Evening star., 1923-04-27
EDITORIAL DIGEST

incur Tic failure OF Congress to
do III the first instance what good
business judgment would demand is
ono Of the most astonishing examples
cf Legislative siubburnosS in the re-
cent history of federal government.
In ind"rsinE this position the Man
chester Union calls attention to the
ra,r that the west" where most of
til" opposition To the subsidy plan
originated. lin it's degree has to share
in the costs OF government, and go
in due time it must awake to the
hard facts of the expense of putting
the government into business on the
sea as we'll as on the shore. That
will he the object lesson which may
he had at a heavy cost OF tuition"
And the Memphis Commercial Appeal
in tune, demands: who can question
the price when it comes to the ques-
ti"n Of upholding the place America
should have in the world OF trade
Admitting all of the objections that
are offered TO public ownership" the
Chattanooga News feels "the great
body of the people would prefer it
over paying out money from the
y
would have ownership retained in all
vessels constructed during the war
and insists the latest suggested eX-
pertinent Will hardly succeed if the
advance intention is to prove it a
failure" The New York Globe holds
that the majority of Americans in
landers as well as mountaineers. as
we'll as the dwellers on the coastline
would oppose the disposal of the
fleets now owned by the government
to any possible foreign purchasers
The opposition to the ship subsidy
bill was In part directed at the sub
sidy principle and in part at the par
ticular measure which, even to many
Of its potential beneficiaries, seemed
too dangerous. 1t certainly did not
crince a lack of interest in the more
Fundamental issue of developing an
American merchant marine" The
remedy. goes on the Jacksonville
fimeS-t | niOn, is "a repeal of the laws
that prevent the operation of an
American merchant marine at a
profit Not only is this fact but
the Scranton Times believes. there
must be general approval that "in so
far az the cost of the vessel is con-
cerned. the government is willing to
take loss If purchasers guarantee
to maintain the ships in service 1t
begins to look as IL the United States
Will again have a great merchant ma
rine without resorting to subsidy"
Ihere are two alternatives in
facing the situation, which, summed
up by the Columbus State Journal
are IF the government should get
out of the merchant marine business
1t would suffer big loss. which
would be charged to war account and
marked off the books once and for
all. If 1T should stay in. we fear the
loss would be a continuing affair, one
more obstacle to the reduction of fed
q
basis. This argument hardly meets
the approval of the Bangor CONNER
cial which, In turn, suggests "the
only way out IL we are to maintain
our merchant marine to it's present
standard, appears to be to continue
the operations of the Shipping Board"
while the Charleston Post insists 1t is
question of very large Importance
and should, IL possible, be held free
of partisan politics and be set
tied on it's merits. In the decision of
this particular question, however the
Kansas City Times feels the board
and the administration ought to be
able to convince the country of the
need of maintaining the national ship
ping. Once the. public is aroused to
the situation Congress may be ex-
pected to sanction some practical
plan to keep the governments ves-
sells in operation"
In standing pat" Chairman Lasker
is in the right, the Atlantic City Press
agrees. because If he" had allowed
the discontinuance of the American
lines higher ocean transportation
rates" would have followed. Which is
very much, In part, the opinion of
the Detroit News in suggesting the
public should consider the matter
with a determination that the issue
shall be American policy and not per-
sonAlity."