The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-12-31

with respect to that brunch which u employed
In foreign commerce and to that branch which
10 employed in the internal commerce Of the
country, has claims to pubic consideration
which cannot possibly Be presented By means
OF statistics Of tonnage built and employed.
The subject has not, however. received that
thorough investigation which its importance
demands. II Is . matter of interest to advert
to the fact that on the 18th of January, 1850.
the French Government adopted the some
what extraordinary scheme Of subventions
for the promotion of the French merchant
marine. Bounties were provided for ships
built in France. and subsidies granted I'm
favor Of al vessels built, at the rate Of ~
francs on every ton for each 1000 miles trav-
eled in voyages to and from that country.
These measures are evidently in a high degree
protective and enabling both as to the ship
ping and commercial interests OF France.
Aside from the appropriations for improving
or providing highways Of commerce, public
sentiment in the United States has always re-
garded with disfavor direct grants from the
Treasury in aid Of particular Industrial or
commercial interests, except for the purpose
of taking the initiative in industries promising
large public benefits in development, or for
the purpose Of promoting enterprises directly
conducive to the Nations safety or conserva-
tive Of the National honor. To what extent
the merchant marine of the United States pre-
sents claims Of this character is a question to
be determined by the legislative branch Of
the Government. The situation OF thu Amer
lean merchant marine is peculiar, SO far as it
relates to the possibility Of adopting discrim-
mating and protective measures which
in their practical operation shall prove to be
beneficial. In so far as relates to industries
other than the building of ships and their en-
plOyment in our commerce with foreign coun-
tries, foreign competition may be regulated
or absolutely shut out through the adjustment
of duties upon imports. This discretionary
power is ample, and may always be exercised
effectively. But the case is entirely different
with the respective branch of our merchant
marine which is engagedin foreign commerce.
The Government of the United States has not
exclusive power of determining the proper
ton OF American shipping which shall be en-
ployed in our trade with any particular for
eign country. 1t is highly important, hOwev-
er, that the Government of the United States
should accord as great advantages to Ameri-
can ships, when engaged in commerce with
foreign nations, as are accorded by the Gov.
ernments of those nations to their own ships
when engaged in commerce with the United
States.
"The question Of restoring the American
mcTCuduL u1tiTluo Is uuuOuDteOly QlmCult
one. Nevertheless, the apparent difficulties ir
the case should be an incentive to a thorough
investigation of the whole subject, in all its
bearings, and to the adoption of all practicable
measures which may tend toward securing the
desired result. The abundance and superiori-
ty of the natural agencies and the force in this
country essential TO success in shipbuilding
and navigation afford a ground for the belief
that prosperity will at some future time dawn
upon the maritime interest of the United
States. Reference is here had especially to
our vast resources Of coal and iron, and the
extent to which inventive genius has, in the
manufacture of iron and in the construction
of ships, substituted mechanical power for
human labor. The approximation of the rate
of interest on money in the United States to
the rates which prevail in the countries of Eu-
rope and the rapid accumulation of surplus
capital in this country are also circumstances
which tend strongly toward turning capital to
investment in ship property