New-York tribune., 1922-07-30

RESIDENT HARDING, before a Joint
session of the two houses Of Congress,
Il on February % last, delivered mes
sage on the American merchant ma
,4ns and advocated ship-subsidy legislation.
Nm the same day subsidy bills, identical in
rat,re. were introduced In the Senate and
House.
Thus was started a campaign for direct and
indirect aid to American. shipping, the ship
subsidy measure being more comprehensive
than any Of the former aids extended to our
the government to get out of the shipping
business by selling its wartime fleet of mer-
chantrnen to private owners for operation I'M
der the American fag--said owners to receive
the benefits of the proposed subsidy, without
which It Is claimed they never would be able
10 meet foreign competition.
Patriotism, Among Other Things,
Comes into the Question
Circumstances, including the railroad and
coal strikes, have combined to put OFF subsidy
consideration in Congress. Probably the delay
has been welcomed by those Middle Western
members who hitherto have viewed all ship
subsidies as through a glass darkly-very
darkly. It is said there has been change in
sentiment in the Middle West and that oppo-
sition to ship subsidies is not what it once
was. 1t is certain that the business men Of the
Middle West, through their boards of trade
and other civic organisations, have been voic-
ing general approval of the ship subsidy as
proposed. But how the farmer will stand is
another matter. Some who have looked into
the matter say the farmer has had change
Of heart--that he realizes the necessity of
foreign market for his goods, and that for
eign market is best guaranteed to him IL this
country has its own merchant marine as
farmer is going to disapprove policy that
means an annual expenditure Of from $15,-
oOo 900 to $3o0o0,o00. Yet the farm bloc"
has not been panicky over the situation and
approval of the subsidy plans. Senator Borah
announces that he will fight the subsidy, but
little other opposition has been heard so far.
President Harding says the subsidy is vital
and has inItimated that he might call an extra
session if a vote were not reached before ad-
journment.
Chairman Lasker of the Shipping Board
has injected patriotism into the question. Are
we, as proud and rich nation, now that we
have a ready-made maritime fleet Of nearly
1900 steamers, to stand by and see those YES
sells 90 into other hands? Can we see the
flags of other nations futtering above those
vessels which were quilt in our own shipyards
and which should Ii manned by American Of
ficers and crews and getting their share OF
the commerce of the world?
1t is staggering question, which Congress
must solve, and which, as usual, Congress IS
ready to put off solving until the public Is
heard from. It isn't the first time the ship
subsidy question has come up, and the query
would not look so big If it were not for those
Shipping Board ships eating their heads off,
to apply farm sinile to marine affairs.
Those ships were built under forced draught
the high pressure that means waste of fuel,
which in this case was money. The Shipping
Board fleet cost in the neighborhood Of three
and one-half billions of dollars. 1t was built
by the government, as every one knows, when
prices were at the highest peak in history.
Ships were commanding $500 ton in the open
market when those American wartime ship
yards were busiest. Now fair price IS $50
ton.
Moral Effect Is All This Fleet
Has YET AchieUed
Just how great was the pressure under
uh; a. J1s hyrslt