New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-23
4 SIGNAL FOR Il NEW POLICY

President Harrison celebrated patriotic
holiday by raising the American flag over the
New York While the ceremonies were de-
layed by an unfortunate railway accident the
change of colors was witnessed by a brilliant
assembage and was honorcd by naval salute
from the Chicago. The occasion marked, as
all Americans who love their flag will hope, the
turning point of the fortunes of the merchant
marine. During recent years the United States
has been saving its pennies in ocean mail con-
tracts and ninging away its millions in freight
age to foreign shipownerS. The raising OF the
flag over the NewYork is the signal for wiser
and more patriotic policy.
1t is now commonly admitted that the con-
ditions are favorable for a general revival of
the Nations shipping interests. The develop
ment of iron and steel manufactures has been
one of the chief marvels of the recent indus
trial progress of the United States. 1t has de-
prived English shipbuilders Of that marked
superiority in the construction of iron ships
which they acquired when the tonnage of the
seas ceased to be largely constructed of tim
Der. The building of the new Navy has in
yolved an enlargement of the plant and an
improvement of the mechanical processes in
shipyards. 1t has also reduced, as Chairman
Herbert has admitted in his last Naval report.
at least 33 per cent the cost of a ship OF war.
With this Democratic expert testimony on
record, what enemy of American shipping will
now venture to assert that the difference in
first cost between home-built and foreign
built ship is so great that competition is i'm
practicable? The building of the Navy has
cheapened the tonnage cost of shipbuilding, and
supplied the plant and equipment requisite for
the economical construction of new merchant
feet.
Moreover the marvellous expansion OF the
Nations foreign commerce has supplied vol
ume of freightng and passenger business
which encourages vigorous competition. Dur
ing the last fiscal year that commerce amounted
to S1,S57 ,G79,GO3 with freighting charges
largely exceeding S20O000,00 600. That is a
business OF enormous proportions, OF which
American shipowncrs now have bcggarly
share 1t is not from lack of business that the
United States pays this tribute to foreign ship
owners. 1t is from lack of enterprise and
ships, and from an unintcllgiblc neglect Of
shipping interests There is a frcighting bust
ness of extraordinary magnitude awaiting a
commercial marine under the American flag.
The great markets opened abroad for farm
products and manufactures, the remarkable in
crease of the import trade by the enlargement
of the free schedules and the favorable effects
of the negotiation of Reciprocity treaties offer
a most favorable opportunity for tho rcstOra-
ton of the merchant feet.
But it must not be forgotten that while the
first cost of an iron ship has been greatly re-
duced and while there is an immense freight
ing business inviting American competition, the
high seas swarm with foreign ships manned by
cheap labor and to large degree protected
by subsidies and bountics and by insurance
determinations and Lloyds ratings. 1t is this
difference in the operating expenses and in
surance of an American in comparison with an
English ship that has told more heavily against
our marine than the difference in the first cost
of tonnage. In order to overcome this dsad-
vantage and to Offset the bounties and sub
| sides of maritime Europe the American Gov
eminent must adopt the English policy of lib
eral compensation for mail service. The con-
version of the Inman into the American line
is the direct result of the passage Of the Ocean
Mail Subsidy act and OF subsequent legislation
authorizing the registry Of two foregn-built
ships. IL denotes a reverson to that system
of enlightened sclf-intcreSt by which England
when free trade in freighting was proclaimed
on the high seas, expended $3.50. 600, 900 in
mail subvcntions during single generation
and created merchant marine, an auxiliary
navy and commercial empire.