Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-23
DAN .S,,nAlOet soarGai
400 q -s'r A,
SAT trday Morning. RI rnary u, ls7s.
From the National Union.
Free Ships.

(sec. 2l) provides Tor the admission OF
foreign built vessels To American registry
and as compensation to the American
shipbuilder, allows the Introduction OF
sbip-buiding material free o! duty.
the hill should become "a law there would
be no American vessels built, and the adj
mission of ship-bulding material free OF
duty would be of no consequence. 10
fact. the pre- sent law, which allows the
admission of material for ship-building
free of duty, is only awaited OF TO limit
ed extent. and that principally for the re-
pair of vessels. In the year 1876. one
last officially reported,) only single ar
iicle of sbip-bulder's material Nellow
metal) was Withdrawn under the provis-
ion referred to, and that only TO the
amount of Sl1S,000, giving y drawback
of about $50, 600 And this limited
amount is all that is proposed to allow the
American shipbuilder, as against his for
eign competitor, who has the advantage
of cheap labor, cheap capital and the ac-
tive support of his government 10 the ex-
tent necessary 10 make his business sue
cessful. Most OF the material for ship
building is about as cheap in this country
as in Eng land, and such as is not AS cheap
cannot advantageously be imported. in
the shape required for the builders use
But the chief objection to the free ship
provision of the tariff bill is the induce
ment which would be offered to English
ship owners to place their shipping under
the American flag for the purpose OF OBJ
tanning the advantages OF our valuable
coastwise trade. Such a policy would
place the whole tonnage of the United
States at the mercy of the foreign ton
mage, which might be run into the country
and occupy the field now held by our own
ship owners The interest, which il is
thus proposed to sacrifice, was, according
to the last annual report on commerce and
navigation, 4,279, 45s tons of shipping,
which, at the average value of $40 per
ton, Ga very low estimate.) represents
value of Sl7I, 17S, $40. and gives employ
ment directly to 100, 600 seamen. OF this
tonnage, 1924 ,s04 tons are exclusively in
the coastwise trade, while the balance al
ternates between the foreign and coast
wise trade, as interest may dictate. ii
the provision for the admission of for
egn-buit ships to American registry was
limited to vessels hereafter to be built,
our builders would stand some chance in
competing with their foreign rivals but.
applying it to vessels already built, would
be absolutely destructive to the American
shipping interests. 1t would offer a pre-
MUM against our own people, and place
an interest, in which is invested nearly
$500, 600, 900, at the mercy of our foreign
rivals. In case OF general European
war, which is probable. the tonnage OF
the belligerent nations would seek the
protection of the American flag. and I'M
der its cover secure the advantages which
legitimately belong to our own citizens.
On the other hand. by adhering to the
policy which we have thus far maintained
since the foundation of the Government,
we shall obtain not only all the advantage
es of a neutral nation, in the profitable
employment of our present shipping, but
also the advantage resulting from build
ing the needed increase on tonnage. which
could be constructed as fast as required,
thereby securing the very best class of
modern ships in the construction of which
we should employ our furnaces, our ma
chine shops and our ship yards. The diff
ference between policy that would send
hundred million dollars out of the coun-
try to purchase shipping and the policy
that would expend the same amount in
constructing that shipping in our own
country can be readily appreciated. Nor
is this ALL The construction Of this Amer
lean tonnage gives US real American
merchant marine, which will be Differed
and manned by Americans and which
may be made available for an auxiliary to
the Navy in case OF war. The true poll
CIV of the United States is to encourage
the construction of American shipping.
and to foster this great interest, not only
on account of the benefit which 1t con-
fers upon the nation by increasing its
wealth in time of peace, but also on ac-
count of its value as means of national
defense in time of war.
The policy OF granting the privileges
of the American flag to American built
vessels only, is the policy under which
we attained the position of first-class
power, position which. but for the war
we should have held until to-day. BY
continuation of that policy we shall regain
all we have lost. Let US not sacrifice our
advantagesby the adoption of an unwise
policy or by any rash experiments.