Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-28
THE SUBSIDY QUESTION.

Arguments of Those Who Favor Bounties TO
Aid american shippers = How Our |
FOREIGN Trade Has Fallen Of-The |
Course Pursued by Great Britnin-Les-
sons From History.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcH.1
w AsHINGToN, October 26.-In view Of the |
fact that the question Of bounties to American
shipping will be one Of the most important be-
fore the coming Congress, review OF the de-
mands of the advocates Of bounty and the
arguments on which they base their demands
is in order To begin with, there is a better
prospect of the success of the bounty scheme
than ever before. The plans of its advocates
are better arranged. the work OF conversion
more systematic, and not in the smallest move
ment Is there scent OF corruption. The hls-
tory of the scandal Of the Pacific Mail, which
gave black eye to every propositlon tor any
thing in the semblance OF subsidy oryears
after that affair. forever put 2 quietns on m pro,
jects to further schemes 1or suDVenIons py tne
corrupt use of money.
The proposition is very simple one. 1t is
the same as that involved in bill which was
before the last Congress, to give to every
American vessel engaged in the foreign trade
80 cents per 1000 miles for every ton OF freight
transported. This would about equalize the
bountIes paid by other countries, IN one form
or another, and, 1t is thought, would enapie
owners of American vessels to successfully
compete with foreigners on their own ground.
subsidies in Foreign Countries.
No other maritime nation now attempts to
avoid bounty to its merchant marine save
America. With the gift of bounty every such
nation has seen prompt and important in
crease of its foreign trade. Even Spain
Jealous of every attempt of the United States
to successfully establish carrying trade IN It's
own vessels between its ports and those OF
South America and the intervening islands, mas
subsidized line OF vessels to parallel every nne
attempted by citizens OF tne uniIeS oLases. s.tas
from the field England gives subsidies amount
ing to about S5,0O0000 a year. France gives
construction bonnties and bounty ABOUT tns
same as that proposed for vessels OF tne Uni.su
States for each ton of freight carried IN tne
trade.
Ttalv piyes bounties, beside navigation
bounty Of l3 cents per net ton per lOOO miles 10
non-European ports lying beyond rmnv Inc Iusl Ssa
to great extent, initiated the policy OF france.
| and with the result Of an immense increase In
its foreign trade.
Great Britain's Carrying Trade.
| Another argument is that Of the history OF
Pacific Mail. For ten years the total amount
| Maid in subsidies to that concern amounted to
| little more than 81, 900 and in that time tne
actual net gain to the Government over anu
above subsidy, in the increase o. duties, POSI- o
age and tonnage dues, was close TO NVOV,Vu.
| After the cessation of the subsidy this income
| fell away and a great Chinese trade that nao
| been diverted to the United States reverted TO
| the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Vom-
pany. The next step contemplated w tne
British Government is the extension ol sne nse
now plying between Vancouver and Japanese
and Chinese ports to San FRANCISCO, and VIII VII,
such a subsidy as to wipe out the Pacinc MAIL
line altogether, unless help is extended.
One of the strongest arguments used m sup
port of the bounty project Is the creation OF a
merchant marine which will be available In
time of war. They argue that 1t was tne meI.
chantyessels that saved this country from faillng
into the hands of the British IN the al Oh lolz
and that had 1t not been for the nundreas ooi o.
merchant vessels, and the more tnan oo,Wt
| able seamef who blockaded the Southern ports
during the late war, the South would nave Sc
cured ample arms and support and would have
gained her independence.
| Decadence of American Shipping.
All other maritime countries on giving subsi
dies or bounties stipulate that in case OF wal
the merchant vessels SO aided shall De ayanaoi'
for the use of the Government. The chief ar
gument however, is the humiliating decadenc'
of American shipping, and this Is to oe uset
with powerful effect to awaken tne naIona me
pride and patriotism Of Congress and Of tn
people The advocates of the bounty scnem'
will show that the tonnage of American vessel
engaged in the foreign trade is actually less D.
about lOO, 900 tons than it was 70 years ago. ;.
The American freight carried at this time, Il
American vessels, does not amount 70 more ina
petty 100000 tons. while Great Britain aion On
| carries more than 10000. 600 tons. In lsoo IN
| foreign carving trade Of the United state
Amounted to $4,000 tons, Of which America
vessels carried S.5OOOOO tons. In 1881 the tor
age carried in sailing vessels was 10 6ll 100 toni
and of this foreign vessels carried .oIs
brips engaged in the foreign carrying trao
. of the limited States was 8, ,73l, and OF forelg
vessels / We. In 1881 the American sailing ves
sells numbered l,40S, and the foreign vessels u
082 and of this number Great Britain Ma
upward OF 5OOO.
A Fight for Commercial Rights.
Within the last 50 years Great Britain ha
Maid out in subsidies more than sl6O,OOO,OO
while the United States has paid next to noti
ing.
These are the main features Of the present'
tion made by the advocates Of the bounty OF
cents per ton per 1000 miles, and they argu
: that If this policy be adopted, within te
q | wears the United States will have mercnal
marine equal to that Of amy % Or
of the vast industries of the country; tnat tl
: benefits arising from larger markets, slim
!. lated production and better prices will reps
. | to the people of the whole country tno
= ssnfifold eyery dollar expended for what
2 . termed a bounty, but which is really weaPe
2 of warfare against foreign commerciai Il
. who is driving this country to the wall.
. . It is claimed that the fight Is actually vi
. for our commercial rights and natural rank {
q the hioh seas. and that to gain and hold tn
place the enemy must be fought with his 9v
Il weapons. -
e n,crnnpr nm mur VpIP