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Show A "FARMER'S" OPINION. Volumes of testimony have been taken by the Congressional Joint Committee, for and against the proposed ship subsidy bill to assist in developing an American merchant marine. More than a score of National organizations and some 200 Chambers of Commerce and commercial organizations are on record re-cord in favor of the shipping bill. Not a single Chamber of Commerce or organization of businessmen busi-nessmen is on record against the bill. J. R. Howard, president of the American Farm Bureau, in testifying before the Congressional committees, said: "Our farmers farm-ers are recognizinz the value of the American Merchant Marine. The crops of America are greater than oun consumption and must have outlets abroad. Prior to 1914, we might say, our goods sold themselves. Now we must fight for the market. If other nations control shipping, they control the market. America must provide for herself." Mr. Howard showed the committee just how much the subsidy sub-sidy would cost in terms of agricultural products. On a 5,000 ton freighter the farmer would pay only '4 to 1 cent a bushel in subsidy to carry wheat from New York to Liverpool. On CQtton, 1 0 cents a bale from Galveston to Liverpool. Marine insurance on the wheat would be 52 mills per bushel and $1.40 a bale on cotton. "Insurance is only a guarantee against loss from fire and storm," said Mr. Howard, "the subsidy will be a guarantee against loss from failure to reach market regularly (through dependence on foreign ships) and when markets are best. "International commerce is the servant of the whole nation and of direct benefit to every citizen. In times of drought the government gov-ernment will furnish the farmer free seed to plant the next crop. That is a subsidy to meet an emergency such as shipping faces today." to-day." Mr. Howard said it was entirely possible if the ship subsidy act was passed, that the farmers' organization would buy ships to complete the marketing of crops by their own grain and cotton selling sel-ling agencies. In such case, the American farmer becomes the American ship owner. In conclusion he said America should be fully prepared to enter en-ter the European markets with its own ships carrying its own surplus products. |