The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-22
ship SUBSIDY
GRAB EXPOSED
BY FLETCHER
Florida Senator At
tacks, Scheme Of the
Republicans to Di-
vert Public Money
to Private Pockets

Washington, July 1S.-The ao.-
ministration ship subsidy bill was
attacked in the senate today by
Senator Fletcher (Democrat) of
Florida. former chairman and now
senate commerce committee, who
said the bill had provisions for
subventions. indirect subsidies and
direct subsidies upon scale never
before contemplated"
The Florida senator added that
in his opinion it would at this
time 'be mistake and most un-
fortunate for the country to enact
them into laws
Sale Of shipping board vessels
on long time payments and govern
men. insurance for American ship
operators was recommended by
Senator Fletcher.
Analyzing the pending bill Sen
ator Fletcher said it proposed to
loan money to ship purchasers at
rates lower than the government
itself could obtain it. He also
thought that the Standard Oil, the
United States Ssteel corporation,
United Fruit and other great cor
porations maintaining fleets, would,
under the bill, escape all taxes
; on their shipping property.
The bill. Senator Fletcher con-
tinued, also would give the ship
ping board "the power of life or
/ death over any shipping company
or vessel owner. the privilege of
rewarding favorites to an unlinit-
{ ed extent and of running those not
liked, OF building up ports and de-
! stroying them, as the board might
/ determine"
The vision of a merchant marine
coming out Of this bill is "de-
! ceptive mirage" said the Florida
; senator. cit means wreckage. The
end will be what the shipping
beard would apparently enjoy as
they sit in their Offices and draw
/, their salaries relieved Of the bur-
den OF these ships, beholding the
/! American merchant marine on
their wal1s-painte ships on a
painted ocean.
/. Granted that subsidies will in
crease the possibilities of the sale
! of the ships, the result will be
!; that the pick of the ships will be
! acquired by a few strong lines and
/; the less desirable will be left on
! the hands of the shipping board. .
The administration ship subsidy
bill lis framed in the interest OF
/ the fast ocean liners rather than
/; the cargo vessels" Representative
Davis Democrat of Tennessee, a
member OF the merchant marine
committe, declared in a statement
| issued today.
The announcement OF Presi-
dent Ferguson Of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
| company '.of negotiations with re-
sponsible persons for the construc-
; ton of two 1,eoG-foot passenger
steamers contingent upon the
passage of the bill, 'smacks OF
! propaganda. Mr.. Davis said, add
ing that nobody except the very
wealthy could pay the price of
travel on such palatiai grey
hounds"
Owners of such vessels, he
pointed out, could borrow two
thirds of the cost of construction
on Is years time, should the bill
become law. at 2 per cent. annual
| interest and during that period be
| entitled under such a law to S3e.-
900. 900 in voyage subsidies. on
100000 should the shipping
board double the basic subsidies
under the discretion lodged. in
them by the pending bill"
About the only foreign COM
merce this bill would develop" he
continued. would be to encour-
age the already too prevalent
practice of Americans spending
abroad the money acquired in
America