The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-05-04

every respect, including the adoption
Of some form Of American valuation
Friends of the soldiers bonus bill
appear to be optimistic, and they as
sert that they have polled the senate
and find that a large majority of the
members are in favor of passing the
bill at this session. There has been
considerable talk about opposition
from the taxpayers Of the country, but
this has not materialized in an urge
to senators to oppose the bill. Cham
berS OF m throughout the
country are being importuned by the
opposition to the bonus to get busy.
self about proposals for the levy of a
special tax or taxes to raise revenue
to pay the bonus. The house left this
important feature of the problem for
the senate to work out; and as in SO
many previous instances the upper
body is anxious to produce completed
legislation out Of the ~hodge-podge that
has been sent over to it. But so far
the senate is in the same fix as was
the house, because it has not been
able to evolve a plan for raising the
money. The senate does not regard
the sales tax with any mor favor
tnan that scheme obtained in the
house. And the house wouldn't
touch it with a 10-foot pole" The
former service men, who are following
the situation, declare that there are
not more than Is votes in the senate
against the bonus measure, and they
say that if the bill comes to a vote
they will win.
Ten or a dozen years ago the coun-
try was up in arms because an attempt
vas being made to get a ship subsidy
law through congress. The spoilers"
or the robbers of our natural re-
sources" were regarded as petty graft
ers in comparison with those who pro
posed a ship subsidy. But listen to
what Chairman LaSker of the ship
ping board has to say about this ques-
ton now. THE Republican central
west has joined with the Democratic
south in distaste and revulsion against
substituting our shipping" he admits,
but times have changed" making it
imperative that members of congress
Of parties join in the support of the
ship subsidy plan. From statements
of the shipping board it appears that
of the LAP steel ships which the
Government owns only 421 are used
to keep trade routes open. The other
ships are idle, and we are old that
in the Hudson and other rivers that
there are 'acres and acres of them
looking more like derelicts than pO-
tential cargo carriers" The govern
ment is losing more than $50, 000, 900
a year by trying to provide the coun-
try with a merchant marine, and there
isn't any question but what we ARE
making a mess Of it." Mr.. Lasker
seeks to explain: The purpose Of
government operation, as defined by
law, was to build up trade routes III
order that the government ships might
thus be sold with established good
will to private owners" But with the
deficit running so heavily. and with
an ever increasing volume OF criticism
against government operation, Mr..
Lasker has induced President Hard
ing's administration to get behind him
in urging the speedy %unioadiGg Of our
ship holdings. In order that this may
be accomplished it is proposed to sub
sidize American shipping. Lasker
thinks this must be done quickly,
otherwise 1.-The fleet shall be operated
by the government until it is worn out,
and thus assure the elimination OF
the American flag from world com
merce."
President Harding has let it be
known that he proposes to negotiate
a treaty with Great Britain in behalf
of Canada to bring the Great Lakes
st. Lawrence waterways project to
Irritation. The president has made
it plain that he intends to press the
inland waterways plan.