The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-11-23

US turn to program of assured ship
ping to serve US in war and to give
guaranty to our commercial independ-
ence in peace.
know full well the hostility in the
popular mind to the word Subsidy"
1t is stressed by the opposition and
associated with special privileges" by
those who are unfailing advocates of
government aid whenever vast num-
bers are directly concerned. Govern
ment aid" would be fairer term than
Subsidy in defining what we are seek
ing to do for our merchant marine,
and the interests are those of all the
people, even though the aid goes to
the few who serve.
Government Aid is Fair Term.
If government aid is a fair term -
and l think it is to apply to au-
thorizations aggregating $75,0000O0 to
promote good roads for market high
ways, it is equally fit to be applied to
the establishment and maintenance of
American market highways on the
sailed seas. If government aid is the
proper definition for Is to 40 millions
annually expended to improve and
maintain on land waterways in aid of
commerce, it is proper designation for
a needed assistance to establish and
maintain ocean highways where there
is actual commerce to be carried.
"But call it subsidy" since there
are those who prefer to appeal to mis-
taken prejudice rather than make
frank and logical argument. We
might SO call the annual loss of so
millions which we are paying now with
out protest by those who most abhor,
we might as we'll call that Subsidy.
If so | am proposing to cut in half,
approximately, and to the saving thus
effected there would be added millions
upon millions of further savings
through ending losses on capital ac-
count government capital out of
the public treasury, always remember
and there would be at least the prom
Use and the prospect Of the permanent
establishment of the needed merchant
marine.
No Aid to Favored Interests.
challenge every insinuation of fav-
ored interests and the enrichment of
the special few at the expense of the
public treasury. l am, first of all, APP
pealing to save the treasury. Perhaps
the unlimited bestowal of government
aid might justify the apprehension of
special favoring but the pending bill,
the first ever proposed which carried
such provision automatically guards
against enrichment or perpetuated be-
stowal. 1t provides that shipping lines
receiving government aid must have
their actual investment and their OPP
Grating expenses audited by the gov
eminent, that government aid will only
be paid until the shipping enterprise
earns ten per cent on actual capital
employed and Immediately that when
more than ten per cent earning is
reached, half of the excess earnings
must be applied to the repayment of
the government aid which has been
previously advanced. Thus the posi-
BILE earnings are limited to very rea-
sonable amount if capital is to be risk
ed and management is to be attract
ed. If success attends as we hope it
will, the government outlay is return
ed, the inspiration of opportunity to
earn remains, and American transport
tation by sea is established.
Though differing in detail, it is not
more in proportion to their popula-
iont and capacity than either great ma
lions have done in aiding the estab-
lishment of their merchant marines
and it is timely to recall that we gave
them our commerce to aid in their up
building while the American task now
is to up-build and establish in the face
of their most active competition.
Foreign Nations in Opposition.
hope it is seemly to say it, because
it must be said, the maritime nations
of the world are in complete accord
with the opposition here to the pend
ing measure. They have a perfect right
to such an attitude.
But I wish to stress the American
viewpoint. Ours should be the view
point from which one sees American
carriers at sea, the dependence of Am
erican commerce and American YES
sells for American reliance in the event
of war. Some of the costly lessons of
war must be learned again and again,
but our shipping lesson in the world
war was much too costly to be effaced
from the memory of this or future
generations.
think it loftier craftsmanship to
support and commend a policy design
ed to effect the larger good to the ma
ton than merely to record the too
hasty impression of constituency.
Out of the harmonized aspirations, the
fully informed convictions and the
united efforts of all the people will
come the greater republic. CONNER
cial eminence on the seas, ample
agencies for the promotion and carry
ing on of our foreign commerce are of
no less Importance to the people of
the Mississippi and the Missouri val
ley, the great northwest and the Rocky
Mountain states than to the seaboard
states and industrial communities
building inland thousand miles or
more. 1t is common cause with its
benefits commonly shared
"But let US momentarily put aside
the aspiring view point. The blunt
indisputable fact of the loss of fifty
millions a year under government OPP
Grafton, remains; likewise the fast di-
minishing capital account, the enor-
nous war expenditure to which we