The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-09-24

4 -reNAAN1--@frr> ol ct1D<lules-
The scheme in congress to grant sub
sidies to ships in order to build MP an
American merchant marine has not vet
been abandoned, Notwithstanding the
rapid rate at which the surplus has been
melting before the extravasant legisla-
ton of the Republican majority.
II IS pretended by the friends of the
subsidy measure that there is a lack of
steam communication between our ports
and South America and Central America.
This, they say, is the reason why our
trade with those parts of the world does
not flourish, for they are fast set in their
discrimination not to admit that a little
thing like tariff csn hinder trade.
The people who are hungry for boun-
ties out of the public treasury have ali
along been saying. 1T is for lack of
shipping; pay US a big sum and we will
build the ships
But is there lack of shipping? A
single New York firm has recently char
tered six Norwegian steamers TO run be-
tween New York and Central American
ports--and these steamers have no SUBJ
sidies whatever. In order TO ascertain
how far 1t is true that our trade with
countries south OF rs is crippled for lack
of shipping The New York Evening Post
has made an examination into the mat
ter and has secured n list of the foreign
built steamers running during May and
june of this year from ports in the
United States to West Indian, Central
American and South American ports
under charter to merchants in the United
states. 1t has in this way catalogued 02
such steamers. of which Is are Norwe-
giaD, 43 British, German. Spanish
and Russian. nn running without any
subsidy from any government whatever,
and there are probably others of which
no record exists in New York.
This inquiry brought out the further
fact That twelve fast steamers. each of
about 200 tons register, had been built
at Bergen, Norway, and with Norwegian
capital. the past year. from designs made
IN this country under orders from Ameri-
canmerchants. who have chartered them
for three years continuous service torun
between New York, Boston and Phila-
dolphin and the West Indies. All these
steamers are making handsome profits
both for their owners and their en-
ployers, and the business is constantly
increasing.
But here are a number of steamers
running proftably without subsidies.
True they are only chartered by Ameri-
cans; brt a charter serves the same pur.
pose US ownership. and these are prac-
tiealiy American ships. They wouId
carry the American flag if it were not
for our stupid navigation laws. which
forbid an American citizen from floating
the Stars and Stripes on a foreign built
Nes'el. The laws do not forbid the pur-
cilaee nt these vessels; only they shall
not be called American vessels.
American citizens do, in fact. own
large number of ships which sail under
foreign flags. A single Arm in New
York is said to own or control a foreign
hees of forty vessels-all upon the high
sea- without subsidies.
Capt. John NJ. Forbes, of Boston, has
bought a number of such vessels. and
says that he bays them abroad because
he, can get tlem cheaper than at home,
and for no other reason.
Our navigation laws are twin stupid
ity to our hign tariff itself.