The herald., 1894-06-11
OUR GREAT LAW MAKERS.
Minority Report Against the
Shipping Bill
A Measure TO Destroy American
Shipbuilding.
Important Bills Struggling for Pri-
OPity in the House.
If the Senators VIII Not BE Over
Loquaoious the Woolen Sche.~
uio May BE Disposed
of Soon.
BY the Ansociated Press.

WASHINGTON. June 10.-The Repubii-
can minority OF the house committee on
merchant marine and fisheries has sub
mitted to the house report against the
free shipping bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Fithian, of Illinois. which the
Democratic faction of the committee has
recommended TO the house.
Representative Perkins, OF Iowa, is
the author OF the report and it also
bears the signatures of Representativ We
Gillett, of Massachusetts, and Phillips,
of Pennsylvania. 1.-THE measure is more
fitly entitled to design alton as bill to
destroy American shipbuilding in the
interests of foreign countries" said Mr..
Perkine. "The report from the majority
ie wholly occupied in placing the worst
possible estimate upon the present con-
dition OF our own merchant marine.
The minority Is not disposed to accept
go dark view or disposed to make ar
rangement wholly on the darker eide
The majority wholly confine themselves
to the most discouraging view of Ameri.
can competitive efforts and make this
the only excuse for an abandonment of
distinctive national policy which has
been undistur bed through all the suc-
cessive changes of party and administra
tion since Its initiation at the beginning
OF cur government. No attempt to
establish the passage of this bill into
law would prove helpful to the govern
ment OF the United States or to The
shipping interests of it's citlzens.,- The
proposition is for an unconditional sur
render to foreign powers, both OF the
profits and safeguards involved in the
main enance OF our independence as the
builders of our own ships. That the
adoption OF this course would prove
highly satisfactory to Great Britain and
other marine powers need not be ques-
toned; that it will prove other than q
humiliation to this republic, certain
disgrace and q possible disaster, may be
The discussion OF the question con-
tinres through the week, and NAV be
carried on apart from the matter of
"bountles" and "su ubsidies," to which
the majority of the committees devote
go much attention. 1t ia impossible
that bounty system in the sense point
ed out would be resorted to, and it is the
statement OF an American chip builder
that steamship owners who perform
public service by Transporting ocean
mails undoubtedly expect pay for it,
There is no reason why this country
may not pay for this service as well az
other countries with which it is chiefly
in competition. During the year 1898
England, France, Germany, Russia and
Italy paid, roughly estimated, SIG S57.-
S65 for transportation of mails
by sea. England is acknowledged
to have been 40 eptirelv
successful in her maritime policy that il
is now urged as useless for us to stand
out longer against the complete domino.
tion by England of the shipping of this
country. The question lie asked whether.
if we were to depend upon foreign ships
because they are cheaper, foreign coun-
tries should have been depended upon
for the new navy, and an inferior line
secured, thus retsrding the develop
ment of establishments which are now
able to compete with the British and
Italy Tor the contracts. 1t is said to be
settled that the United States can build
as good ships as any country and build
them cheaper than any other country.
save England.
But for the law of 1872, this country
could have dreamed of competing with
England Tor the building of her own
ships. There is said to be less reason
oow for assaulting our navigation laws
Lhan at any time since the war, particu-
arly since the field OF profitable employ
nent is now greatly reduced. The first
cost of the ship is said not to be the con.
rolling consideration, but Its proptable
employment. So long as foreigners pro.
'ect themselves the carrying trade can
lot be taken away by the expedient of
rec ships. 1t would be folly to eband
IN the building of iron ships when the
work has juet commenced. That the
wages of American seamen are 80 per
'ent higher than those paid abroad ia
aid to explain why go many Foreigners
hip with us. 1t is not so desirable to
rave the cheapest ships as the bes,
hips. The extension of free registry OF
'essels engaged in coastwise trade is
leld to be the natural sequence of the
proposed system. In conclusion, it ia
loted that no appeal has come from
bipplng interests to congress for the
hange.