The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-10

being brought forward principally to add to
the incomes of lines Of ocean transportation
which have been able in fspite of every disad-
vantage, to contend with foreign competitors
ct handsome profit.
II is extremely doubtful whether the bill. if
il becomes law, will accomplish more than
this. The history of subsidies to shipping in
terests both in France and Italy would seem
to show that this means Of promoting these
interests falls far short of what is claimed for
il by its most earnest advocates. The history
of such subsidies in Italy has special appli-
cation to the bill. as it is proposed under its
terms to adopt the rates Of that country in
making awards Let us see what that history
has been.
In the year 1885, Italy adopted an act pro-
viding that for term of ten years, bounty
should be paid on the hulls of steamships and
sailing vessels when built in Italy or register
ed in that country by royal decree. So far
from the law stimulating the shipping inter-
ests Of the Italian Kingdom. il was found that
its tonnage which was 953.4l9 tons in 1885, the
year when the act received the royal assent,
decreased in 1886 to 945.677 and in 1887 fell to
s95.C25 tons. In the brief interval subsequent
to 1887 there has been no tendency towards
the recovery Of the ground lost.
The history Of subsidies to the shipping in
terests III France has been precisely similar to
that of Italy. Since the adoption of the
bounty act of 1881 there has been a notable
decline in the number of French vessels.
We have il on the very best authority that the
French tried the bounty experiment with
foreign built and domestic vessels, and found
that the results were the same-a reduction in
tonnage" In other words. the shipping in
terests of France have not been benefited
although the National Treasury has been
making for their support an annual appro-
priation Of s2,OO0,OOO.
Excepting 10 two lines of steamships plying
between Germany and East Aria and Austria
liza, no subsidies are granted in the former
Empire to its shipping interests, and yet the
German marine unlike the subsidized marine
Of Italy and France. has shown steady and
uniform growth.
This is still more strikingly the case in Nor
way Ten years after the repeal of the navi-
CATION laws of that country. its tonnage had
trebled; in the following ten years it doubled;
and in the last decade has expanded in volume
from /, 975.57j tons to 2,9l4,i0I.
The significance Of such facts rs these can
not be ignored The merchant marine of the
United States amounts practically to nothing,
and if the tonnage act now before Congress
becomes law. the experience Of foreign ma
tons confirms us in the belief that while the
interests of certain ocean transportation com
panies already doing we'll will be immensely
benefited. nevertheless the general ship
ping interests of the whole coun-
try will remain in their present
langushing condition. There is but one in
fuence that can stimulate them into great &C
tvity, namely, the modification Of our exist
ing tariff system. This will come with the
triumph Of the Democratic party in the fu-
ture. Subsidies and bounties will then be re-
voked, as opposed to the welfare Of the peo-
pie because tending to promote exclusively
the property Of individuals.