The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-05-03
An Attempt to Steal Orr Coasting Trade.

The free ship bill now before the House, of
which Mr.. PoindcXter Dunn of Arkansas is the
putative father, in an un-American measure,
to speak of it in the mIdc>t possible terms.
But that was perhaps to he expected. Mr..
Dunn. whose co@nomen would indicate Eng
li>h birth or descent. represents a con>ti
tuency who neither build nor sail ships. and
who would like to cripple a d>tinetively New
England industry. Mr. Dunn is no doubt only
too happy to ohlige them, and at the same time
to serve an Administration which derives its
inspiration from the other side of the Atlantic.
and i, the foe of all American interests and
industries. except those located below Mason
and piXon'> line \ majority report on this
bill WAS secured 10y the vote of Representative
Leopold Morse. of Boston. aptly named by tho
Marine journal of New York. "A hanl-me-
down statesman. The minority report says:
The bill originates in remarkable manner.
for aside from the bare majority of the mem
herS of the committee who voted TO report the
bill faNOrahly to the House and the individual
who advocated the inclusion Of our coa>twi>e
tonnage i'll the provisions Of the bill. not a per
son. nor a company. nor maritime >ocaion.
nor Board of Trade. nor Il trades guild. or UNI
luii OF Workin-men. nor a single Knight Of La
Dor. nor an American sailor. nor an American
merchant. nor AN American shipper has by per-
Sona appeal or petition asked for the enact
ment of the bill into law. In this respect the
free ship policy of reNlNiIg and restoring the
American merchant marine is unique. to say
The least. 1t is a serious injustice to the ship
building industry. in that il proposes to place
un the free list completed manufacture of the
most complicated character. while every other
completed manufacture imported from Il for
"lgn country Is left with duty OF al least 30
per cent II is true that section OF the bill
allows the importation of Shplui!ding matters
Ms free of duty. But this is onls Il morkery.
for the reason that the material, of even an
iron vessel constitute but :, small part of her
cost.
While. a. the minority report says. this mca-
sure has moi been asked for by those Interested
in shipping engaged in >hipbuilding, more
than hundred thousand workngmen, meclan-
ic- and business men have demonstrated against
il and asked for the passage of the nav gatioh
bounty bill. The amendment prohibiting for
"ign built vessels from engaging in the coast
ing trade is a concession Of no real value and
would he easily cvAdrd. A. the minority re-
port SAYS: at would he Impossible to resist
the appeal that would come from every man
who imported and registered such a vessel to
allow him TO Use the vessel in AL trades. Good
lawyers maintain that when vessel j. graft
ri AN American register She cannot he denied
all the privileges which the laws grant to
American vessels, and that the law in this re-
Spect would he void The passage of the free
ship bill would be the death knell of the Amer
lean coastn@ trade now carried on by Amer
leans in American built vessels ar, that l. the
principal prize the British lobby in Washing
ton has in view.