The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-01-10
SHIP PURCHASE
More Expensive Than Subsidy-Re.
publicans win Expose Demo.
cratic FaIlacy.

Washington, ID. C.-Republcans in
Congress this winter will be relentless
In exposing the weakness and the dis
aster which have characterized Dem
ocratic administration of national af-
fairs-but they will not content them
selves with a program of mere mega
ton. Against every Democratic pro-
posal for the raising of revenue, for
defense or for any other purpose of
national scope and interest, the Re-
publicans will present their own well
grounded plans for legislation, so that
the issues may be clearly Defined
Some of these Republican proposals
will have to await the completion of
the Democratic program for the SEES.
sion. Others, however, are already
prepared-among them the measure
which Senator Gallinger of New
Hampshire, Republican floor leader i'm
the upper branch, will offer as a sub
stitute for the Wilson-McAdoo social
istic scheme of AFOREMENTIONED
shipping. 1t is clear cut and expli-
cit proposal which the Republicans
make in the Galllnger bill Under it's
provisions both cargo ships tramp"
vessels plying here and there-and
mail, passenger and fast freight liners
on regular routes will receive nation
al encouragement A subsidy at the
rate of cent per gross. registered ton
for every hundred miles trayersed on
the outward voyage in foreign trade is
offered to cargo craft of type fit for
approval by the Secretary Of the Navy
as transports, fuel ships, ammunition
ships. supply ships, etc, on condition
that they be held at the disposal of
the government in time of need. Our
present navy in a sudden war would
require hundreds of auxiliary ships
beyond the present resources of our
mercantile marine and an enlarged
navy would need many more. The
value of these merchant vessels would
be increased by Senator Gallingers
provision that they must carry a GER
tain number of American boys to be
trained in seamanship or engineering.
Thus the shipowners in return for the
compensation intended to place them
on fair equality in wage costs with
their foreign competitors. would be
rendering specific service to the en-
tire nation, apart from and beyond the
delivery of American goods to over
seas purchasers.
AS to regular mail lines, Senator
Gallinger takes strong and timely
step in making special provision for
increased compensation not to exceed
$40 mile outward to American-buiIt
steamships of the highest speed on
the great trade routes to Europe. This
proposal is substantially the eouiva-
lent of the British subsidy to the Gu
nard line, which produced the Mau.
retania and the Lusitania. If the plan
were carried into effect it would give
the United States the swiftest and
most valuable steamships on the North
Atlantic. Moreover, special provision
is made in the Gallinger bill for an
object for which the Republican sena-
tors have long eontended-regular
American steamship services to the
further countries of South America
and to the orient.
The nations of the world are now
expanding in steamship subsidies $780,
100000 year, of which the British
proportion is about $1OOOO,OOO. The
United States pays to American ships
under contract for carrying the mails
little more than 81 100000 and re-
ceiyes 1t all back and more in ocean
postage. Japan extends $1,000 900 or
100000, and even Canada about So
100000. The cost of the Gallinger bill
would be perhaps 100000 with Pa
cifc and Atlantic lines established.
Mr.. McAdoo's plan calls for any
where from thirty to fifty millions of
initial expense. with a never-ending
annual demand to pay the losses inev-
liable from government control If
Republican contentious in other re-
CARDS are as we'll fortified as this one
is, the party can look forward TO all
approaching debates in Congress with
no anxiety.