The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-22
PRESS ON MERCHANT MARINE

the subject OF the snip SUBSIDY, there
appears to be a rather uniform edito-
rial tendency to approve the plan re-
Gently made public by which the adj
ministration and the shipping board
mean to meet their responsibilities in
this direction. One of the few ma
tional journals to take position against
the plan is the New York World, which
ironically ascribes the project to the
influence of the "balmy" skies of Flor
ida upon the presidents Uranium. In
asmuch as the World employs ridicule
and not argument against the plan,
perhaps the omission may be regarded
as significant.
The Springfield Republican is not
altogether warm to the proposition,
yet cautiously observes: "The Re-
publican suggested last winter that
practically the only course to pursue
was to accept the existing situation
and continue with the government in
the shipping business rather than force
a subsidy system on a reluctant people
or, on the other hand, drive the flag
from the ocean routes and the worlds
markets. This course is now to be
adopted" The Republican reminds
its readers that the first Wilson ad-
ADMINISTRATION contemplated some man
ner of development of the merchant
marine and "the final outcome prom
/ - L4 oh
where the first Wilson administration
designed to place it in principle, al
though on an immensely larger scale
than anyone contemplated in 1916"
According to the Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger, the situation offers real
problem and real difficulties which
the plan may emphasize rather than
settle. However, says the Ledger,
although the last congress baked at
a frank and honest subsidy and the
next congress will be equally hostile,
we have, in fact, been paying heavy
ship subsidy for years, and we may
be about to go on paying it. We may
call it a government deficit, but that
is thin camouflage; mere change in
its name, not a change in its nature
If the taxpayer finds consolation in
paying subsidy to government ship
ping instead of private shipping he is
welcome to it."
AS representing one of the ports
affected by the plan, the New Orleans
Times-Picayune concludes: eve be-
lieve the country will approve decis-
ion to hold and operate the vessels
for while longer uA Ter government
control il the sole alternative is that
proposed by the Steamship Owners
Association, involving prohibitive sac
rifice of the public investment in ship
ping, while leaving the nation pretty
much in the same unhappy fix, with
respect to a merchant marine, that
the world war found it in" Although
published in an inland city and remote
from maritime connections, the At
lanta Constitution early perceived the
inseparable mutually of interests be-
tween seaports and inland producing
territories, and lent its hearty support
to the snlp subsidy measure. AS to the
new plan the Constitution saws:
whether government ownership is
wise or not, the fact that congress re-
Gently refused to amend the existing
laws was a mandate by indirection GER
tainly that the present system, as pro-
vided by law, must continue until
congress again takes the matter UP for
adjustment. Therefore there is no
other alternative than to proceed along
the two lines suggested, which are
provided for in the shipping act-sell-
ing the ships at fair prices to private
owners to be operated under govern
ment restrictions, or maintaining
policy of straight-out federal owner
ship and operation. 1t is to be hoped
that the latter policy will not event
ually prevail, but certain it is the gov
eminent cannot afford to leave the
rehabilitation of Americas once proud
place upon the seas to the competitive
and perhaps discriminatory operations
Of private ship owners, without gov
eminent supervision. America
must be second to no nation in mer-
chant marine" Likewise the Mem
phis Commercial-Appeal: "Our export
trade will suffer from the ban we
have placed on imports and govern
ment operation will be found to be
rather costly expedient. AS a matter
of fact, it will possibly cost much more
than the subsidy would have amounted
to for the government to run the ship
ping business. So that, after all, by
defeating the subsidy bill its oppo-
nents will have imposed much
heavier subsidy upon the nation. But
who can question the price when it
comes to the question of unfolding
the place America should have in the
world of trade?"
"The plan for full employment
forthwith by the shipping board and
ultimate disposal of the entire fleet,
announced as having the approval of
the president, is. perhaps, as good