New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-16
i STEP TOWARD FREE SHIPS.

Senator Scwell, of New-Jersey, has offered,
and Senator Cameron, of PENNSYLVANIA, mas
reported to the Senate, bill which deserves
public censure and defeat. The close relations OF
those Senators with the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company do not Justify them in breaking down
fol- its benefit the American policy OF protection.
They are sent to the Senate, not as seN ants Of
the Pennsylvania Company, but as servants OF
the people, and they represent two great
States, PENNSYLVANIA and NewJersey, in which
nearly all the people of both parties uphold the
policy of protection. They we're both chosen
by the Republican party to represent its prin-
ciples, and their constituents have right to
expect them to be faithful to Republican
principles.
The bill, as reported by Mr.. Cameron,
authorizes the International Navigation Com
pany. otherwise known "a the Red Star Line
which is controlled by the Pennsylvania Com
pany 10 register as vessels of the United States
ten foreign-built steamships. These vessels
are nov or hereafter may DC owned by a cor
operation, sOciGtG dR0nymc or association III the
mature of corporation, created or organized
"under the laws of foreign Government, in
switch the said international Navigation Com
@pany is or shall be actually and bona tide the
"owncr of not less than a majority of the
"shares" In short, the Pennsylvania. operat-
ing through the International Company, has
been running vessels under color of a foreign
corporation. but wants to get them registered
rs American vessels, with tine right to engage
in coastwise trade, and so asks that Congress
will set aside for its special benefit the nayiga-
ton laws enacted for the protection of Amer
lean shipbuildng. Why should this favor be
granted to the Pennsylvania Company, and not
to everybody else who may wish to buy foreign
ships for American trade! Why should ten
hips be thus admitted, and not ten hundred
If the Senate is prepared to vote down the
policy Of protection, it ought to do so rs a
matter of public interest aud welfare, and in
such form rs to give equal advantages to all
who wish to buy and run foreign-built ships,
and not as an act Of favOrilism to the Pcnnsyl
wanna Company.
The form of the bill indicates that Senator
Sewell, who offered it, and Senator Cameron,
who voted with Democrats III committee to
report it favOrably, do not venture to propose
fee ships for everybody. They both know
that such a proposal would be regarded with
intense Indignation by the Republicans and
even by most of the Democrat of their States.
Yet they also know that if this special act
for the benefit of one corporation is passed,
other corporations will demand equal priyi-
lcges. They cannot be ready to affirm that
Congress ought to legisiate for the benefit of Il
steamship company controlled BY the Pennsyl
vania and aganst steamship lines that are or
may be controlled by the Baltimore and Ohio
the Erie, the New-York Central, or the South
ern Pacific. 1t becomes them, therefore, if
they are not ready to set aside entirely the laws
for the protection Of shipbuilderS of this
country, to withdraw this bill, as . measure of
fdvOIitism which servants Of the people can
never be expected to support. If they are
ready to break down the policy of protection,
they owe their designations to constituents who
elected them for different purpose. In spite
of a detection from Il source SO unexpected
Republican Senators ought TO vote down the
bill as an entering wedge of free trade which
could not be passed without destroying the
harmony of industries by which the protective
system is justified and upheld.