Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-05
the correctness Of this view. That has been
protected by absolute prohibition.

the COrre0Cn09S Oh ILLS view. luat uuS pooAA
protected by absolute prohibition.
How Our Lake shipping Is Protected.
Under our laws enduring for almost q
hundred years, foreign vessels have been
excluded from any participation in 1t. The
result is marvellous exemplification of the
beneficence of this policy. We have now
about $4,000 tons engaged in this trade,
and as many more in river and lake trans
portation. There has been a steady in
crease, until our feet is five times larger
than that of Great Britain, twice larger than
those of Great Britain, Germany and France
healthy condition. and our people have en-
joyed the benefit of constantly decreasing
freight charges.
Now affirm, first, that "free ships" if we
take advantage OF the privilege means the
gradual but certain destruction of our coast
wise trade. Who supposes for moment
that our people will buy ships abroad and
consent that they shall forever be excluded
from participation in this coastw1se trade?
/ assert that if foreign built ships were ad-
mitted to American registry we could not
especially if we should. as the Democrats in
every bill admitting them have provided
restrict their use to the foreign carving
trade. We should then be in no more favor
able condition for meeting our competitors
on the ocean than now.
The Remedy Must Be Sufficient.
That there is a remedy I believe; but the
desperate condition of this industry now
confronting us demands that it shall be
drastic. If we had entered upon the postal
subsidy policy adopted by England SO many
years ago, and pursued 1T with her persist
day this alone will not restore US to our
reasonable position on the ocean.
At the last session had the pleasure Of re-
porting from the Committe on Commerce
two bills for the revival OF the merchant
marine: First, postal subsidy bill, drafted
with great care, after many consultations
with the leading experts in the country. 1t
authorized and empowered the Postmaster
General to enter into contracts with Amer1-
can citizens Tor the carrying of our foreign
mails on American steamships, for terms of
not less than five nor more than ten years.
Second, a tonnage bill, under the terms of
which we were to pay to United States ves-
sells, both sail and steam, engaged in for
eign carrying trade, the sum of l5 cents per
fraction thereof sailed outward, and the
same sum for the first 500 miles or fraction
thereof sailed inward, or any voyage or voy-
ages; ID cents per gross registered ton for
the second 500 miles or fraction thereof
sailed outward, and the same sum for the
second 500 miles or fractIoA thereof sailed
inward, etc.
The History Of the BiIPs Passage.
On the final passage Of the subsidy bill 1s9
votes were ayes, of which were Demo
cratic, to 120 noes, of which 5 were RepuD-'
lican. The Senate subsidy bill alone would
have resulted in immense benefit to the mer-
camille navy, if It had not been seriously
crippled in the House by reducing the sub
vention to be paid f1rst-class ships from $6 to
"a, the second from $3 to 50. To establish
such lines would have required enormous
capital, and at least three years for the
building of the ship.
The reduced payments, and the political
cyclone which again restored the Democratic
party 20 the control of the House-a party
well known to be hostile to the policy illus
trated by the bill-so discouraged capital
that no contracts could be made for these
two clas sses of vessels. Eight contracts were
entered into by the Postmaster-General
under the law, which, If executed, will re-
quire 10 ships. This timidity of capital
seems to have feen already Justified; for
even before the House had adopted rules,
the committee having jurisdiction of the
subject had agreed to report bill repeating
the law.
But, fellow citizens, the friends of "the
American Ship" have not hauled down their
flag yet. They will continue to agitate, con-
ldent that the intelligent and patriotic peo-
pie of this magnificent country will in time
appreciate the importance OF the restoration
to the seas of our merchant marine, and will
demand of their Congress adequate legis-
lation.