The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-22
SHIP SUBSIDY MAY DIE"

| DILL SOBSlD4 MIA DIE,
| II rs announced as from President
Taft that he will be content with four
principal measures if Congress will
pass them al tho present session These
arc the bills TO amend the interstate
commerce laws; TO regulate the issu-
hncc of inIuuctions; TO give Statehood
TO Arizona and New Mexico; and to
validate the withdrawal of public lands
for conservation purposes, These four
seem To be rather moderate demands.
We arc surprised that the postal sav-
ings proposition is not included, but
1t is understood that President Taft
has been mcasurcably converted to-
wards Senator Spooner's idea that un-
less this measure can be put upon tho
Constitutional foundation Of the right
of Congress to borrow money. the enact
ment Of any measure establishing such
banks, would he invalid Another meas
urc which President Taft was supposed
TO be anxious about was the ship sub.
sidy bill, but it is announced in the
dispatches that "Ship subsidy lceisla-
tlon is unpopular in so many sections
Of the country that some members are
distinctly relieved at the prospect that
the Humphrey bill reported from the
House Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries. may not be taken up
at this session.
1t is curious indeed to see the ease
with which effective obstruction can
be put in the way of the restoration of
the American merchant marine. Great
Britain and Germany lead the world in
merchant ships, They also lead the
world in the subsidies for such ships,
and the aid in building, cqupping and
running merchant ships of the first
class. France has fallen behiud the
United States is practically obliterated,
save in the lake and coastwise trade.
The reason is that the United States
refuses to subsidizc ITS marine in any
form. American sailors must be better
paid and better fed than the sailors of
other nations; and as long as the other
nations have that advantage, and the
further advantage OF subsidies from
lh'il SVN II Is HbDCltsS W
expect TO restore the American shipping
to the seas.
All parties profess 10 wish the res.
toration of the American merchant ma
rluc, but whenever any plan is pro-
posed for that restoration. it is easy
enough to kill that plan of, Those who
arc loudest IN their protestations that
they want the American merchant ma
rine restored to the seas arc the fercest
in opposing any plan that is offered for
that restoration There is. TO be sure.
a large element in the Republican party
in favor of the direct subsidy. There
is Il large element in the Democratic
party that claims to be in favor of the
restoration of the American merchant
marine, but wants the restoration TO
,ome through discrimination in imports;
that Is, to a certain extent, the duties
on imported goods that come in Ameri
:an bottoms are TO be scaled down. This
IS simply a rounda bout and awkward
method of subsidy. 1t is costly
method also, and amounts TO the same
hing in the end as direct subsidy.
The latter form is the easiest, the least
,ostly, the most direct and effective,
means Of building up our merchant ma
inc All the shipping nations of the
world have tried various other methods.
md the most successful have resorted
% the direct subsidy, The discrim
mating duty proposition would. besides
,eing costly and less effective. involve
is in all sorts of difficulties with other
cations under our tariff laws and our
treaties. Knowing this. ii
$ difficult to credit with sincerity
hose who oppose direct subsidy, and
who favor discriminating duties.
The upshot Of the whole matter is
hat the American merchant marine has |
been banished from the seas for many
ears It is practically unknown, save
is above noted. and with the sort Of
:avilipg opposition to any practical
means for its restoration, it is likely |
o be absent from the seas for an in
lefnitc number Of years to come.