The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-06
MAY SPEED sH|P
|. SUBSIDY MEASURE
PROBABILITY is. HOWEVER. THE
BILL witt NOT BE PASSED, +.
FoRSsEvERAL MONTHS. 49,, ).
NOT URSEp WITH ENTHUSIASM
Widely NasSina opln idnss Of ~ tA1iso'
! Gates sntN opponents-Attitpdefs Of
the Wsstshd Middle West Is Rather
BY EDWARD B.acLARK&

of the house committee on merchant
:. 94arine and fisheries and of the senate
!. commerce committee have told Presi-
dent Harding that an attempt will be
made to put twin propellors on the ship
subsidy bill in order that it may be
speeded on its way through congress.
Such promises as these have been
heard before in. Washington, and it
perhaps is fairly safe wager that the
subsidy measure will not break speed
limits on its attempted voyage through
a legislative ocean beset with rocks
and sand bars. ~
: This does not mean that a subsidy
will, not be voted. 1t seems to be con-
coded generally by legislators of both
parties that the American merchant
marine cannot be made successful I'M
less q government subsidy shall be
granted, but the opponents Of the
measure say q. weak merchant marine,
or no merchant marine at all, will be
better than one supported by public
funds. f., ~ ..* $50. - -.
It is true that there is not much pulls
ing enthusiasm today among the men,
bers of the majority in house and SEN
ate over subsidy legislation, but never
theless, the belief seems to be that
such a measure will pass some time be-
fore the present congress goes to its
death on March fourth of next year.
: = Widely Varying Opinion.
Not long ago Chairman Lasker Of
the shipping board made report to
| the administration, and on the basis Of
1t the subsidy bill was framed and in,
troduced into congress. It has been
called variously by its proponents and
it's opponents a measure. ITO rehabili-
tate the American marine" ito make
prosperous the shipping, the agricul-
tural, and the manufacturing interests
of the United States, "an ocean-gOing
pork barrel, bill" and legislative at
tempt Ito rob the American people"
These characterizations Of the meas
ure will give instantly an idea Of the
conflicting viewpoints. : - = +
Not long ago some Republican lead
ers in congress declared they had eyis
dence that the West and Middle Nv est
were not only becoming reconciled to
the thought of ship subsidy legislation,
but were becoming favorable to it. 1t
was in the agricultural districts that
the promoters Of the measure feared
they would meet { opposition which
would manifest itself, in antagonism to
the legislation by the representatives
of these districts. Later there seemed
to besa change Of mind in: some parts of
Tehe country about the bill, and today
the Republican majority believes that
it can get sufficient support for this
only the most cheerful members think
that the law will be written on the
statute books before the summer
Wanes. @% 80 - "a 50 n
An official Of an agricultural organi-
zation recently has told the joint house
and senate committee which has been
holding hearings on the measure that
the farmers of the country are op-
posed to it. Some Of the friends Of the
bill say this official does not represent
the majority agricultural opinion. OF
course this remains. to be proved and,
as things are now, there must be
clearing up Of the situation before" the
majority in congress will attempt to
speed the measure on its passage.
People Would Pay, Of Course.
: course, if a subsidy bill is voted,
the people must pay money to secure
the end sought, that of making not
only "a self-supporting but a profit
earning American merchant; marine.
Taxation will be increased unquestion-
ably, but the argument is that the null
duplication Of markets for American
goods and the consequent increase in
American manufacturing and agricnl-:
turalE activities will more than pay for
the additional taxes. This cheerful way
Of looking at it is called by the. op-:
ponents of the measure "a smile over
misunderstanding Of facts"
The best thing for man who wants
submitted to the President BY the ship
>ping board and then to read the. re-
ports of the hearings which the j1int
committee Of the two houses of CON
gress has been holding. Both sides Of
the controversy then can be learned in
detail and if a maH kas sbinefhing Of!
the judicial in his makeup he probably
can determine which side he thinks Is
right SEf1 va a5tssTi
In the bill which is before congress-
there.is provision that shippers of.
goods which are to be carried under
the american flag are to be allowed in
come tax deductions equal to 5 per
cent of the freights on the merchan-
disc which is SO shipped. The oppo-
nents of the measure say that this
looks good, but, as one rather bitter.
antagonist of the legislation. has said,
is merely getting money from Peter
to pay bill to Paul.
Fight On for Congress Seats.
Progress is being made in the plans
of the Democratic and Republican
campaign committees for vigorous
work in the coming fight for seats in
congress. .;.-Sss7.5sxs 49,, .- .-s....e- 81
Republicans say it is certain that