Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-07-14


the legislation believe that full and
free discussion throughout the coun-
try ill result In congress- refusing to
pass the administration subsidy bill
or any other subsidy bill at this time.
On one thing everybody agrees and 1t
is that nothing but gooc can come
from public discussion of the bill.
The decision of the administration
to let the subsidy bill rest in the house
of Representatives for at least a month
while the folks back home are CON
suited means, of course, that the legis-
latOrs have some serious misgivings
about the ACCESSIBILITY of rushing sub
sidy legislation through at this time.
Even If the house, after having sound
ed out public sentiment, should pass
the administration bill there would
be no assurance that the senate
would accept it. There will be no OPP
portunity for senator's to 60 home In
order TO sound out public sentiment;
they must stay around and deal with
the tariff and the bonus.
Must Consider II, Says President.
Congress is now fully informed as
to the Presidents desires In regard to
the subsidy legislation. He does not
intend to use club to get the legisla-
ton through, but he Is determined, and
has so informed the congressional
leaders, that this congress must deal
with the subject at this session. The
President has never said and appar-
entity has no thought Of saying that
he would call an extra session Of
the present congress If 1t should fail
to enact subsidy legislation after hav-
ing considered the subject. What he
has said and what he continues to say
with some emphasis is that If con-
gress should adjourn without taking
up the subject he would call 1t back.
The members of the house are cud-
Ceiling their brains for the right thing
to say about subsidy when they get
back home. The subject has never
been particularly popular in the CEN
trail west and indeed outside of the
coast states has never appealed in a
large way to voters. 1t is brought
forward this year with some compiled
tons that have not accompanied II on
former appearances. 1t is impossible,
for instance, to consider 1t without
taking into account the pending tariff
legislation as well as the proposed
bonus legislation. Representatives
realize that when they face their con-
stituents and attempt to convince
them that ship subsidy would be
good thing, they win be called on to
explain why congress seems deter
mined to enact tariff legislation that
would seemingly make the mainte-
nance of large merchant marine UNI
necessary.
Representatives also realize that
their constituents are likely to ex-
press the view that if congress is to
authorize the payment of a large
bonus to the men who served in the
World war. that viii be about enough
drain on the public treasury, without
reaching in for some $40000,000 or
$50,0O0,000 for the benefit of ship
owners.
Tariff May Block It.
It may turn out that the tariff wall
which congress seems determined to
put up will be the greatest obstacle
in the way of ship subsidy legisla-
ton. The position of the United
States as a debtor nation was far
different from what it Is today as a
creditor nation. Many persons say
In,
taken this changed situation into ac-
count.
President Wilson In his message to
congress in December, 1919, reminded
the Legislators that anything which
would tend to prevent foreign coun-
tries from settling for our exports by
shipments of goods into this country
could only have the effect of prevent
ing them from paying for our ex-
ports and therefore of preventing the
exports from being made. The pro-
ductivity of the country, greatly stimu-
lated by the war, must find an outlet
by exports to foreign countries, and
any measures taken to prevent i'm
ports will inevitably curtail the ex-
ports, force curtailment of produc-
ton, load the banking machinery of
the country with credits to carry
unsold products, and produce indus
trial stagnation and unemployment
There is no prospect of tariff legis-
lation being sidetracked. Sooner or
later-before the end of this session
the President will sign tariff bill,
and so the senator's and representa-
tives who are pledged to vote for
ship subsidy legislation have got to
explain to their constituents why 1t
is that they are putting up a tariff
wall and at the same time asking for
SAC, 100000 to maintain ships for
which there may be no rush of bust
ness.
It's No Excuse.
Dow William Eormau Cufbrfa