The Hartford republican., 1915-02-12
VARDAMAN ON
SHIPPING BILL
Voices Democratic 0pposi-
tion on Good Grounds.
Believes 1t The Most Indefensible
Form Of Subsidy Yet
Proposed.

| believe IL is the most indefensible
form of subsidy yet proposed. 1t is
one of those peculiarly dishonest
measures which will keep the word
of promise to the ear and break il to
the hope 1t is violative of every
! tradition and platform declaration of
the Democratic party. The scheme,
as interpreted by the President, is a
mistake in policy, wrong in morals
pernicious in principle. and. there
fore, will be disappointing in its ulti-
mate results
of the Government ownership and
operation of steamboat and railroad
lines is TO become a permanent pol
icy, there might be some little ex-
excuse of justification for this meas
ure: but when we are told by the
President that it is only tempor-
. airy makeshift who will ques-
tion the authority of the President
to speak in this matter?-it leaves il
without excuse or justification. In
his address to Congress on the Sth
of December last the President said:
II should take action To make it GER
tain that transportation at reasona-
bic rates will be promptly provided.
even when the carriage is not at first
profitable; and then, when the car
ha rinfa
able to attract and engage private
capital. and engage it in abund-
anCe the Government ought to with
draw"
1T is peculiar character of mind
which reasons to conclusion and
justiies the appropriation and ex-
penditure of funds contributed by all
the people to an enterprise of this
character. which it is admitted must
be a losing and Improbable invest
ment from the start. Congress has
just as much right to donate funds
from the public treasury to the cot
ton growers of the South. who, be
cause OF the war in Europe have lost
by the depreciation OF the product of
their farms something like $780,
100000 this year. Congress has just
as much authority to subsidize the
cane growers of Louisiana, the beet
growers of the Northwest, and the
manufacturers OF the Northwest as it
has to appropriate money to buy
ships 10 carry the manufacturers
products to foreign markets at the
cost of all the taxpayers The cotton
growers OF the South proposed to
give the government unquestioned
security for the loan of $3.50. 0.000,-
600 of credit in order to save them
selves a loss of $500. .OOO. 900, but the
Congress, headed by the President. |
turned deaf ear to their appeal
III their demand was without mer-
ii or wrong in principle, who will say
this measure is right? | am opposed |
to this bill because it is class legisla- |
ton. pernicious in its conception.
and necessarily unjust in its exc
cution.
1T will be remembered that the /
bill provides for ships to engage in
the foreign trade exclusively. The
cast-iron, rock-ribbed, Government
favored coastwise monopoly is treat
ed as a sacred thing-too sacred TO
be touched. The government-owned
boats are to be more pioneers OF busi-
ness millionaires, las 1t were. Regard
less of the expense, they are expected
to go to the waste places and work
up the business individuals. who are
to reap the profits of a business
which has been built up at the ex-
pense of all the people. The whole
scheme.to my mind involves an un-
illegal, and immoral
prodigality of money coined by the
sweat and blood of the masses of
this country and extorted from them
by an unjust and immoral laws.
1T is a dangerous departure an
upon our time-honored
system. violative of the spirit of our
and, l fear, the issue
will be trouble to the party that pro-
poses 1t and chagrin for the men who
il. am in favor OF an
American merchant marine. l shall
vote for such measures as may be
necessary to put our ships on the
lead level of opportunity with the
'hips of all other countries that come
nto our ports. II we shall. by law.
which we have a right to do. i'm
'rove the standard of living for the q
will at the same time ele- q
ate the standard of character and
manhood of the men who operate the
hips.
II am opposed to the hothouse
OF economics in govern