Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-17
OFFICIAL PAPER.
DISCRIMINATING DUTIES.

DISSEMINATING DUTIES.
IN SENATE u. S. MONDAY, Jan. 9, 1926.
Mr.. Lloyd, of Massachusetts, from the Committee
on Commerce, 10 whom was referred that part
~ the President Message winch relates TO the
eXpedency OF an entire removal of the tiiscri-
innating duties Of tonnage and of impost on the
entry of foreign vessels and meT chandse into the
United States, made the following Report:
That, among the earliest measures, after the or
ganizi,inn of the Genera! Gov eminent were the
imposition Of duty of six cents per ton on the
vessels of the United States, when entering the
ports thereof, from any foreign port or place; and
on all other vessels, belonging to foreign powers,
duty ut the tate of fi,y per ton with an add
zion OF EN- per centum 10 the several rates OF duty
Oh merchandise brought into the United States,
when not imported in ships vessels thereof
That the beaeiicent operation of this wise and
sall,ary system, from The confidence ii inspired
in the estimation OF the Government, of the i'm
por'ance OF the navigation of the country, and in
tie National protection intended TO be afforded by
Il, To an interest destined be the great source OF
its revenue; and In rs various relations to the in
dus;ry, the commerce, the fiscal concerns and the
external deieace OF the Nat. IN, among the most
imros ing committed TO Its care, was soon made
manifest, by the resusci,a,ion, and rapid increase
of the nav cation of The United States, which i'm
medaiely ensaed from the adoption Of II, and
which were, doubtless, produced, In good degree
by these measures OF protection, aided, however,
by other causes which after follow ed, and CO.
operated with them.
The discrimination in duties, before mentioned,
was gratefully received by the merchants of the
United States. and by all those classes more i'm
isedately connected with its naviga0n as, in ad-
ton 10 it, effects their individual interests, and
lis countervaling influence the duties i.iposed
on American shipping In foreign ports, il required
little precedence TO perceive with extended sea-
coas, OF near two THOUSAND miles, bordering vas,
ahI fertile country, inhabiedby intelligent, brave,
and enterprizing PEOPLE, who, from their FIRST set
Element, under colonial sublngation, had
claimed the free use OF the ocean, as their birth
,ieht, that IL destined, at no distan, period to
become "t the theatres, alike OF their wealth
and their iudIstry-ot their prosperity and their
glory.
The discriminating dates thus imposed between
foreign vessels and those OF the United States with
occasional alterations, dependent on the circum-
Of the times, and The varying dispositions
and conduct of Other nations towards the United
States, with duty on foreign vessels, OF fifty
cents per ton, as lighi money, III 1904, have been
continued tt. the present lime except with those
Powers with whom conventions arrangements
have been made for reciprocal abolition or sus-
pension of them, in whole or in part.
That the increase OF the navigation of the Uni
red States, before alluded to, as rapid and gra-
flying as it was expected aud unexampled, is eS-
tabshe, by the fact, that the tonnage Of the Uuited
States, which, in 1889, amounted 10 2O4 ,90S tons
OF which l27; 1923 tons were employed In The TO-
reign 6S COZ in the coaSting trade, and 9, O62
IONS in the fisheries, had reached. in 1907, in the
aggregate ,477,075 tons, giving, in that space
nf time, a seven fold Increase; whereof | 1921
tons were employed In foreign trade, 2S5, 900 ions
in the domestic trade of the country, and IS, IA
tons in the fisheries.
This very important expansion Of the navigation
of the United States, a. before observed, wthoui
doubt emnnated, in part, from the discriminating
duties; while the unprecedented political circnm-
stances of the times, could not but also have had
a powerful influence in producing result desira-
BILE.
The French Revolution, which commenced
nearly cotemporan eously with the adoption of the
Federal Constitution, by its momentous effects
derargeI, for series OF years, the mercantile
operauoos al reary all the trading aud navigating
nations OF Europe; and for long periods, between
the epochs oil 1889 a1d 1907, LEFT, at times, tie
Unie1 "a IS the only important neutral power
ira er.ing the ocean.
Under these e' en!s, advantages were given to
the commerce oil The United States, and an increase
and e,npio sT,ent TO tnelr shi?;Ing, which could
within he compass OF time, have probably
been dfriy Ell from other source; as the hazards
OF capture, and the higher rates Of insurance alone
winch attached TO European vessels at that period
il. an intercourse with the UnHed States preatI,
extingulsi, est Tor time, the ireighting bust
hess OF this country, and Of other natIons i'm lhe
vessels OF the belligerents.
But, at the Peflod last referred to, it had become
amp rent amid the collisions Of aworld IN arms
that this state of unriyaed prosperity for the com
,norce and navigation of the United SIates, was
not 10 have a longer continuance; for the aggres-
sions on The rights neutral nation, and he de-
ureJations on the commerce of the United States
l,y the more important OF the maritime powers of
Europe. had multiplied so fast as to occasion, in
1907. the withdrawal, for a time, OF American ma
yigation from the ocean, and to give rise TO those
measure e. Of resistance which eventnated in the
late war with Great Britain: al the conclusion OF
which, II being the desire Of The Gov@nment of tie
United States to promote the freedom OF commerce
smong the nations Of the earth, upon fair and
equal footiBg, as conducive, by the friendly inter
course and interchange Of commodities TO which II
would give rise, 10 their mutual advantage; and
also, doubtless, relying thatthe vigor and maturity
which the navigation Of the United States had at
iaed, would enable it successfully to meet fair
comoe,ition with that Of other powers, when based
mon those principles of free trade aud just reci-
prociy, which equitable and liberal in them
selye', - creditable, to the Government adopting