The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-30
Ship Subsidy Bill Looms
Bill to Be One of the Main Subjects Before Congress
Opponents Gather Their Forces.

that Japan has provided for its ship
owners for the coming year.
1t is SO long since this country had
a merchant marine of any importance
that the question is occasionally raised
as to whether Americans are really
suited osea faring. Perhaps it is not
advisable for us to try to compete with
sea loving nations, it is suggested.
History shows that through colonial
times and almost up to the Civil war
this country was a maritime power.
It's clippers proudly carried the flag
over the trade lanes of the seas. Then
the hard life and adventures of the
sea lost their attractiveness for
Americans. There was money and ad-
venture in the west and in home trade
European ships would carry the car
goes. America gave up her place in
the shipping world and now she
shrinks from the struggle necessary
to establish ships and routes, especial
ly in view of the high American scale
of wages and costs.
Roosevelt Favored
Ship Subsidy.
President Roosevelt tried to revive
the interest in American shipping in
1905 to keep in this country some of
the millions paid to Europe for car
riers. The Gallinger ship subsidy bill,
which succumbed to persistent fill
clustering in the Senate, was the only
result.
Now, Representative Greene has
| taken the merchant marine on his
shoulders. He is one of veterans OF
the house, outranked in point OF con
tinuous service only by Speaker Gil.
lette. He knows congressional tact.
les and he knows shipping. Ever since
his first term in the house, "a years
! ago, he has been a member of the
| committee on shipping and for eight
| years he has been chairman His dis.
| trict is shipping center and his con
stituents are said to approve his at,
| tempts at reviving American sea ira.
| ditions.
| 1t is prophesied that the Greene bill
will pass the house. In the senate, long
| speeches and filibustering may be ia
tai, as in the case of the Gallingey
| bill.
! The final question is whether the
American merchant marine is of sui
ficient importance to the national in
! terests to be given government aid
at this time, and if so, how much ali
is advisable. Few persons interested
in the bill. however, are viewing the
matter from a general viewpoint
Shipping interests are strongly in ia
vor of the proposed government aiC
! for their business. They consider i
only just that the Republican party
which believes in protecting other in
dustries by tariff should help the
struggling ship owners.
Enemies Of the bill say that the PEG
pie should not be burdened further
that shipping has not been subsidize;
in this country; the subsidy is an ex
/ pertinent which will not put shippins
on its feet, and that it will only in
volve the country in heavy expense
i Estimates as to what the burdeI
will amount to vary widely. Laske
says: 1T is estimated that in ordel
to develop balanced fleet of 1900, 00t
gross tons, which would carry so pc,
cent at least of all branches of ou
overseas trade, the cost to the treas
ury will ultimately approximate $50
100000 "a year,, though for the frs
year it is estimated at only SIS, 700, 900
=. Representative Davis, opposing tn
bill, says that "the subsidies and aid