The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-31

of ships, he grants subsidy. The inconsis-
tency is glaring, the contradiction direct
OF the McNary-Haugen bill President
Coolidge wrote in his veto:
'(The billy would disappoint the farmer
by naively implying that the law of supply
and demand can be thus legislatively dis
torted in his favor Economic history is
filled with the evidences of the CHASTITY
futility of such attempts"
The shipping bill seeks to encourage the
building and operation Of an American mer-
chant fleet, partly government and partly pri-
vately owned, against the competitive ships
and lower costs of other nations.
THE VETO-"1t would be difficult to
conceive Of more fragrant case of the
employment of all the cOercive powers Of
the government for the profit of a small
number of especially privileged groups"
The shipping bill employs the resources and
power of government to benefit and profit a
small number Of shipowners.
THE VETO-"Moreover we should avoid
the error seeking in laws the cause of the
ills of agriculture"
The shipping bill was enacted into law to
remedy the ills of the American merchant
marine.
THE VETO-"If the measure is enacted,
one would be led to wonder how long it
would be before producers in other lines
would clamor for similar 'equaizing' sub
sides from the public Golfers. The lob
bies of Congress would be filled with
emissaries from every momentarily dis
tressed industry demanding similar relief
of burdensome surplus at the expense Of
the treasury"
Ships having been subsidized it is pertinent
to wonder how long it will be before producers
in other lines will clamor for similar equaizing
subsidies.
THE VETO-'I want to see (the farm
ers undertake) ........a program in accord
ance with the American tradition and the
American ideal or reliance on and main
tenance Of private initiative and individual
responsibility"
In the new merchant marine bill, shipping
interests are to be relieved by the government
of the necessity of relying on their private
initiative and individual responsibility, which
are to be helped out over the rough spots by
public subsidy.
This measure makes the United States
Shipping board the partner, guardian and fin
ancier of shipowners. A subsidy construction
fund of $50 million dollars is provided to
assist private persons build, remodel or I'M
prove ships under the American flag. The
board will lend three ourths of the cost at
exceptionally low interest rates. Twenty years
are allowed for repayment.
Another subsidy is granted in the form of
more generous mail carrying contracts rang
ing from $3.50 per mile for small 1O-knot ships
to SIP per mile for large 24-knot ships. A
monopoly Of carrying the United States mails
is given the subsidized ships.
President Coolidge sees no "ghastly futility"
about interfering with the sacred laws of sup
ply and demand where favored commercial
interests are concerned. When petitioners for
government help happen to be operators Of
ships, President Coolidge has no objection to
extending aid to specially privileged groups"
Laws may not in his mind be good for the ills
of agriculture, but they are splendid for the ills
of the merchant marine. He was not given
pause in signing the shipping bill by fear that
producers in other lines" will begin to clam
or for equal preferment. President Coolidge is
strong for private initiative and individual
responsibility" for the farmer, and for SUBJ
sides and government support to shipping
interests.
If farmers are led to the belief by these
circumstances that there are two PHILOSOPHERS
of government in America, one for agriculture
and very different one for industry, it will
be hard to dispute them.