The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-01-12
THE FATE OF THE PRO-
POSED SHIP SUBSIDY BILL

Washington, Jan 12.-Although
so-ne of the republican leaders real
ize that the Humphrey ship subsidy
bill is almost as offensive to tae peo-
pie as was the Payle-Aldrich tariff
bill before its passage. h measure
which will open the pork barrel to
private shipowners is to be jammed
through Congress regardless of coase-
quences.
The railroads, the tariff trusts and
all the other special interests that are
represented In Congress nave added
their O.. X. to suf sidy legislation.
With President Taft SIN every
source OF leverage II his command to
secure votes for the measure. the on
ly hope for its defeat lies in a coali-
ton of democrats and insurgents.
When it is considered that a ship
subsidy is popularity viewed as class
legislation of the most vicious kind,
and tia il mas been turned down by
-uch representative commercial or
CARNATIONS as the New York Chamber
of Commerce as both un-Anerican
and impractical in theory, it would
seem that in fcTcing such a law upon
the people republican leaders are
absor ely Indifferent whether the
.4ext House is lost to the party now in
power or not. Either that, or else
hope for republican success in the
approaching Congressional elections
has been abandoned, and the Aldrich
Cannon gang are out for all the
pork that is to be had in the com
parative short time which remains be-
fore their forced retirement to private
life.
What is the real significance of the
desperate attempt of the republicans
to pass a ship subsidy bill at this
time? From what viewpoint will the
average citizen be likely to view tae
situation?
The plan now is to pass a ship sub
sidy bill within the next few days. II
this is done, it will mean that the
first important legislation to pass at
this session was a measure that will
benefit only a few already rich men.
1t will mean that Congress deliberate
ly turned it's back upon legislation
desired by the people to first serve
The special interests. And a. if to
max more evident their contempt for
public sentiment. the republican lead
ers ave given the country to under
stand that while a ship subsidy bill is
to be passed, no attention is to be paid
at this session to postal banks or
statehood for New Mexico and Arizo-
ma, which, it will be recalled, were
promised In the Republican national
platform in as clear-cut English as
could possibly have been employed.
Political blindness is the only ex-
preston I can think of to describe
the action of the republican leaders
I'm persisting In their plan to pass q
ship subsidy bin at this tim, !" said
Rep. Henry T.. Rainey of Illinois, one
of h best posted men in the House
m shipping and navigation laws
The leaders In charge or the majori
ty side of the House are simply drunk
VITA power. They need a little more
rope and the Job win be complete.
IF this ship subsidy bill Is passed"
said Mr.. Rainey, where will the So. |
500 900 hat Is to be paid annually &c
the ship owners, come from? The
sunsidfsts answer: Why, il is not
planned to tax money from the pub
&c treasury. It Is planned to use h
profit of the foreign mail branch of
approximately s5.0oo.000 annually"
This is not answer to the question,
however The postofice department
Ii running at . loss of $4,000. 900; |
that was the deficit last year. III yop |
take the s5.000.000 of profit derived
from the foreign mail service to give
10 ship ownefss IL Will simply mean
the deficit win BE- ncreaae by that
amount. Any school boy can see that
Now h We give 80. q. to these