Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-14
The Question of Free ships.

We have received copy Of report
recently made by a committee of the
Young Mems Democratic Club OF New
York city on the subject of free ships.
It shows a thorough study of this very
important subject, and gives statistics,
based upon careful investigation, which
demonstrate to what an alarming extent
our carrying trade has suffered under our
prese 1t unjust registry laws, and how
our commerce is being ruined. and how
absolutely we are being subjected to the
mercy of foreign shipowners, to whom
American shippers are forced to pay
enormous tribute annually in the way of
freights-the effect of the protective
system as it applies to our merchant
marine.
From this report we gather the follow
ing significant facts: In 1879 we had
only 123. 500 tons of shipping. In 1851
the amount had reached :. 496 1914 tons.
In 1881, after twenty years of protection
under Republican rule, and in spite of
the immense increase of the wealth and
population of the country, the total had
shrunk to 1897, OBS tons-almost one
half. Our merchant marine in 1861 was
!. 539. S13 tons, while in 1881 1t was only
4,O57, 734 tons. In 1856, IS per cent of
our exports and imports were carried in
American ships; in 1861 we carried IS
per cent, but in 1881 we carried only Is
per cent. AS the New York Star well
says, these figures are the statistics of
decay in one of the most important ele-
ments of business essential to the growth
and permanent prosperity of the country.
In March last $4,000 tons of freight left
that port in one week, and only 5000
tons Of it was carried in American YES
sells. In fact no other nation gives TO
commerce so much merchandise as the
United States, and if half of our COM
mercial trade were done in our own ships
we should have the largest merchant
marine in the world.
The remedy recommended by the com
mittee above mentioned for this unfortu.
nate state of affairs is an heroic one, but
it is evidently the only effective one
which can be adopted. 1t is simply that
our present unjust registry and naviga-
ton laws, which have been fastened
upon the country by the Republicans for
the sole benefit of few New England
shipbuilders, be repealed, and that, in
lieu thereof, law should be enacted to
the effect that lit shall be lawful here
after for all citizens of the United States
to buy ships built, in whole or in part,
in any foreign country and have them
registered as ships of the United States,
and when so registered, such ships, so
bought, shall be entitled to all the rights
and subject only to the same regulations
as are now provided by law for the
government and management of ships
built wholly within the United States
and owned and controlled by citizens
thereof. providing that ships so bought
shall not enter into the coasting trade of
the United States"
This is the only true remedy for the
evil under consideration, for it is the
only one which will save our carrying
trade and stop the heavy tribute now
being levied by foreign shipowners upon
American shippers. Nor will this be
the only benefit which will result from q
repeal of our Ubiquitous tariff and navi-
CATION laws. We could build vessels as
cheaply in this country as they can be
constructed anywhere else, if the mate
rails which enter into their construction
could be as cheaply procured
here as elsewhere. So BY civ
ing us free ships, not only would
our merchant marine be restored, and
the millions of dollars which are now
annually sent out of the country in the
way of freights to go into the pocket
of the foreign shipowner, be retained
at home, but the great and important
industry of shipbuilding, which should
give employment to thousands of Ameri-
can worknen, would be generally re-
vived. 1t is not to be expected, however,
that a Republican Congress can so far
forget partisan and sectional advantages
for the general welfare. Still the needed
reforms must come in time. The people
demand them, and they are inevitable