidy.
For several years his strong hand has
held up the shipping bill and it's oppo-
nents sounded his praises to the skies.
Ihls rock shall fly from it's firm base
as soon as L. or words to that effect,
Inen at the psychological moment,
Presto, change" and uot pops a new
Dill from the house committee and the
same night Speaker Cannon addresses
the foreign commerce committee and
says the time has come to try the ex-
pertinent OF rebuilding our merchant
marine by means of subsidiesl Now.
what are those who have been insist
ing that the speaker would never let a
SUBSIDY bill go through going to say
and do about it?
Ihose who were in touch with the
situation have all along expected the
committee would report a bill and
nave been jeered at. Events have
proved they knew more than they
were credited with knowing. The bill
as reported will be very unsatisfactory
10 many friends of ship subsidy. Sim
inered down to the point that 1t pro-
|
the disguise of mail lines, it will doubt
less accomplish much in expanding our
trade. But to those who favored cargo
subsidies, with the idea Of causing
competition and resulting in lower for
e1gn rates, the new bill will be q grave
disappointment.
Inc middle west representatives
nave opposed the Gallinger bill, which
made liberal provisions for cargo car
rinrq with q vic 90
ers OF that section to reach new mar
kets. Now they are asked to support a
Dill which is devoted exclusively to es-
tablishing regular lines and which is
not nearly so beneficial as the CALM
ger Dill, as far as carrying cargoes is
concerned.
Another point that will not be over
looked is that the Gallinger bill would
have cost the government, according to
careful estimates, only 81, 625, ,625 year,
While 1t would have established ten
lines and assisted the tramp" steam
ers and sailing vessels. 1t is estimated
that 1t would have created a fleet of
100000 to 100000 tons of steel mail
steamships and 100000 tons Of cargo
vessels. The Littauer bill will cost
$3,5OO000 yearly, and the most optim-
istic of it's friends do not claim it will
create more than thirty-one new
steamships.
1t will be further pointed out that it
provides subsidies for regular lines only
so that, once established, the subsi-
dized line will have an effective
| monopoly, for its would-be competitors
would have to contend with natural
conditions and against a government
subsidy. The tramp" steamer compe-
tit1on will be practically eliminated, as
they will receive no subsidy. There is
n dnItht 1xyo MI ,.,,1I H.
taken of the opportunity to secure
these subsidies if the Littauer bill be-
comes law, but the subsidies will
go to combinations Of capitalists, for
1t will require much money to build,
equip and operate any Of the proposed
lines. The comparatively small capt.
talists who foresaw an opportunity to
build and operate tramp" or cargo
steamers under the Gallinger bill.
limited to one or two vessels looking
for cargoes and prepared to cut rates,
are eliminated by the new measure.
frankly speaking. to one who is ia
miliar with the subject, the only ad-
vantage of the Littauer bill over the
Gallinger bill appears to rest In the
fact that it is more likely to pass the
house than the other. 1t is at least a
step in the right direction.
Unique Way to Send Money
Probably the most unique way of
sending money through the mails that
has yet been devised was that adopted
by Lieutenant Colonel David Kingman
of Savannah, Ga. Colonel Kingman
wanted document from the office of
the superintendent of public accounts
and glued two-cent stamp on one
side of a silver dollar, while on the
other side he pasted a slip bearing
the address and stating what he want
ed. The dollar came through all right,
but this method of sending money is
not recommended by the department.
1t Is especially undesirable to send $1O,-
900 bills in this manner.
Struggle for Committee Seats
1t is a foregone conclusion that there
will be a struggle for places on the
ways and means committee next year.
Five Republicans on that committee
will retire-Representat Babcock of
Wisconsin, McCleary of Minnesota and
Grosvenor of Ohio, because their con-
stftuencies decided to leave them at
home; Representatives Curtis Of Kan
sas and Smith of Michigan, because
they have been promoted to the senate.
AS there is possibility that the ques-
tion of tariff revision will be taken up
in the next congress these places will
be much sought after.
Much Cruelty in Capital
According to the report of President
G. A. Snow of the local humane So
ciety 1897 persons were arrested in
Washington city last year for cruelty
to animals, OF whom 1912 were convict
ed. Not a very good record for the
capital city. During the year the So
ciety examined 2S,78S animals and ad-
justed 26,S01 cases without prosecuting
the owners.
STOPS CAR WITH HIS HEAD