Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-20
TIE suRsIDY KAIo.


a speech, the substance of which follows:
It was an ingenious device OF the origi-
nator of the bill now prominently before
YOU to term Il q "Tonnaga Sill" It has
nothing to do with tonnage. II might as
we'll have been called mileage bill, an
ocean bill, or ship bill. 1t is really
bounty bill,a charity blll--a begging bill.
But either one of these rightful terma
would have made il unpopular.
When the nations pocket 10 to be
picked 1t 10 natu oil that there should be
an attempt to pull WOOL over the eyes of
their representatives. 1 shall endeATor
TO remove it 40 that they may have
clearer view OF the conditions and re-
quirements of our m rcantile marine.
In fact, the question: before the com.
mittee are, not only should Subsidies be
paid to certain steamship lines, but
should general bounty be Rivon to all
vessels sailed in foreign trade that are
built in the United States2
SubBldy puts forward three distinct
claims on the country, one of which is
certainly entitled to consideration.
1t is for regular and rapid Transmission
of mails to places with which We have
sufficient commerce to justify the eE-
pense, and with which there is no other
ouch satisfactory communication.
II, for instance, our import and ex-
port trade with Rio do Janerio aud
Buenos Ayres should warrant the estab-
lshment of direct Inns 80 that there
should be saving Of time in correspond
ence steamship company which would
undertake it should bo liberia ly paid FOR
the service rendered. But this il very
different proposition from that OF confer
ring needless bounty on tho present
line already subsidized by Brazil OK
pgessly for its coa9ting trade, by which
letters from New York to Rio de Jauero
are 1--WE days longer on their transit than
those sent there by way OF southampton.
or all claimants for subsidy, this limo
ia the most obtrusiveiy perssyeriug and
the least entitled to confederation.
Another claim for subsidy is that at
will build up trade."'
Trade is not hot-house plant. 1t has
natural growth, and cannot be force }.
Trade furnishes employment for shipB.
Ships do not make trade.
The remaining reason assigned for sub-
sidy is that ''it will build up our COM
mercial marine"
On the contrary, Subsidized line OF
steamships being aided by the govern
ment so that ii can reduos its Rates OF
freight in competition with independent
ships, tends to prevent the building Of
Huoh ships.
England does not encourage her mer-
chant marine with subsidy, bounty, bonus
Or anything of the kind, directly or in
directly.
Where it is necessary to sond mails she
sends them, and pays steamers for carry
ing them, either in round sums or post
RIes.
No one has heretofore pretended to say
that her sailing vessels received any sub
sidy or bounty. They outnumber her
steamers, and their flags ore seen in
every port OF the globe. Moreover, many
Of them are owned and commanded by
Americans, who are obliged to sail under
the British flag because our government
will not allow them to hoist their own
Gag on their own property. Why are not
American sailing ships ss D entiful az the
British2 Simply because iron Inns taken
the place OF wood, and it costa 80 per
cent more to build an iron ship in the
United States than in England.
II could be readily demonstrated that
an extensive practice OF subsidy would
be an injury rather than a benefit to a
merchant marine. II, for instances, one
half OF the British steam fest was Hubsi-
died, the other half would bs at great
disadvantage in the same routes. But
now the proportion necesssrily receiving
government pay for carrying the malls,
and for no other purpose Whatever, ia so
smell that il does not materially interfere
with the independent business of the 9S
per cent that are not "subsidized."
Until about the year 1919 wooden
sailing ship (snd Ill ships then wers Of
woody cost about the same in England
and in the United States, the best class
.ei2, or 800, por ton. Now follow tbs
history down. In 1879 the gold disoov-
cries in California and Australia gaYa
auch an impstus to American shipbuild-
ing that We turned Cut better and cheaper
ships than those of our rivals. England
began to lose her carrying trade. What
did she do! Did sho give her ship.
builders bounty to overcome the dili.
oulty2 Did they ask for it2 Did her
rhipowners and sailors ask for it2 No,
the latter simply asked parliament to re
peal the restrictive navigation law SC
that they might buy our ships and go on
with their carrying trade. OF course the
Ehipbuilders objected, but they faced
the music and when the American shlpl
were introduced among them, they i'm
nedistely began 10 initiate them, and
coon building iron chips eIoellsd those
OF wood.
So we went on together rivaling each
other till 1866. Then came the iror
screw steamer built first by Eugliahmer
as We FIRST built the California clipper
What ought we to have done2 Precisely
what England did In 1910. Who pre-
vented it? The shipbuiiders tho very
men who are now asking for bounty al
reward for the destruction their oh
stinacy and their corruption brnugh
upon our mercantile marine. Who tina
10 old enough does not remember tn,
then personnel OF our merchant service
the captains, officers and crews Of on
East Indian clippers aud our Liverpool
liners? Did the selfish ghipbuiideTs con
slider these men What had Trey TO say
TO them? This: "We can't Just nov
build iron screw steamers or sailing ship
rs eheeply as the English eau build them
But wait little We only want time
You shall have them in three or fou
years." that was Mr.. Roaoh's limit. 1T
the meantime, az your wooden ships ar
Of no further use, you may stop ashore.
1t 10 better late than never to mend
Let iris bounty scheme at any rate go b,
the board. Every farmer of the land hs
rs much claim on you for a bounty Of
running his burrows, as these mendicant
have for a bounty on running their ships
and it may be safely left to them to SO,
if they approve of such measure beinl
advocated by their representatives.
As to subsidies, please consider tho
che time Of British mail steamer fror