New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-09
TUr TfH0TUfP SHIPPING ELL.

There are two method, OF restoring the
American merchant marine. Onc Is the sls-
tenn Of making liberal payments for the mail
service, or Of Substituting steamship lines out
right. The other is the cNpcdicnt OF allowing
a tonnage bounty for every 300 or LOCO
miles tiayci,cd in foreign trade. The English
and German steam marines have been deycl-
opcl mainly under the first system The French
and Italian Government, have adopted within
the last decade the second cNrcdicnt. The
Farquhar Shipping BILL which has been favor
ably reported to the House from the Committee
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. j, Il naNi-
cation bounty act. j. is an adaptation Of the
French and Italian methods 10 American re-
quiicmcnlS with some important notifications
II offer, "A bounty Of 30 cents ton for every
900 miles travelled hy an Amcrican-built
ship or steamer in the foreign trade that IS
loaded or unoadcd in United states ports. il
does not contain the Italian and French pro
vision for the payment OF a second bounty to
shipludcrs; and il, benefits are confined 10
vessels Of American construction. whereas. UNI
der the French law. a diminished bounty is
granted 10 vessels built abroad but carrying
the national flag. Various French aud Italian
lines which have mail subsidies are exempted
from the operation Of bountics and ] .cnch
vessels which receive the tonnage premiums
for foreign voyages are required to carry the
mails gratuitou>ly. No exemptions are provided
for by the Farquhar bill, and the question Of
compensation for mail service is left open.
The chief merit Of the bounty system is that
it offers general scheme Of restoring the
American commercial marine without reference
10 any existing corporations or steamship lines
The Farquhar bill applies equally to steam and
sailing craft, and is large measure designed
to effect results Of National importance. When
subsidies are proposed certain steamship lines
ire placed in the attitude of soliciting Govern
ment aid When navigation hountics are paid
tho same lines are benefited. but the system
is not enforced exclusively for their advantage
4 premium is offered for the organization of
new lines and for the construction OF additional
vessels and sailing ships are also brought with
in the scope OF protective legislation. 1t will
be easier 10 secure the passage of "A broad meas
urc Of this kind, designed to accomplish great
National object in which the people are inter
cstcd than it will be 10 obtain the approval
of Congress to a subsidy bill. There will be
fewer outcrcs against it from Democratic Con
grcssmen and much better chance of obtain
ing practical results in legislation than there
would be if the mail-subsidy plan were IA
vorcd. The strongest plea that can be made
for the Farquhar bill is that it is a large meas
ure for restoring the American flag to the
seas and not a special financial grant to the
Pacific Mail. Brazilian, Venezuelan and Mex
lean lines It's benefits will not be confined to
few corporations, but will h. shared by all
American built vessels in the foreign trade.
If this Navigation Bounty bill requires
amendment at any point it is in the sections
relating to the classification of vessels The
effect Of these we apprchcnd, will be to pro-
long the term of service Of old vessels, and to