National Republican., 1883-01-10

Slldlll OF kclNlOR sumo lOlelEuct 10 curry Jul
flag. That was not defense, but protection.
Mr.. Hammond then proceeded TO argue
against the cOnstitutiOnality oftho section oX-
cmpting ships from state taxation.
MIR. Page gave notice of an amendment
which he was authorized by the committee to
offer 60 tho eighteenth section, providing that
the amount of drawback paid under this sec
ton shall not exceed $40 per net ton of adj
measurement in the case Of sailing vessels, or
S2j per ton in case of steamships and tho en-
tire amount Of drawback paid in any one year
shall not exceed the amount Of the tonnage
tax collected in such year.
Mr.. Reed expressed his surprise that gem
tlcmau holding such free trade views as did
the gentleman from New York (Nir. Cox
should be so Clamorous in regard to this ques-
tion of transportation. Tho principle OF free
trade was that man should buy what he
wanted at the cheapest market. No matter
whether he employed our own lahOring mon
or the lGboring men Of other lands. If that
were true as TO manufactures Il ought to be
equally true in regard to transportation. Ac-
cording TO that principle If freight could be
carried for less cost in foreign bottoms there
was no consistency in asking what dag foated
upon the masthead.
Addressing himself to general considera-
ton Of the bill, Mr. Reed expressed himself
rs in favor of it, Evcry nation should be
prepared for war, not by an enormous navy,
hut by the means of building an enormous
navy at once. The country must have ship
yards IL must have plants; IL must encour-
age shipbuilding and be fully equipped in
time of war. Tho gentleman from Georgia
lMr. Hammond) said that the south had
instantly without resources built the Merri-
mac. That was true but it was only done in
ono instance. The people of the
south were beaten because they had
not resources necessary FOR manufacturing
articles suitable for war, and it was no dis
credit to them to say that fewer people, less
brave than they, had maintained their free
dom against greater odds than the south had
to meet, and it was because they were suili-
cient unto themselves. The difficulty with
tho shipping interest was people could make
moro money in other business. In order to
build up commerce the government would
have to start it, and mombers ought to be
willing to pay to start the business or else
forever after hold their peace.
Mr.. Speer contended that the language of
Jefferson, quoted by Mr.. Hammond, did not
alludc to the probability of the war of .1Sl2,
but did allude to precisely the condition of
ailnirs under which the country now suffered.
Madison and Washington had taken the same
ground, and the historian Allison, i'm descrb-
ing the war of 1912, declared that the sources
of the strength of the American navy were the
merchant marine and the fact that its seamcu
could be drawn from that service. The United
States had no merchant marine now and the
government was reduced to the humiliuting
necessity of having school ships for the train
ing of scamcn. He was opposed TO the free
ship amendment which would make the
United States absolutely dependent on other
nations. II would take about $20O,00O00O to
restore our merchant marine, and under that
clause ii would be expended in Great Britain
and lost to America. Build up the merchant
marine, and the navy would be built up;
build up the navy, and the name of America
INtFl,n
Mr.. Ladd said that the story of government
legislation on the subject OF shipping for the
past twenty years was n history Of mistakes
and blunders. 1t was time that an attempt
should be made to correct that legislation,
though he was afraid that this bill would not
complete the object it was desired to perfect.
Mr.. Rosecrans, after dwelling on the inn
portance of building up n merchant marine,
declared that he would vote for the bill If
proper restrictions were placed upon the 18th
section.
Mr.. Holman denied that the bill would pro-
mote commerce, and protested against the en-
| tire system of subsidies which YVES entered
upon by this extraordinary 18th sectiOn.'
He intimated that there wash lobby in Wash
ing urging the passage of the bill.
| Mr.. Robson said that it was not until the
| present generation that men had dared to dis
puto the principle that it was the duty of the
national legislature to take all the means
| lllilU were netcaouIY 10 keep Wllnlil ltS grasp
as far as It could the dominion of the seas. If
the United States was to be independent in
| peace and powerful in war it must keep
| within its own control that commerce which
was the Vehicle of influence and the wcapOns
of war. The country was to-day presented
with the issue whether il would give up all
| its carrying trade, 'Or whether il would help
to build up. Why had the United States
lost her Influence on this continent? Did
| the United States to-day control this
continent as she ought to control and domi-
nate rs tho responsible nation of the COnti-
nent? No; that was given up to England
and TO France. The United States controlled
nothing on the Spanish main; nothing in
! South America. |Tho trade of South America,
its developments its civilization, its progress,
and its foreign and domestic policy had faded
away under our influence, and responded to
| the touch of English interest and English gold.
Why was it? Because England had main
| tanned her commerce; had opened, when nee
| cssary, the doors of her treasury, had subsi-
died her ships, and had stripped the burdens
from her carrying trade There was no one
| line of commercial trade which England estab-
! lishod round the world that sho had not taken
care to establish on firm basis by SO protect
ing and sustaining it that it not only was able
to maintain itself but TO drive out all compe-
tition. Congress was called on by tho press
all over the country, by the intelligent de-
/
trade on firm basis How was it to be
done? BY fostering it, not by fostering its
rivals. This bill was an attempt in that di-
rection. 1t went By no means as far rs he
would wish, but he supported II because il was
the best measure he could get He favored
the drawback section, though admitting that
il would take money from the treasury, but
you could not have your omclct unless You
broke eggs. lic knew Of no lobby here of
which the gentleman from Indiana tNIr. Hol
man) spoke. He was speaking in the interest
of the American people.
Mr.. Springer inquired whether the 81 ,4OO,-
600 received from the tonnage tax wOuld en-
able American shpbuilders to compete with
foreign shipbuildersi
Mr. Robson replied that it would do some
thing toward it. But gentlemen on the other
side, with their free-trade amendment, de-
sired TO open the flood gates Of the Tyne and
the Clyde to swallow up the manufacturing
interests of the United States. lie did not
see what that proposition had to do with this
bill This was a bill to encourage American
commerce, to protect American shipbuilding,
and give to our flag the foreign carrying
trade
Mr. Cannon inquired whether the effect of
the bill would not be to give a bounty to ship
builders, and allow them to sell their ships to
English subjects?
Mr.. Robson replied that even though that
might be, IL would be for the benefit of Amer
lean commerce and the encouragement Of
American industry.
Tho hill Nvns thpn read nv sortions cor