The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-27

The total number Of vessels turned out
Of ali the building yards Of the United
Kingdom and registered in 1870 was 974,
The average tonnage being 342, 7O6 tons, in
efhding four vessels Of 4O7 tons transferred
to the British possessions. Of this total
the sailing vessels built were 57l, of H.
O32 tons, and the steamers 433, represent
ing 225, ,674 80 that, although the number
Of sailing vessels turned out exceeded the
number Of steamers by lO6, the steam ton
ageexceeded the sailing tonnage by lOS ,642
tons. The total number of timber vessels
built in 1870 was 40, of 30, $50 tons,
against 445 iron vessels Of 27l, ,78O tons,
and 30 composite vessels, Of IL, 4l6 tons,
showing that such tonnage (iron and COM
posite) has increased during the year in
in the ratio of five to one a. compared to
timber tonnage. Glasgow turned out, in
1870, 1O5 vessels, of m aggregate tonnage
of 81 ,439 tons Sunderland, y3 vessels,
representing "a, Ala tons Newcastle, Il
vessels, of Al, $50 tons then Liverpool,
80 vessels, %, 30l tons then Hull, "a ves-
sells, of IA, 573 London, 81 vessels, Of IO,-
989 tons and Stockton, 16 vessels, 742
tons. The remaining ports at which yes
sells have been built are numerous, but the
amount Of tonnage turned out at each is
small compared with the production of any
one of the seven pOrts above mentioned.
OF the 947 vessels launched from British
yards in 1870, only l02 of them were built
for foreigners. Of these, 70 were steamers,
aggregating AZ, 222 tons, and two were war
vessels, The London shipping Gazette"
says that ALREADY the commercial fleet Of
Great Britain and her colonies Possesses
carrying capacity nearly equal to that Of
all the fleets Of all the foreign States com
bined, and the gradual tendency is to in
crease with the demands Of the worlds
commerce"
Notwithstanding the current preponder-
ance in the increase of iron ships as com
pared with wooden ones, We believe that
the commerce of the world will largely re-
turn to those made of the latter material
Racent notable disasters to iron vessels
show that property and lives may be lost
through causes inherent in the material Of
such, to provide against which care and
foresight have hitherto failed, and it is
likely must always fail
1t will be the case, also, that shipbuild-
ing in large degree will return to those
communities which build ships and also
sail them. The mariner and shipbuilder
will have their homes side by side.
As to the revival Of shipbuilding in this
country, the suggestions which have hither-
to emanated from the government at Wash
imgton will be found inadequate Bounties,
or other class favors, cannot restore this
great industry and the predominance in
the worlds commerce which is depend
ent upon it.
But the case furnishes a standing exam
pie from which we shall draw lessons for
the advantage of our entire system of rev.
enue. 1t is obvious to every capable reader
that the Constitution Of the United States
explicitly provides but one system of rais-
ing revenue. That Is by direct tax levied
upon the States in the ratio of the popula-
ton of each, the only possible Just basis Of
adjustment Of the burthen of Federal
revenue. The shifts of needy admnistra-
tions engaged in wars Of doubtful issue,
or the devices Of West Indian adventures
in charge Of the treasury, have twisted our
government in this particular from its old
and honest and standing ground. Let us
return to the undisputed letter of the Con-
stitution, which was framed by men wiser
than Boutwell, and as capable as Chase.
Let the Federal taxes, which now fall
substantially on the people per capita be
assessed on the States according to the
number Of inhabitants in each, to leave it
to each State, the Legislature Of which best
understands its constituent community, to
raise its quota by taxing such industries
within its borders as can best and most
lightly bear the load
This policy, the only constitutional one,
is that which at once andsforever solves the
controversies, which otherwise must ever
be interminable, between those who advo-
cate Federal tariff for protection and
those who contend for tariff for revenue
only The Stockholder.