Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04
TARIFF AND SUBSIDY
Brought Into a Lively Discussion in
the Chamber of Commerce.
A REPORT OF GEORGE A. KELLY
Precipitates a Debate Which Brings Out
Many Novel Ideas.
GROWTH OF THE SHIPPING LEAGUE


A reference to the great free trade apostle
David A. Wells, LII. D., at the Chambe
of Commerce meeting yesterday afternoon
brought on a lively discussion of the rela
tions between protective tariff and subsidi
zation. The matter under discussion wa
the report of Mr.. George A. Kelly, delegat
of the Chamber of Congress to the fourtl
annual convention Of the American Ship
ping and Industrial League. Mr.. Kelly
had finished his report and Chairman Mil
Ter called for remarks relative to the indorse
explained by Mr.. Kelly.
Mr.. John B. jackson rose and asked thu
gentlemen present if they had read a recen
article upon subsidization as a national
measure, written by David A. Wells, the
shining light of free trade. In the course oi
his argument against subsidy, Mr.. Well:
instanced the case of France, which had
tried subsidizing the merchant marine with
the effect of securing a temporary boom oi
the shipping trade of the French nation,
but that the ultimate result had been con-
dition worse than before.
IT WAS ALL ONE WAY.
Mr.. jackson mentioned this view of the
matter, as be said, not because he was per-
sonally opposed to the plan of subsidizing
the American carrying trade, but simply in
order to evoke expressions of opinion. He
asked Mr.. Kelly if the recent convention
had paid anv attention to the diverse side
OF the question. Mr.. Kelly replied: "No,
- I IL
protective tariff convention in Pittsburg. 1"
Laughter.
Captain bravo: "Ir should be remem-
bered that the United States is a live and
lively nation. If the plan of subsidizing
French bottoms was not a success, there was
some other reason for it than the failure of
subsidizing as an economic measure. 1t
should be success everywhere"
Mr.. Jackson: "Mr. Wells is considered
an eminent authority as an economic thinker
and writer, although hereto on the tariff
from my standpoint"
Mr.. John H. Ricketson arose with tariff
chip on his shoulder, metaphorically speak
ing: "Mr. President and gentlemen:
would warn my good friend, Mr.. jackson,
and any others of our membership, that if
there is any man in the country who is an
unsafe guide upon economic or national
matters, that man is David A. Wells. 1
think he would pervert or twist any fact in
q manner that would enable him to turn an
argument against his constitutional foes
the advocates of q protective tariff. Every
thing has to yield to his arrant free trade
notions So notorious is this tendency of
his that the mere fact that men of his way of
thinking oppose the plan of subsidy, is one
Of the strongest arguments in its favor"
DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
Mr.. Foster asked Mr.. Kelly If the Farqu-
har bill, now before the House, discrimin-
ated in favor of the individual lines or
owners.
Mr.. Kelly explained that the bill was
upon the broadest possible basis. He then
went on to state that even were the bill
passed and made law, it would be several
years before its operations could be pro-
nounced upon, as ship-building would
naturally require time to be put on its legs,
especially in Pittsburg, where such great
possibilities were presented to manufac-
turers of ship materials. He said that the
Farquhar bill meant more to Pittsburg than
it did TO many of the seaport towns of the
nation, inasmuch as ship-building of the
future must infallrbly center in Pittsburg
Ii subsidy were proven a failure, America
could certainly sell her ships to some pur-
pose. And it was the result of his ex-
perience that the building of ships was of
minor importance to the rnnning of them,
this being where subsidization came into
play as an incentive to long voyages and
heavy tonnage. I'VE have now only IA per
cent of the worlds commerce; sorry show
ing for the greatest nation upon earth"
Mr.. jackson said that it was to be hoped
that no mistakes would be made in such a
plan calling for the expenditure of millions
of fho irE
sponded by quoting from New York ma
rine journal statement to the effect that
within 40 years the British Government had
paid to the Cunard Line alone q sum OF
money equal to the entire cost of the vessels
owned at present by the company. By rea-
son of this policy Great Britain had So per
cent of the carrying trade between the
United States and Europe, and the British
postal service cleared $11 ,000, 900 last year,
while the United States postal service had
a deficit of 100000.
MR.. KELLY THANKED.
Mr.. Il. X. Porter closed the discussion,
saying: THE Chamber is greatly indebted
to Mr.. Kelly for his able treatment Of this
most important topic, and desire to for
mallv express our thanks TO him for his in
terest in the matter. As Chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions at the recent
convention he has conferred an
honor upon the body he represented.
This question is one of broad and national
scope, and one in which Pittsburg is most
intimately interested. One of our members
has expressed the fear that mistakes might
lie made that would impair the success of
the plan. In such plan mistakes may he
made, but they will be of a nature that can
easily be rectifed. Call the plan what you
will--subsidy, voting away of money, or
anything you please-but let us heartily in
dorse the effort of the nation to restore the
American merchant marine. That dreadful
word subsidy need not alarm us any more.
The question has got beyond the bounds of
party affiliations. 1t is neither political nor
sectional. 1t is national issue represent
ing patriotism in its highest form. An
American who stands on the docks at Liver
pool and cast his eye down the ofing in the
vain search for the Stars and Stripes
must blush perforce. It is time we
asserted our supremacy on the seas as we'll
as in every mechanical and scientific field"
Mr.. kelly's exhaustive report would oc-
cupy nearly q page of THE DISPATCH and
is extremely creditable in its thorough treat
ment of the sessions OF the convention and
contains admirable condensations of the
speeches made by some of the most promI-
nent men in the nation in advocacy of a re-
vival of the maritime supremacy of this
country. Copious extracts from it contain
much that will interest Pittsburgers, es-
pecially his references to the local attention
given to the history of the league.
THE PEOPLE INTERESTED.
AT the time of the convention accurate
reports were published by THE DISPATCH
OF the routine proceedings. There was
nearly 200 delegates at the convention out
of the 575 who were entitled to seats, every
section of the Union and every shade Of
political thought being intelligently repre-
sented. A vast number OF kilograms from