The Holly chieftain., 1910-02-18


der way before Representative Humph
rey demanded that the bill should be
reported without hearing. Mr.
Humphrey understands that no shir
subsidy bill has ever been able to
Withstand the light of intelligent dis
cussion. Mr.. Humphrey accused those
who oppose the bill Of favoring for
eign ships.
| Mr.. Dougherty, an attorney oppos-
Ing the bill replied, Il do not believe
you are In earnest in your desire to
close the door against foreign ships.
II you are sincere, why not accept
the amendment se propose stating
specifically that foreign ships admit
ted to American register shall not
share In any subsidy from this gov
ernment."
Mr.. Humphreys reply was. I'll not
have you telling me what shall do"
Committee Forced to Act.
He then proceeded to force the com
mittee to act, against the vociferous
protests of some of the members. 1t
was reported out by vote OF 10 to z,
Representatives Wilson and Sweezy.
Republicans, voting with the Demo-
Gratis against reporting the bill. 1t
was reported to the house February
3. the same day it was set for hear
ing In the committee.
This demonstrates how lily con-
sidered legislation may be forced to
the calendar of the house under the
Cannon organization. II that same
piece Of legislation could have back
of 1t the lash of the party caucus 1t.
with approximately the same consid.
Grafton on the floor of the house,
could be passed on to the tender mer-
cies of the senate organization.
One innocent clause is calculated
to arouse the patriotism of the un-
thinking, but the real purpose Is to
serve John Pierpont Morgan and his
International Mercantile Marine COM
pany. This provision. which appears
for the first time in the history of our
subsidy legislation, would permit
steamers owned by American citizens
which fly foreign flag to come under
the American flag. There is quail
f1cation that the steamers must be Of
steel and of $500 tons burden or more.
The J. Pierpont Morgan steamship
lines are the White Star line. the At
lantic Transport line. the Leyland
line and the Red Star line. Morgan
has under his control 125 big steamers
running into American ports. These
fly the British flag and come within
the description Of steamers that may
be adopted under the terms of the
Humphrey bill.
Mr.. Morgan is doing well with his
steamship combine. In the year 1907
the net earnings Of the combine, aft
er paying all operating and general
expenses, exceeded 100000, and the
statement for that year shows that
surplus, after all charges, Of $780,
900 was piled up. Some of the Pro-
gressiyes are asking the somewhat
pertinent question why 1t is necessary
to pay subsidy to lines capable Of
doing SO handsomely by their owners.
OF course Mr.. Morgan desires more
money for his ships. He wants it
even at the expense of every consum-
er in the United States. In its last
analysis the ship subsidy is tax up
on the people of the country granting
1t. But while he is out after the
money which may come by way of the
payment of subsidies, there is bigger
game in view. The full import of the
clause, to which little attention has
been given, is only revealed by a
study of the marine laws of other
countries.
Britain's Strict Maritime Law.
In 1905 the maritime law of Great
Britain was changed SO as to provide
by statute a scale of provisions for
the feeding Of the men who sail under
the flag of that government. The
new law also increased the forecastle
space from 70 to 120 cubic feet. per
man. This is matter of great impor.
tance when 1t is considered that many
of these vessels carry crews which
range from 100 to 400 persons. The
better the men are fed the more 1t
costs to operate ship. The more
space there is used in the forecastle
the less room there is for cargo. and
the earning capacity is consequently
decreased. The maritime law OF
Great Britain provides for standard
of individual efficiency in the men
employed.
All of these restrictions and re.
quirements mean that the expense OF
operating vessels sailing under the
British flag is greater than like ex.