Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-01-03
what Crippies our shipping.

what Cripples our shipping.
The American people are slowly OF
ening their eyes and beginning to ur
derstand why they cannot OF rather d
not compete with En- glsh shipping
and John Roach in bis practic al 7
marks at the Chicago Tariff Conventio,
did much to open their eyes. We sup
pose it never occurred TO the people un
til John Roach told them that Ameri
can shipping was taxed to death b.
Americans themselves. His remark
were published in yesterdays REPUBLI
-CAN and if they have not been gener
aNly read, we would advise our reader
In 'ook them up and read them. TIE,
vii, ear re-reading over and over, un
II, the truth becomes firmly imbeddeG
in tho mi ids of the people. 1t is not to
Ia vordar VI at that we cannot com
pete with English shipping when
American lines are practically taxed tc
death by local corporations at the
American end of I'll = line Here is an
American line of shil y nNe IN nun Der
worth s., O0O, 900, runnil g semi-h'onth'y
between New York and N'aEPoo'' ou'
it is distinctively America ! "RN &c"
York is its starting point. "'.' Hnoie
Is an English line of ships, five '" 'tNu :
ber, worth 100000, running "o4'''
monthly between Liverpool apA way W.,
York, but it is distinctively Ell g IVA
-, :. 49, NNtt.
Both lines in every respect have |. Y
same advsntages-the same privileges
to earn money, so far as starting equal
and there Is no good reason why ore
line should not earn as much as ii Ell
other. So far the comparison is equal
but here comes diverging point and wei
hope that the readers Of the RErUBLI |
CAN will see where the point comes I'M
At New York looks upon ships the
same as upon houses and lots, takes the
ships at tn ,ir real valuation of $1,000,
900 and piles on a tax of two and half
per cent. the same as is laid upon
houses. This tax, it will be seen,
amounts to $50 900 per annum. AT the
English end of the line different, aud
We must say more equitable course is
pursued. Instead of taxing the capital
invested-S2, 100000 a TAX of one per
cent. on the net profits is laid. If thel
profits would amount to eight per cent. !
on sne capi'al i"'es'''' ID "01'" ee.eA
100000 CIV ID per reht. on that
amount would be 81, 800, as the total
tax at thu. english end of the line. The
az ference Is easily calculated and
stands thu American tax, S3o,oooi
English FAX, 81, 900; difference in favor
of the English line S,4Oo. Is 1t any
wonder American ships are driven ou'
of the water and England gathers up
the carrying trade of the ocean IL Is
not the pro ection thrown arouna
American shipping that initiates
against American ships. 1t is this To-
cal taxation which grinds them down
into the dust.
The question then arises, how would
we tax American vessels? Why, jusi
as England taxes her ships, and just as
the most of the States tax railroad
earnings-so much per cent. on the he'
earnings. Thi, principle is distinctive
ly American and tAis was the princi-
ple adopted for some time by the Della
ware Legislature in taxing tine Phila
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad Company, until the tax be
comm oppressive, a compromise WaSl
effected between The state and she
Company, aud he latter now pays $40,
900 per aunum ~ the State IL lieu Ol
all other taxes.
This onerous 'aXatiOn Of steamship
oil course is only one OF the causes Ci sNri
inability to comp te with the rNgiSII i,
In the carry irade Of the cct3n. Even
this lutte am tagt 4 1000 local tax on
property WORT 5000 900 IL effectually
Fade Of 10 accouun ny The large suosl
dies given by tue Eug ish government
for carrying the 'nAlls and Tor the per
formances Of other government busl
ness. In fac, + litsu lines OF steam
ships are asst l'.l p cuniarlly III man
tanning thtmse yes, while mere II
America, loca municipal corporatoHs
Hre not only pc nitted to levy exorOi'
taut taxes upo, American vessels, put
the governme ,wthnoids all support
Congress az j.. rr mt session, c0uIr
do nothi h'I'r Ian 10 regulate Va
local taxation ut Au rinau steamships,
by preventD4 ,o.a municipal corpora
tious from tasting tuem out Of exis''
ence, as ,junu i,o,ch shows plainly i'
h the case g. Nn4 Yug Were thu
onerous tay ,,art hs-lf per ceot
on the va.ua ~ seam snip lines re-
moved, Ame tc.u ycsels even then
without a ST al y F.om The governmert
could main, % Jbemseiyes upon the
ocean.
T.,v ,,pp,.,., f tup kEPITBI,IIA