Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-18
Our Washington Better.
WASHINGTON, April 9Th. 1872.
SENATE CHAMBER

SENATE CHAMBER
On Thursday, Senator Corbet, from
committee on commerce, reported a
lengthy bill to promote the ship building
and commercial interests of the United
States. The bill contains seven sections
in short, of the following import:
Section provides that upon all i'm
ported articles entering into the con-
struction of any and all vessels used in
trade between the United States and for
eign countries, draw back shall be
paid equal to the duties thereon; also,
that where home materials is used in the
construction of such vessels, there shall
be paid an amount equal to duties on
foreign articles of the kind.
Sections 2 and provide for the bona
tide American ownership of such vessels
and the registry of the same.
Section allows foreign built iron
ships, owned by citizens of the United
States, to register in this country for the
foreign trade.
Section provides that all ship stores
and coal to be used by such vessels III
voyages from the United States to for
eign countries, may be taken in bond
and disposed of for such purpose, free
of import, internal duty and tax,
Thus, whatever may be the ultimate
action of Congress upon this question,
the Senate committee seems finally to
have comprehended and awakened to
action upon the fact that the alarming
symptoms of decline in American COM
merce demands an immediate tonic. In
our anxiety to make a good showing
upon the reduction of public debt we
have levied impOsts for revenue, and in
the interests of certain home Industries
have gone crazy over protection until
we have protected foreign commerce by
killing our own. Some may think that
the protection given to lumber, iron,
coal and other American production
more than cOmpensates for what COM
merce has suffered, but we think not.
1t is true that labor of certain kinds and
in certain localities, have somewhat APP
praCiated, men have grown rich, power
ful and autocratic, but this poorly COM
pensates for the loss of interest in the
great moving power Of the world, com
merce. While we have given high pro-
lection to the these interests our navy
yards have offered flattering induce
ments to roaming tlocks, but none to
Shipbuilders - in other words. have
SDlC W SIdSSs anu commerce Has
played into the hands of other countries.
So long as English yards can turn out
| the same kind of ships for less money,
of course they are going to build them,
and the policy of the government has
been to drive American capital to Eng
lish yards or turn it from the channels OF
this line of commerce. This bill tells a
tale and is full of commentaries. 1t
Il. -, Iy,,ll i.
of the past renders this or something of
the kind of immediate necessity. 1t
tells us what we have before intimated
that it requires a philosopher to be a
competent tariff legislator, and that
heretofore such philosophers have not
composed the greater part of Congress.
What kind of policy Is it that protects
one interest at the extinction of another,
and that other commerce Certainly not
d wise national policy.
The 9th section of the bill provides
that, whenever in time of war or threat
ening invasion. the President shall deem
it advisable, ships built under the prOvi-
siOns of this act may be taken for the
naval service, after being duly appraised
by an appraiser appointed by the gov
eminent, and one selected by the owner
of said vessel. and payment made there
for. THE significant feature of the bill
is full of silent mPaning-cOmmerce en-
feehled. navy depleted, and is case any
of the lowering war clouds upon Onr
foreign borders should burst. how should
one act. Perhaps something like the
old farmer who had always to get his
house shod before he could 90 for doc
tor for his suffering wife. Future exer-
gencies may demand navy Could one
be improvised from our present mer-
chant marine If so, and it were done
what would then be the condition of
our foreign commerce? These are the
practical questions suggested not only
by this bin but by existing circumstan-
ces at home and abrOad-circumstan
in which all American citizens are
equally concerned and will do well to
give their attention for a while.
THE HOUSE.
All the hard work done by the Senata
Al. I