Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-11
The Taxation of Ship Property.


| To the Editor Of the Boston Journal:
In conversation with Secretary Blaine.
| when last in Washington. | took occasion to
| refer to the attempt Of our State Legislature
to change the mode Of taxing ship property
| engaged in the foreign carrying trade. 1t at
| once ELECTED his interest and attention, and
I inclose letter since received from him in
reference to it.
The Special Committee on Commerce in
its recent Investigations found. as set forth in
their report. that the tax question was the
most serious drawback to our foreign navi-
CATION interests and an obstacle easily re
moved without working injustice to other
classes of property.
l hope Massachusetts, will improve the
opportunity she now has TO lead in this move
ment sure to come as she has led in many
good works before. WM. A. Russell.
Lawrence. May 7, 1881.
WASHINGTON. MAY 9, 1881.
Hon. VIM. 4. Russell, !M G. Laurence,
Mass:
My Dear Sir-The removal of local taxa
ton from vessels engaged in the foreign
trade would be an immense help in the effort
to revive American commerce. Since our
onversation in regard to bill to that effect
| now pending before the Massachusetts Leg
islature, have felt impelled to write you
| word in the hope that | may quicken your
zeal in urging its passage.
II ships in the foreign trade of the United
States can be taxed as in other countries. upon
| their incomes and not upon their cost, |
think a great step would be taken in the
right direction. No person paying taxes on
| other property need complain Of an unfair
| discrimination, because if we can encourage
shipbulding in this way we will secure an
| income tax, whereas, if we do not quickly do
| something to develop our navigation interest
| we shall be utterly driven from the SEA bv
| our wiser and more far-siehted rivals. In
other words, il would be better to have the
navigation property made prosperous under
wise system Of taxation than to have it en-
tirely disappear under an unwise system.
| There need be no jealousy on the part OF
the coasting trade, because that is conf ned to
| American vessels. and those engaged in il
are all sailing under the same conditions and
have only to encounter a fair and honorable
competition among themselves. But American
ships in the foreign trade do not sail under
the same conditions with ships Of European
countries. We place burdens and costs and
taxes upon our vessels from which vessels Of
foreign countries are exempt. In short. we
load them down with exactions and oppress-
ions, and then rub our eyes and wonder that
| American ships do not hold their own in the
international contest for the trade Of the
world. There is not a manufacturing interest
in New England or any other part of the
L nited States that would not be swept out OF
existence if subjected to the same conditions
that for years have oppressed American
shipping.
believe the Government Of the United
States will speedily remove every tax. restric.
ton and discrimination which by its authority
stands in the way of American commerce.
To that end ] shall assiduously labor. But
the movement in Massachusetts is more i'm.
portant than any step hitherto taken for oui
sbipbuilding and commercial interest.
| sincerely trnst il will succeed. The
example would be followed in other Common.
wealths and we should have a race between
the commercial States a To which could dc
the most in the wav of tightening the burden.
upon our navigation interests. When thai
form Of rivalry becomes active the day 70,
our commercial supremacy will have daw ned
Very sincerely yonrs.
JAMES G. BLAINE.