Evening journal., 1915-02-09

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. SIN
an able speech in the Senate, Senator
Henry A. dupont, of Delaware, today
attacked the shipping bill as par
tisan measure which had been so
hastily drawn as to threaten the peace
of the United States.
"The development of our merchant
marine" said Senator DUPONT las
we'll as the extension of temporary
relief to our foreign commerce, in
wolves economical and international
questions of far-reachng importance
which ought not to have been treated
in purely partisan spirit, as in the
bill before us. nor should they have
been used as a means to increase the
influence of the President and TO pro-
mote the political fortunes OF the
Democratic party. We are told by our
friends on the other side of the cham
ber that they have the votes TO pass
the bill and that they intend to get a
vote"
For more than two hours Senator
DUPONT argued against the ship pur-
chase bill, sharply criticizing Presi-
dent Wilson for the inconsistency in
his attitude toward a merchant mar
inc and referring to the Presidents
speech in Indianapolis where he de-
scribed the ship purchase bill as a
temporary measure of relief
"lt is not material said Senator
DUPONT. whether the professed OBJ
ject of the bill is permanently TO de
velop our merchant marine or TO de-
wise some temporary means for thf
export of our commodities during Tho
continuance of the present Eurcpear
conflict The bill now under consid
aration, whether supposed TO brini
about either or both of the objects
lust named. embodies an entirely nov
el plan. involving an investment o
some S4O.0OO.0OO of the public funds
a large part of which will be none,
thrown away. In brief the who'll
question has been treated as a Demo
cratic asset, and a strongly partlsa
measure has been presented, so hast
fly and so badly drawn that its iram
.rs have found it necessary to oife
irsf one and then another substitut
Cor their original bill. which actor
il is to be regretted has not eliminai
cd the radical and Objectionable feat
ures of npon which ] have alread
animadverted
$50 far as the proceedings or paria
mentary bodies are concerned. II ha
been an axiom heretofore, that a
legislation is the result of comprc
mise. but this time-honOred epitome {
past experience seems now TO oe 81
rcrseded by the formula that all legi'
lation is the result of dictation M
duty, as I see it, is TO offer all pos
sible resistance to such dictation.
"The whole scheme is OF very douD
full constitutionality absolutely VIC
Gus in its economic principles, highl
dangerous as a precedent for .futul
legislation. and fraught with inhnr
peril to the maintenance of our peac
full relations with other countries.
IS proposed that the Government
self should go into the shipping bus
ness. not directly, but by the artih'
Of subscribing to the stock OF a co
pcration which Congress is to crea
for that purpose, this corporation
be managed by a shipping board Co
sisting in part of members of u
Cabinet who are to purchase or bui
ships and operate a vast transport
tion business on the basis of mode
ate charges
"As it is admitted, even by the adv
Gates of the bill. that the business
The proposed corporation will be co
Quoted at a loss, at least at first,
is evident that the minority stoc
holders. if any. will be confined
those who would be willing to lo
their money in the enterprise,
political. or even sentimental, rC
sons. When we consider that
cost of ship building in America
from 25 to so per cent. higher tn
iu other countries. and that it CO..
about 1900 more a year to oper;
n ship Of 5000 tons under the Anne
can flag than under the British I'll
Il is plain to be seen that no @
would think of subscribing TO
stock of the proposed corporation
The basis OF a remunerative inve
ment. Further. the pending bill
in plain disregard of the spirit,
not of the letter, of the natiol
Democratic platform of 1912. siI
the money which will be lost by r
son OF the moderate charges
otherwise. in the operation of
vessels controlled by the Shipp
Board, will come out of the pull