The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-05-08
American Shipping.

Through the folly aud mistaken
policy ofOur Government, in stub
bOrnly adherIng to its ancient and
antiquated navigation laws, to af.
ford protection to slip building at
home, it has destituted the seas of
American vessels, almost destroyed
our carrying trade, and enabled
foreign capital to monOpolize our
ocean commerce.
1t is estimated that the loss to
Onr shipping and ship-building, by
allowing foreigners to mOnOpoIize
Onr carrying trade, amounts to
$3.50, 900, 900 annually in cash, as
that is the amount paid to foreign.
ers for freight and passage, all of
which could be saved to Onr own
people but for the mischeivous
shipping and navigation laws
which prohibit an American citizen
from importing a foreign built YES
sci, in the sense of purchasing, and
acquiring a registry, or using her
as his property.
We find in a brief analysis of
these unfavorable laws made by
Lieut.. Kelly, of the navy, some
facts and comments which 90 to
show how American shipping is
embarrassed, and our ocean com.
merce is injured.
The prOhibitOry laws against the
purchase of foreign built vessels by
Americans, he says, are of a class
with those forbidding the impOrta.
ton of counterfeit money and OBJ
scene goods. Besides, an Ameli-
can vessel ceases TO be such flown.
ed in the smallest degree by nat
uralized citizen who may, after
having acquired the purchse, reside
more than one year in his native
country.
In concluding his report Lieut..
Kelly says:
Foreign capital may build our
railroads, work our mines, insure
our property, and buy our bonds
but single dollar of foreign capi-
tai invested in an American ship so
taints it as to render it unworthy
OF the benefit of our laws.
AS one of the results of this ad.
verse legislation, it is stated that
in 1856 the per centage of the car
rying trade to and from our cOun.
try in American vessels was 1872;
in 1861, so; in 1856, 27.7; In 1871
31.2; and in 1880, ia. In 1885 it.
is still further reduced. Here We
see how rapidly our ocean business
is dwindliDg down into utter iusig-
niicance.
a war between England and Rus.
Sia, should one occur, would be of
immense profit to American ship
ping were we IN in possession of
anything like mercantile navy.
But, in our present condition, We
could not avail ourselves of auy ad-
'antages that might be held out to
'us. The immense carrying trade
which England now largely con-
rolls would be divided among
france, Germany and Spain. The
United States would get no part of
I, because we have no ocean steam
rs, except those engaged in the
trade.
The facts all tend to show the
ecessity of repeating our present
avigatiOn laws, and of allowing
american citizens an opportunity
o buy foreign built vessels, and
all them under the American flag.
England will have plenty of them
Or sale, as her shipping will be
nven from the seas by Russian
aRd the cOlors of neu.
raj nations will be those under
Ihich the carrying trade will be
during war between
he two great powers that are now
efying each other IN the most men,
cling manner.
The question of modification of
ur blundering navigation laws is
sufficient importance to warrant
q extra session of Congress. In
Ict, we see by our exchanges that
war be declared a strong press
re will be brought upon the PTesi-
snt to convene Congress to repeal
I'd reconstruct our marine code.