The Republican journal., 1922-09-07
SHIPPING SUBSIDIES

A ship subsidy is, in effect, bonus or
premium given by government to indi-
yiduals or TO corporations for the purpose
of enabling them to maintain lines of
shipping enea ged in the carrying Of mails
and Il erchandise to other countries
ssTrade follows the flag" and thus. by
means of a subsidy strong maritime
nation attracts and captures much trade
and profit which otherwise would go
elsewhere.
For many years it has been the policy
of Great Britain to pay subsidies and
this has made her mistress of the seas,
in the world of trade. Her trans-Atlan-
tic subsidies for this year will amount to
about $3.50, 600. This will seem to be
mere trifle to those of US who speak
siibly of millions but il will give SUB.
sidy Of $1,000 each, for 1870 trips across the
antic. Great Britain also pays large
,sidy to steamship lines running to In
"a, subsidy of about SIS, 900 year on
nne running to South Africa and suosl-
dies amounting in all to over $500, 600 to
short lines running to ports of continent
tal Europe. Her transatlantic lines are
maintained especially for the purpose of
getting and holding the trade of the east
ern part Of South America. Spain pays
q subsidy operating transatlantic lines
for the same purpose Japan built up
her great merchant marine by giving
bountes by construction and subsidies
for operation. Her total subsidies for
operation alone, last year, were 1852, GOO
yen a, 426, 000 dolars). France this year
is paying about $1,000, 600 in subsidies
Italy is paying two or three times as
much. Little Holland subsidies lines to
the East Indies and to South America
The Canadian Government paid more
han million dollars for the mainten-
OF coastal and commercial service,
Az year, and this is the lowest SUBSIDY
PAID by Canada in recent years
The Dove facts show that all the lead
ing commercial nations of the world ex-
cept the. United States, are paying suosi-
dies. and it is well-known that they
have been doing SO for many years. 1t
follows, therefore, that they believe
highly profitable returns are made for
money so expended. In view OF this 1t
is difficult to understand how we can
hope TO operate an American marine SER
without government assistance, es-
ally since it is we'll known that costs
,peration are greater here than any
vuere else About % years ago the
6aht for and against an American subsi-
DIV policy began. Prominent among
those who fought for subsidy bill were
President Mckinley, Senators William
p. Frye and Senator Mark Hanna. The
initial battle was lost as have been sew
eral subsidy bills since. A subsidy bill
is now before Congress and it is believed
that it will come up for consideration
and action before long. 1t is said to be
the best bill of it's kind ever drafted. 1t
has the support of President Harding
and of several members of Congress.
The bill is the result of long study given
TO the subject by most of the merchant
marine experts of the country and best
represents their judgment. We believe
this bill will share the fate of all other
subsidy bills. 1t will take years to lift
ear foreign marine service out OF Its
present state of collapse. 1t will cost
money and there are too many men IN
Congress whose constituents would not
get any of it.