The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-11-30
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

The ship subsidy bill will be the
backbone OF the legislative program
III the House of Representatives dur
Congress had their way in keeping
the subsidy legislation out OF the wav
prior to election. Ii is now stated az
the White House that the power of
the Administration has been enlisted
III support of ship subsidy, and des-
pite all opposition, preferential rights
are demanded for the bill in the
House. What the fate of the measure
viii be no II can tell; but in some
OF the states a good deal Of attention
was given to this subject during the
campaign, and the burden Of talk in
a number OF the progressive" states
OF the middle west and the far west
indicated tremendous opposition.
There are political prophets and sons
Of prophets in Washington, and their
predictions are freely given with ref
erence 10 all political topics. These
Wise Acres foresee defeat" or "uual-
ify," or doubtful" when the fate OF
ship subsidy is up. The United States
government is operating a very ex-
%tensive shipping business, and with
not very good success. Because it is
constantly running behind, it is pro-
posed 10 sell all ships, and to give
certain bonuses, or mail contracts, to
private owners who will operate ships.
\ SnhGtHN nrpa n God in thtc
will be as expensive for the govern
ment as the payment Of the present
losses in public operation. The hope
Of success for the subsidy scheme is
that private ownership will develop a
great export and import business that
will result to the benefit of the United
States. Members of the Administra-
ton point out the the government
cannO use competitive methods that
are essential in getting a full share
of business for United States ships;
and the many restrictions, including
the seamen's wage laws, prohibition,
etc, are indicated as placing the pres
ent method OF ship operation to a dis
IN % oAAAtSO 90 NoiiABoiSu 4
private operation. The ship subsidy
legislation naturally originates in the
House, because hat branch of Con
gress has the first say regarding bills
freighted with appropriation provis.
ions. 1t is not likely that the House
will divide entirely along party polit-
zeal lines on the ship subsidy Ques-
ton. sine it may be regarded to a
large extent as an economic question,
Should its friends succeed in getting
it through the House it is hard to say
what its fate may be in the Senate,
where a lack of political unity and
the very nature of the bill would most
likely prevent the drawing of strict
party lines. 1t is calculated that a
ship subsidy would tax the federal
treasury about $40, 900 600 a year. This
is the sum that the shipping Board is
now running behind in operating the
United States boats.
There are a lot Of people around
Washington who are having dreams
NiIbt DphSANH0 VIII huilS up WIN
the budget and the appropriation bills
and pass them all before March I, at
Which time the session Will adjourn
until the Fan of 1928. Measures be
sides the appropriation bills to come
before Congress will include the sol
diers' bonus, farm credit legislation,
possible consideration of impeachment
proceedings against Attorney General
Daugherty, and many other things
that are time-consumers. Proposed
amendment Of the Esch-Cummins rail
road law looms large on the Congress
Sional horizon, and if railroad legisla-
ton comes up, there is bound to be a
long fight. There is no reason to sus-
pect that Congress will move any fast
er this year than in other years, or
that it will have less to do. This
points very plainly to the inevitable
continuing of Congress until at least
the last of June. More probably pol
itical problems, including the prohibit