New-York tribune., 1922-12-02
Subsidy Bill as
Passed Pleases
Ship Men Here
Denial Made " srk of Foes
In House Rendered II
Unacceptable; Hostile
Ap,endmenisWe ere Beaten
Measure a Distinct Gain
Believed Probable Present
Congress Will Evolve a
Definite Mems of Aid


Assertions that the snip subsidy
slli was - enaaseulstet in the process
2 amending Il TO meet the views OF a
asjority Of the House Of Representa-
ives that Il was rendered worthless
nd Of little interest 20 American ship
wners we're cmphatieally denied yes
erday In a statement issued By Win
IRON L. Marvin, vice-l resident and
eueral manager Of the American
teamship Owners' Association, IN be-
III Of that organization.
on the contrary, Mr.. Marvin pointed
u. the amendments TO the biz offered
its opponents specifically TO nullify
were defeated and no features Of
aior importance eliminated. with the
,ception Of the section proviuing an
come tax rebate OF per cent Of the
eight money paid 70 American yes
Expect Bill 20 Pass This Term
1rt'm.sn was expressed by the rep
ssntative of the American owners
.dy over the prospects Of a favorable
...como for subsidy legislation before
present Congress goes out q ex-
cnce. A general shipping subsidy
has pased the House for the hrst
....e. he added. and this In itself is q
'inct gain to the cause of national
20 shipping.
Though several changes were made
ne shipping bill during its eonsid-
lion by the House. il Is significant
t.. most Of the amendments offered
The oposition were heavily defeated
witness the motion 20 strike out
o. ct subsidies, which was rejected,
g. 10 1872" said Mr.. Marvin.
t6re will be regret over the elimina-
tiol Of the section providing a rebate,
fon income taxes Of shippers, Of 8
per cent Of the freight money paid 10
American vessels. This was an inn
postant feature Of the bill, very much
DR. aded abroad. Elimination Of Il is
q great advantage TO foreign inter
eE. But American steamship com
oanics have II in their power 70 make
10 FOR this 10 a large extent by closer
cooperation with American shippers OF
merchandise, who have shown q strong
inc nation to favor the American flag.
"it would be unjust and discrimina-
Tor 10 deny the compensation pro-
vidci for freighters to the ships owned
5y the Standard Oil, the United States
steel and other industrial corporations.
Howover. ships Of these great fleets
will receive compensation for service
rem .sed 70 American producers IN
zen sral-and this service in the course
u The years Is a eonsi@erable one
'lt IS not surprising" he continued,
"tna, the House insisted on the power
20 make annual appropriations from
.ac nerchant marine fund, as was the
1ract ce under the ocean mail subsidy
law n 1891. Under this law for TWEEN
.y-oas years the postal subsidies have
been regularly PAID. The American
Congress has never rcpudiated a con-
tract.
VIII Benefit Nations Shipping
lose foes Of American shipping
fegis.ation who describe the bill as
hsying been rendered worthless by the
Houss amendments apparently have
rot read the measure In its present
Fo-fi. As a matter OF fact. the bill
stilI offers substantial advantage 70
the American merchant marine. The
conrensation or subsidy provisions
FOR both mail liners and cargo ships
remain intact, as do the valuable pro-
visions allowing q proper rate Of de-
Drec.ati aud rebates from income
taxes for the encouragement OF native
lhip5uilding. Most important OF all,
.he section giving 10 American ships
One.half Of the immigrant trafiic to
this country remains unaltcred, having
been sustained by q very great major
~ of the House OF Representatives..
It's advantaRe 10 our North Atlantic
lines would be incalculable. Before the
great war the European steamship
companies annually allotted 70 them
selves Fixed proportions Of our immi-
grants, and did this without any obJec-
10. either froll our own or from their
own governments. Thus the foreign
expectation that the immigration
clause may be annulied by commercial
treaties is shown 70 be wholly base
less. Ii cannot be seriously pretended
that the United States government has
no right 70 do what foreign interests
have been doing for many years, en-
tireiy unhindered.
".ever kafore the present time has
II been possible TO pass a general ship
ping subsidy bin through the national
House Of Representatives. This pres
ent success marks a distinct gain in
Savcr Of national aid 10 shipping among
the American people Moreover, most
Of The minority Representatives who
voted against the shipping bill were, on
their own declaration, opposed not 70
the principle Of national aid but 20 tho
special expedient Of subsidy. They do
not intend that foreign corporations
shall continue 10 dominate the over
sea carrying trade % the United
States. Under these conditions Il looks
probable that = definite form Of ma
tionai assistance that will tend power
fully 20 keep the fag Of this country
on the high seas may be worked out
before March next by the present Con-