The Washington times., 1922-11-18

war.built fleet without thought Of
peace-time needs.
Thus. also. by making private
operation possible and profitable
will come about the purchase Of the
Governments fleet by private
owners, and those ships, which to-
day we cannot sell In any con.
siderabl numbers. when sold. will
bring hundreds of millions Of
iollars into the treasury.
So that We stand at this point:
Government operation means the
Ultimate obliteration Of the fleet,
for there will be no. renewals. and
n the interim. the loss of tens Of
millions of dollars annually. A
lesser amount paid in subsidy will
esult In keeping the American flAg
on the seas and result In the build.
| ng of needed types now lacking.
The direct annual cost Of the sub
aidy. II subsidy In successful. will
be less by many millions than Gov
ernment operation. The sale Of the
Government fleet, now. practically
at a standstill. will result in bring
Ing hundreds OF millions Of dollars
into the treasury. So that the sub
sidy question. as now before the
American people, can be considered
without regard to the need Of q
merchant marine for peace.tlme or
war. but solely with regard to the
liquidation Of the Government.
owned fleet.
Stripped Of willful or ignorant
Misrepresentation, the passage OF
the pending bill means, for the rea-
L.
den OF the American taxpayer.
Within a year from the time that
bill passes. and continuously there.
after, the burden on the taxpay yer,
40 far as shipping goes. will be re.
duced. because the direct subsidy,
as private owners displace Govern.
fnent operation. will result In less
cost to the Treasury than the Gov
ernment operation. The burden on
the taxpayer will be decreased be-
cause private owners can then buy
our ships-which they cannot do
now.
Tired Of Misrepresentation.
have grown sick and tired Of
the Misrepresentation OF those
who, 'cllnging to the fetishss and
the pretudices u the past. ignore
tn8 oltu0tlOu ~ u
who, through foreign influence or
for seeming political advantage or
through demagogic chicane, misrep-
the American people, whether any
group of individuals like II or not.
be told forcibly the truth--that by
The keeping alive Of the picture OF
subsidy as Il related to prevail
conditions. when the Government
neither owned nor operated ships,
the people are being cheated into 4
tax burden from which the only re.
lief In sight IL to make possible pri-
vate ownership and sale Of the
ships into private hands.
Ny incumbency In office II too in
cidental, too unimportant, to war
rant me In longer keeping silent.
feel that the moment has come when
I must state these facts as q business
man and az a laynian, stripped OF all
official verbiage, and unshAckeled by
the limitations OF official position.
Least Expense, 10 Problem.
Editors who are dear friends Of
mine, public men who are intimate
OF mine, through thinking OF pre-.
war subsidy conditions, and forget
tInh tuty hV t'thttOhc W POSt-
war subsidy conditions, now that the
Government owns and operates
ships, are daily preaching In all hon.
esty the doctrine Of defeatism to the
American merchant marine, and con.
tributing to others. who. wiser but
not so honest, are In demagogy cry.
Ing, stop thief" and thus keeping
on the people an uKending added bur.
den Of taxation from which the pend
ins bill undertakes TO relieve
America.
II 10 no question Of merchant
marine or no merchant marine.
we have one. II 10 no question Of
subsidy or no subsidy--we are pay.
ing one.
Tho whole question II, How can
we cheapest keep the American
merchant marine operating. and
how can we return to the Treasury,
In liquidation, the greatest sums
Of money 30 as to relieve the
burden on the taxpAyerf"
The present bill. even In face OF
advertised snd local opposition tina.
may increase In acceleration and
activity, win pass, because the
miracle Of ALserica is that st the
final moment OF decision. right ana