Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-14
STIMULATING THE MERCHANT
FLEET IS A NATIONAL DUTY
Mr.. Hardins's Ship Subsidy Bill 10 a
Wholly Unsuitable Cue for the Par.
tisan Opposition Now Brewing

= In the conduct Of American legislative
affairs. has long been richly productive Of
paradoxes. In few of the provinces Of con-
gressional action have such Inconsistencies
been more persistently piquant than with
respect to the vastly important topic Of
stimulation of the merchant marine
Protection is traditionally n word Of
Republican significance. It's frequent en-
ployment by the majority party is the con-
ventonal cue for equally conventional the
atrcs in the Democratic camp.
Probing beyond the veneer of phraseolog
it may readily be proved that Democratic
administrations have not refrained from
applying the principle Of Federal assistance
for multifarious fields of commerce and
industry. In the theatre of politics, how
ever, supcrahundant stress Is laid upon ex-
ternals and the gestures Of the chief actors
before the public footlights.
With these conditions in mind. it is. there
fore. both instructive and amusing to COM
pare Democratic opposition to the present
ship subsidy program with Democratic prac.
tice in the matter of ship protection.
If ever a system of Federal codding was
devised, It is conspicuously discernible in
the method of safeguarding the American
merchant marine inaugurated by the WILL
son Administration. The Shipping Board
and the machinery for allocat!ng to spe-
cially favored steamship lines fleets of pas
senger and cargo vessels are Democratic
creations.
Mr.. Wilson. it may be noted. did not
hesitate to espouse the cause of ship pro-
lection. The method under his regime was
perhaps theoretically attractive. In the
emergency of war it unquestionably pro-
duced results. which was all at that time
which claimed the public interest.
The accounting at the conclusion of hos
tilties presented another side of the picture.
The system Of fostering national flag COM
merce through the ministrations of the Ship
ping Board has been shown to be appalingly
costly. 1t has been cumbersome. compli-
Gated and, considering the possibilities of
the fine new fleet, actually stultifying to
commerce.
President Harding is keenly aroused to
the necessity of supp!anting this now dis
credited procedure with plan prepared
after comprehensive investigation by quail
fed experts. In advocating the Subsidy
Bill. which has been delayed for some
months in congressional committees, Mr..
Harding is not promulgating partisan but
national doctrine.
1t is fair to admit that the Wilson pro-
gram, prepared for the war crisis and it's
preludes. was similarly consequence of
broadly patriotic reflection. But it is ridic-
ulous for Democratic congressman and Sem
ators of 1922 to maintain that aid, direct
or indirect, to American shipping is ex-
Clusively a Republican darling.
Partisan mental processes. added TO rural
prejudices, are the inspiration for those
dilatory tactics of which the President so
canddly complains in his warning to
Chairman Campbell, OF the House Rules
Committee, that further procrastination will
mean the calling Of an extra session.
The Subsidy Bill is a measure Of intelli-
gent and efficient relief for a situation grown
intolerablc. 1t is essentially substitute
for another. if less obvious. species of sub
vention which has ceased to operate eff.
fectively.
The heart Of the plan is a graduated
system of financial aid involving an ex.
penditure in subsidies of some $34, 900, 900
yearly, most of which Is to be drawn from
10 per cent of customs receipts and re-
volving fund of 500. 1000. 200.
If these figures appear large, enlightening
reference may be made to Mr. Harding's
original plea for the bill, in which he as-
serted that the losses of the Shipping Board
at the beginning of the present Administra-
aI To hn .
S1G, 600, 900 a month or Sl92 ,OOO, 900 n year.
Clearly, some attempt at reform Is in order
1t Is not difficult to conceive that Dem
ocratic administration would be inclined to
seek some remedy for grotesque, insult.
able and shockingly expensive operation of
the American merchant fleet Possibly
criticism would then be Forthcoming from
Republicans of obstructionary temper Poli-
tics is replete with such specimens of false
logic.
The opposition Of the agricultural dis.
tricts to the present measure is In the main
unintelligent and short sighted rs It has
ever been when the health Of sea borne COM
merce was Legislative theme. The COM
bination striving to create a partisan issue
out of conditions unnt Tor such treatment
and the narrow -visioned isolationists is
powerful. But Mr.. Harding believes 1t can
be broken by an assertion of his party lead :
ership which he has been quick to make
1t is commonplace that the prosperity
of the merchant marine exerts fundamen-
tai effect on the prosperity Of the Nation as
a whole Mr.. Harding is mindful of the
good of the country In urging once again
the prompt passage Of the bill abolshing
the outmoded shipping Board, reviving the
principle of private ownership with ade-
auate, not excessive, protection stimulating
the opportunities of magnificent cargo and
passenger feet and providing an escape from
the dangerous treaty -wrecking provision OF
the Jones Shipping Act.
1t is not in the least surprising that Mr.
Harding is concentrating so much energy