The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-05
Free Ships a Step Toward Free Trade.

The House Committee on Merchant Ma
zine and tho Fisheries has favorably re-
ported free ship bill. It provides that af-
ter the first Of next year any ship, no mat
ter where built. II owned by citizen or by
citizens Of the United States. shall be enti-
tied to American registry and to soil under
the American flag. 1t applies both to steam
vessels and to sailing vessels: both to ships
engaged in the foreign trade and to coast
ers and lake craft. II this bill becomes a
law it will destroy the American industry
OF shipbuildinR.
free ship bill Is quite In the line Of
free trade. and a free ship law would be q
step toward the overthrow Of the Demo-
cratic American principle Of protection to
American industry.
We notice with interest the composition
OF the committee which has followed the
example of the Hon. PoINDExTER DUNN Of
Arkansas In tackling this great subject Of
our maritime prosperity.
The present House Committee on Mer.
chant Marine and the Fisheries Is made up
of nine Democrats and four Republicans. OF
the thirteen members. eleven are lawyers,
practising their profession. with single
exception. In interior towns and villages.
The exception is lawyer OF Bridgeport. He
at least knows the smell OF salt water.
The Chairman OF the committee is Mr..
FOWLER Of New Jersey. who practises law
In the village of Newton. not far from the
mighty waters OF Sparta Pond. The next
member Of the committee Is Mr.. F1THIAN
OF Illinois. the author OF tho free ship bill.
Mr.. F1TH1AN practlses law at Newton, Ill.,.
n In ltuot oca ~
Creek. Mr.. MOORE OF Texas practises
law at q point on tho Colorado River
about one hundred and fifty or one
hundred and seventy-hve miles from
the Gulf Of Mexico. Mr.. CARUTH OF Ken
lucky has studied the question OF ocean
transportation In the quiet seclusion OF his
law Office at Louisville. Kentucky: Mr..
BUCHANAN, In his law office amid the
mountains Of southwestern Virginia: MI.
STUMP. In his law library at Bel Air.
Maryland. Mr.. WHEELER. q Republican.
has had tho advantage OF a fresh-water
outlook from the windows OF his law Office
on the shores OF Lake Michigan. Mr.. HOP
xINs has dreamed OF ships and read OF
buccaneers and tho Flying Dutchman In
his law Office at Aurora. Illinois, a country
town somewhere back OF Chicago. Mr..
ATKINSON. In his law office at MlGlintown.
Pennsylvania. and Mr.. WILSON In his law
oflce at BarbOursville. in tho mountains OF
east Kentucky. have pursued their investi-
cations as to the causes of tho decline OF the
American merchant marine. at q safe dis
tance from the sea and from scasickness.
Such Is tho committee which has pro-
duced the free ship bill Of 1884, The secret
Of its peculiar constitution Is still mys-
terry. With the exception OF Mr.. MAG
NER OF New York and Mr.. PERKINS Of
Iowa. Sioux City printer familiar with
the roaring waters Of the upper
Missouri. the committee Is made up OF
lawyers. and all but one OF tho lawyers
are lawyers practising their profession In
towns far inland. Nevertheless, these
gentlemen. led by Mr.. FIrHIAN. have man
aged to formulate shipping bill which
means destruction to one OF the proudest.
Oldest. and finest Of American industries.
The House has just passed without one
dissenting vote another shipping bill, drawn
with special reference to the splendid
Inman ships. the City Of New York and the
CITY Of Paris. These vessels. British built
but Of American ownership. are to be I'd.