Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-09
ns - to which reference was made !.

I. Every seaman OF an American ves-
sci, Is required by our laws to pay hos
pital tax of 10 cents per month; while
no such tax is imposed upon the seamen
of the English vessels. The English
government makes appropriations from
its own treasury to support hospitals. AS
the imposition of the hospital tax on sail
ors inevitably results in increasing the
wages of seamen Of American vessels to
the extent of this duty, it places Ameri.
can shipping at disadvantage in compel.
ing with English vessels.
Is this another one Of the protective
props.
8. There is not single official ser
vice done or official paper issued to an
American vessel, in either the foreign oil
coastwise trade, in which the fee is not
larger than that charged an English ship
under British laws.
We even discriminate against Ameri-
lean shipping engaged in the foreign
trade, which are nearly all sailing YES
sells, by giving TO steam ships-mainly
foreign-special privileges in dischargine
cargo in order to save time and expense
while our laws withhold the same priv
leges from American sailing vessels com.
peting with English steamships.
We have also Disseminated against
American sailing vessels by imposing
tonnage tax annually. instead Of on each
entry, thus making the tax on American
sailing vessels four times as large as or
English steamships, in proportion to bus
mess done.
Is this 1.-the most ample protection
described by the gentleman from Tenne-
see
The application of the principle o
protection to our shipping interests woul ID
give rebate Of tonnage tax to American
shipping, instead of practical discrimi
nation against it.
9 The English ship engaged in The
foreign carrying trade takes her own sup
plies out Of bond, duty free. The
American ship, though compelled to com
pete with the British ship on the ocean,
is required 10 buy imported supplies
without relief from duties.
10. There is no limit to the liability
of the American ship owner for damages
BY the laws of England, the liability OF
each part owner is limited to the value
OF his individual interest in the vessel
and the total liability Of all the owners is
limited to the value Of the vessel at tie
time Of the accident. II we are to COM
pete with England on the ocean, we
must hasten to modify our laws, as Eng
land did some time ago, so as to impose
no unnecessary burdens on the American
ship-owner.
IL. American vessels engaged in
the foreign carrying trade, are unJustly
disseminated against in the compensation
awarded them for transporting the mails.
Our domestic mails are carried by coast
and river steamers. railroads and other
carriers at rates of compensation fixed by
contract, satisfactory to the carrier and
always profitable. On the other hand,
our foreign mails are carried by our ships
under compulsion Of law, atinadequa,e
rates arbitrarially fixed by Government.
and which never exceed the postage on
the matter carried The pay for the for
mer in $50, averaged 81 l-2 cents per
mile that of the latter only l-2 cents
Per mile.
While England, yes, free trade Eng
land is encouraging her foreign steam
ship lines by generous appropriations for
carrying the mails-so generous that
they are practically subsidies-we are
refusing to pay ours enough to defrsy
the actual costs.
Is this one of the protective props
referred to by the gentleman from Ten
nessee
l2. But it is the important item Of
taxation. under State authority, that
American shipping engaged in the for
eigu crrrying trade, is most seriously
weighted in competing with English ves-
sells. The English system of taxing in
come and not invested capital, makes
taxation bear lightly on shipping, and
acts as bounty to English commerce.
An English steamship worth $500, 900.
and earning seven per cent, or $4,000,
annually, pays an income tax Of l per
cent, or only $3.50. The same steam
ship, owned by an American residing in
an American city, would be taxed 2 per
cent on its value, or 10000. Excess Of
American over English tax on such a
steamship. 6,5OO-and that, too. when
taxation per capita is greatet in England