The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-05-20
UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG.

The fact that President H9rrlS0n sign
ed the bill admitting the City of New
York and City of Paris to American re-
glstry within an hour after it passed the
Senate suggests the merit and the i'm
portance of the measure in the eyes of
the National Administration. Unless
the Britieh Government inJerposes to
prevent the transfer of the two vessels,
they will be flying the Stars and Stripes
within six months, and within two years
the Inman Line, a distinctively Ameri-
can corporation, with its new American
built ships afloat, will control the finest
fleet of ocean greyhounds on the At
lantic.
There may be some curiosity to learn
how American capital ever came to be
invested in these foreign-built steamers.
We do not know that the history has
ever been entirely told. The Inman
Company, like the Cunard of to-day,
was originally purely British enterprise
brought into being and fostered and pro-
tected for many years by enormous
British subsidies. Under the stimulus of
this generous Government encourage
ment, like the Cunard Company, it soon
drove the unsubsidized and unprotected
American steamers off the passage, and
early gained conspicuous position in
the Atlantic trade. Some twenty years
ago the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
seeking an outlet to Europe, established
new American steamship line from
Philadelphia to Liverpool. AS it was
denied Government subsidy this Ameri-
can enterprise found 1T difficult to make
any Roadway, though its four vessels
were then considered the finest types of
or in fhn
Having had this practical demonstration
of the futility of expecting an unsubsid-
lied American line to compete with the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad and its friends
some years ago secured a controlling in
terest in one of these subsidized British
lines, the Inman, which has since been
successfully conducted under American
management.
But all the time ths American officials
of this line were chatting at the idea of
sailing their ships under foreign colors.
realized, too, that it would be of pecuni-
airy advantage to the company if its pas
senger vessels could fly the Stars and
Stripes. At last the passage of the Postal,
Aid law by the recent Republican Con-
gress gave coveted opportunity to make
| a change of flag. 1t was reported at the
time the bill was passed that there was
an understanding by which the Inman
Line would transfer its two fast ships to
| American registry, and then, building
two new American ships, qualify for the
receipt of postal subsidy. If that was
the programme, it is being carried out in
every detail. And, wonder of wonders,
a free ship" free trading house, with a
| good Bourbon detestatiOn of subsidies,
has actually given its consent to it!
| The Democratic politicians did finally
discover that the Inman Bill was the
death blow of their precious free ship
theory, but it was to late. Their tardy
and desperate attempt to recall the bill
and kill it was failure, and though
Roger Q. Mills himself led frantic on
slaught on it in the Senate the bill re.
ceived the eager report of the Republican
majority, was passed and is now law
while the baffled Bourons are shrieking
imprecations at its author.
This measure gives the American navy
the two largest merchant cruisers" in
existence. 1t transfers the most enter
prising of transatlantic lines from Brit
ish to American nationality. 1t guaran
tees that hereafter the great InmaI
steamers will be built in this country
and that the millions which they cos
will go to American labor, instead of en-
riching the shipowners of the Clyde
These American steamers, subsidized OF
equal terms with their foreign rivals
will get the cream of Transatlantic travel
and the Inman Company, with it,
American-built vessels, will easily be
come foremost of ocean lines. Well may
Senator Frye hail this measure as grea
triumph of protective legislation. Wei
may foreign shipowners and free ship
politicians gnash their teeth in helpless
rage at it.-BOStOn Journal.