Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-04
Our Shipping Interests.

One of the most important questions now
under discussion in this country is that which
relates to our shipping interests. 1t is sin
gular fact that, with the growth of other in
dustries, the vast increase of our commerce,
and the growing intimacy of our relations
with other countries, Our maritime interests
have of late years languished and decayed.
England conducts her own commerce and
that of other nations in ships which she
builds and owns : Germany, though having
but very little commerce of her own, buys
ships of England, and carries the goods
of all nations but the commerce of the Unit
ed States is carried on in ships of foreign ma
tionality, for the benefit of other than her own
people. As our commerce in imports and
exports now amounts to upwards of one billion
dollars, and is annually increasing, the profit
TO be derived from our carrying trade is some
thing which We can i'll afford to lose and the
fact that our seamen have been compelled to
abandon it almost wholly to foreign competi-
ton is one not at all creditable to our national
thrift and enterprise.
Unfortunately it is easier to point out the
causes which have combined to produce this
state of things than 10 agree as to what is the
proper remedy.
The fact which first meets our inquiry is
that American built ships cost one-third more
than those built in England, and there is, CON
| sequently, one-third more interest and insur-
ance at stake besides which, our vessels are
taxed as personal property at the rate of p
per cent, in addition to a national tax Of 30
cents per ton and, TO cap the climax, the
laws of the United States, by way of protect
ing the interests of our ship-builders, abso-
lutely prohibit the purchase of vessels built in
| other countries
Here is the dilemma, and the question is
how to get out of it. We know of but three
ways by which escape is possible. Either our
Yankee ingenuity must contrive some way to
build a superior or cheaper class of vessels
than we now have, or the prohibition upon
the purchase of foreign ships must be remov-
ed, and our merchants be allowed to buy them
of whomsoever can build them cheapest, or,
third, we must adopt a wholesale system of
subsidies like that proposed by Mr.. Blaine,
who last week introduced into the senate
bill for this purpose. His bill provides that
Owners of American steamships of 5000 tons
register or upward constructed after approved
models and equal in accommodations, safety
and speed to the mail-carrying vessels of any
nation, shall be entitled to receive for carry
ing the United States mails on regular lines of
such steamships, from any port or ports in
the United States to any foreign port or ports
mail compensation not exceeding $50 per
| nautical Ynila IL.
way for ~ round trips per annum $40 per
mile for "a trips, and $50 per mile for As
trips per annum, in accordance with contracts
to be made for such mail transportation by
the Postmaster General, after public adver-
tisement for proposals, with the lowest bid
ders on each line for terms not exceeding if
teen years, and upon all the conditions for
securing rapid and efficient transportation
which are usual and established by law in sim
liar cases. Only those steamships shall be
accepted for such service which have been
built in American ship-yards, of American
material, and by American mechanics; and
they shall be commanded by citizens of the
| United States, and manned by crews of whom
at least three-fourths are American citizens
and before being accepted they shall be duly
inspected under the direction of the Postmas-
ter General and the Secretary of the Navy f.;
and such secretary may also allow any officer
of the navy leave of absence for a period not
exceeding five years. for the purpose of serv-
ing on such ships, which absence shall be
without pay, but without prejudice to rank or
| promotion"
This plan of paying subsidies may be very
good and necessary one in certain cases and
to certain extent; but it appears to us en-
tirely inadequate to the purpose. At best it
is but a stimulus it does not touch the dis
ease. 1t is hardly to be supposed that the
country would be willing, year after year, to
make up to all our ship-owners the losses they
may incur in endeavoring to compete with
the vessels of other nations in the worlds OF
our own cOuntry's traffic. 1t strikes us that
the first thing to be done is to repeal our reg
istry laws. If with the protection afforded
our ship-builders they are unable to produce
what we require, let us try the effect of free
trade. Very likely even this alone and of it.
self would not at once remedy the evil but
it would be the right kind of beginning,
without which subsidies or other measures
would avail little, and the sooner it is brought
about the better.