The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-11
TaE cor. FISH BoUNTIEs

THE COD FISH BoUNTIES
We publish to-day very interesting speech ON
this not very attractive subject 1t was delivered in
the Senate during the last session OF Congress by
Mr. Clay, Of Alabama, willie the bill for abolislng
the Goldfish bountes was before that body AS the
subjectis now before the House, we lay the speech
before the public in abbreviated form, as the
best and most complete exposition Of the facts of the
that can be found.
This goldfish bounty is one Of those snug little
abuses which often escape for long periods the alton
lion of the most vigilant legislators 1t las been
perpetuatcd for quarter Of century by the iachcs
of Congress-. The spirit of reform and retrench-.
ment, so happily prevalent at present in The federal
legislature, has long overlooked one of the most
glarng pieces of fvortism that be found in our
whole federal legislation.
Mr. Clay exposition of the history and nature of
this Goldfish gratuity is clear and full, that but
little is left for to add own part 1t seems
that the grauity originated in the tariff duty that
laid salt, and was designed a return Of this
duty by way Of drawback to the fishermen, on the
expectation of sailed cod. The drawback was al
cents per bushel. That duty has been for a great
many years merely nominal, that is to say, but two
cents per bushel and still the drawback is allowed
if it still at the rate OF thirty cents per bushel
Moreover, the salt with which the greater part of
the cod is sailed is home manufactured, and H.
bounty is drawback allowed on an article that is
not imported at all The drawback is allowed as if
on duty Of thirty cents although the duty is only
two cents, aud is merely nominal at that rate the
salt being made at home!
The bounty too is exclusively in favor Of the cod
fish trade whereas fisheries of mackerel and her
ring are equally as important and considerable. We
have heard of Goldfish arisocracy;' and it really
that the cod Isl aristocratic fish, seeing that
he is sort Of official fish, receiving moro than
quarter of million year from the public purse,
while the plebeian herring, mackerel, and shad are
left to make their own way in the world.
Our fathers did not make these inyidous distnc-
tions between the different kinds of fishes and sailed
provisions. The bounty or drawback was original
ly allowed on all sailed articles exported from the
country il Guiding the agricultural articles of pork
and beef With the repeal of the salt duties these
drawbacks all fell, save that on the sailed cod sh,
which by some sort Of accident was allowed to
remain There great outcry in New England
against the war Of 1912, aud some of the people
there went great lengths in opposing the govern
ment in that conflict. We believe these drawbacks
sailed cod were allowed to remain after Tie war;
sort of Precipitation to the New England inter-
ess that had been preudiced by that conflict Their
continuance, however, was intended TO be but tenn
porary; they have, nevertheless, been perpetuated
TO this day,
The reason which induced the allowance Of
bounty sailed cod fish, would require bounty TO
be allowed on exported pork aud beef. But the ag-
riculurist is forgotten, and the cod fish interest
only is remembered. 1t is urged that the cod fish
cries are nurseries of seamen for our navy Those
who know most on the subject deny that they are.
But If they nurseries of seanen, SO also are the
mackerel and herring fisheries; and the same primc
pie which would concede bounty TO the first would
of million is yearly given to the cod fishermen of
Maine and Massachusetts, nothing Of the sort is
pronered to the herring fishermen Of North Carolina
and the Chesapeake
The bounty, too, was intended by its orignators
to enure 20 the benefit of the fishermen who catch
the cod and who salt and export them Instead Of
that however, the policy has been perverted, as
to pension not the fishermen and packers, but the
owners of the vessels which these men hire and
navigate. Thus there is not single ground of
equity or expediency on which the policy can be
justified and like any and every other abuse, that
thruss itself before the attention Of Congress, it
onght to be cut up by the roots and that, without
delay. The government has paid already nearly
Sl2,500,000 for the support of this trade. Surely
the Goldfish interest would have no right to gramble
if the bounty We're discontinued
THE cry OF WASHINGTON