The morning call., 1890-09-17
OCEAN SUBSIDY BILL.
A Startling Showing Made by the Post
office Committee Report.

WASHINGTON, Sept 16-Mr. Bingham,
Chairman of the House Committee on Post
offices aud Post Roads, has completed his
report on the Ocean Subsidy Bill. 1t is an
exhaustive document. 1t traces the decline
of the American shipping trade at length,
and argues that the granting of subsidies
for carrying our foreign mails Will do much
to bring about a revival.
sit is distinct and positive says the re-
port, "that trade follows the flag of fast and
regular mail steamships on the ocean" Ia
bles are given showing the decline of our
shipping interests, and the report continues:
''In 1913, it will be seen, we carried II per
cent of our own commerce and much OF
other nations. but now we carry only - per
cent of our own and none of other nations.
We cannot get return cargoes for our few
ships because we are underbid by the sup
port given to foreign ships for this specific
purpose by subsidy from the national trea-
sury OF every other frst-class, second-class
and third-claSS commercial nation,
Here, also, will be seen the gradual de-
crease of the payment (or proper relation) to
American ships and an increase OF pay Tor
subsidy in the literal etymology of the world
to foreign ships. Since 1857 the United
States Bureau of Foreign Mails has actually
been subsidlzlng anG supporting foreign
ships and foreign employees. Ii is in fact an
office that is feeding foreign interests; help
ing to educate foreign navisators as the only
seamen who know our waters, and conse-
auently would become masters of our sea-
ports and harbors in time of war. 1t is not
only robbing our youth and manhood OF EN-
ployment, but jeopardizing American inter
ests and our national safety, and 1T is time to
call halt 1t is most important bureau,
but it must be remembered it is an Ameri-
hIrran ha H.
tereSts."
1t is figured out in the report that since
1867, the beginning of our shipping decline,
the total bulk of our carrying trade
amounted to S30,0O0.0OO,O00 Estimating the
cost of freight at 10 per cent of this,
of S10oo0o,0oo per year. Add to this
passenger money. 80 per cent al a
low estimate, and we have S130.0OO,000.
The actual amount this year is, according
to the report, S20,000,000. Now" the report
continues, within period of thirty years.
the average proportion of the foreign carry
ing trade has been so per cent of $50, 100000
or S104, coo, 600. Estimate this yearly tribute
which we have paid to foreign nations for the
last thirty years and we see an expenditure
of SO, 100. 100000. This indeed Is a startling
eXhibit-Over $4,000, ,000,000-a sum greater
than our national war debt at its highest
point. These are not speculative figures,
but an official showing Of our wasteful pol
icy as regards our shipping for the last thirty
years.
"Suppose we had pursued different pol
icy, policy of subsidizing. like England,
ana continued to pay S5,000,0O0 per year to
American steamship lines for ocean mai
service, it would have cost us in thirty years
$50, 100000 oniy-$150, COO, CO0-a total saw.
ing of S. $50, coo. 900, sufficient to have paid
off the whole war debt, and we would have
had to-day the grandest commercial marine OF
any nation of the world and held the su-
premacy of the high seas, instead OF paying
this tremendous tribute to England, and
of having built up her power, and at the
same time reduced our own national con-
ditiOn on the ocean to that OF lmpotency
and humiliation among nations. Beside II
we had paid during the last Thirty years the
above-stated amount of S5,000,000 per year
(S450. GOO, ,000) it would have been nearly
equal to an amount we are yearly paying as
a subsidy or tribute to foreign nations Tor
doing for the United States as great
nation, what we should be doing for our
own national interests and for our own
people,"
The provisions of the bill are separately
considered and their wisdom pointed out,
and in conclusion the report declares that
the legislation recommended in the bill IS
imperatively demanded, and, if enacted, 1t
will build our merchant marine up to
prouder position than ever.
LONDON, Sept. 16.-The Illustrated News
says the American Shipping Bounties Bill
will cause revival OF American ship-build,
ing to an astonishing degree, and a powerful
merchant marine will be created.