Evening journal., 1916-01-06
THURsDAY JAN. 6. IeIe
SHIP PURCHASE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN SUB.
SIDY.

SIDi.
n BPUBLIcANs in Congress this winter will be re-
N lenuess in exposing the weakness and the disas
ter which have characterized Democratic adminstra-
tion of national anairs-but they will not content
themselves with a Programme of negation.
Against every Democratic proposal for the raising of
revenue for defense for any other purpose OF ma
tional scope and interest. the Republicans will pre-
sont their wereasoned plans for legislation. 80
that tho issues upon which the parties will enter
the campaign Of 1916 may be clearly defined. That
Deiawares representatives in tho National legislature
will do their full duty in that behalf goes without
saying.
some Of these Republican proposals will have to
await tho completion -nf the Democratic programme
for the session others, however. already .pre-
pared-among them the measure which Senator Cal
neor OF New Hampshire Republican floor leader in
the upper branch, viii offer as substitute for the
wison-McAdoo secalistic scheme of government
owned shippng. II is a clear-cut and explicit pro-
posal which the Republicans make in the Gallingor
bill. Under It's provisions both cargo ships-"tramp'
vessels plying and thoreand mail passenger and
fast freight liners regular routes would receive
national encouragement subsidy at the rate OF one
cent per gross registered for every hundred miles
trayersed tho outward in foreign trade is Of
fered cargo craft OF type AZ for approval by the
Secretary OF tho Navy transports fuel shins, ann
munition ships supply ships, etc. on condition that
thcy held az the disposal Of the government in time
of need our present navy IN a huouen war Noulu
quire hundreds of auxiliary ships beyond the present
resources OF our mercantile marine and an enlarged
navy would require many The value Of these
merchant vessels would be increased by Senator CAL
nngers provision that they must carry certain num-
Der OF American boys to be trained in seamanshp or
engineering Thus the shipowners in return for the
compensation intended to place them fair equality
n wage costs with their foreign competitors would be
rendering specific service to the entire nation apart
from and beyond the delivery Of American goods TO
overseas purchasers.
AS 20 regular mail lines Senator Gallinger takes a
strong and timely step in making special provision
Tor increased compensation not to exceed dollars
mile outward to .American-built steamships of the
highest speed on the great trade routes to Europe
This proposal is substantially the equivalent OF the
British subsidy 20 the Cunard line, which produced
the Mauretania and lustania. If the plan were car
ried into effect it would ave the United States the
swiftest and most valuable steamships on the North
Atlantic. Moreover special provision is made in the
Galinger bill for an object for which the Republican
senators have long contended-regular American
Steamship services TO the further countries OF South
America and TO the Orient.
The nations Of the world expendng in steam
ship subsidies s5OOO0OOO year, OF which the British
proportion is about SlOO0OOOO The United States pays
to American ships under contract for carrying the
mails a little than S100000O and receives 1t al
back and more in ocean postage. Japan expends So
100000 or S6O00OOO and even Canada about $4,000
Oe0 The cost Of the Gallinger bill would be perhaps
s5O00OOO with Pacific and Atlantic lines established
MIR McAdoos plan calls for anywhere from thirt!
10 fifty millions of initial expense. with neyer-end
ing annual demand 10 pay the losses inevitable from
government control If Republican contentious il
other regards are as we'll fortified this one is th
party can look forward to all approaching debates II
Congress with no anxiety.