New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-07
THE FREE SHIP POLNCT.
year.

Washington dispatches indicate that one OF
ihe earliest subjects to be brought before tue
House now that the Scgnoragc bill is out
Of the way is the Fithian Free Ship bill. The
author Of the measure was anxious TO ol'r IL
~ an amendment 70 the Wilson bill. but was
dissuadrd bv his colleagues. who represented
that IL would undoubtedly render il more dill
rul, for Democratic members from the seaboard
States to vote for the new tariff. 1t will now
come I'D rs n separate measure. but not IN the
same form I'm which il was reported 10 IN" last
Congress- II now limits fOrcign-bullt ships al
,nittcd to American registry 10 III" ocean, or
rather TO the foreign trade and leaves the
roastwiec trade in the exclusive possession or
Amcrican-built ships With this important
change II is 10 be forced through the House by
the Western and Southern Democrats as an
English measure that is entirely consistent with
Free Trade
The Commissioner Of Navigation. Eugene
Tyler Chamberlain opportunity comes 10 inc
support of Mr. Fithian in an articl" in " me
North American Review based upon the regis
try given to the foreign built liners. ParlS ana
New York \ more d>ingcnuous and mslead
ing plea for free ships was never presented
The Commissioner leaves entirely out OF account
the Ocean Mail act which enabled the lnman
Line To transfer their ships to the American
flag and 10 contract with the Cramps for III"
construction of additional steamships. Nlthout
the law enacted 10y the last Republican Congress
providing for mail subsidies 10 the line on Il
long contract the registry would never have been
changed. nor the subvcntion from the Brltlsh
Government for naval reserve abandoned.
The Commissioner argues thai the free registry
given to these two vessels has had the Denchcill
effect of establishing n great line under the
flag and OF putting two new ships on IN" stocks
nj Philadelphia and employing American labor;
and then he infcrS that general free ship
law would have the same results In restoring
,hc flag 10 the high seas. and In increasing
the activity 81 American shpyardS. II Is Il
thoroughly dishonest argument The Commits
sioncr knows very well that IN" Ocean Mail
act was the direct cause Of the chang" Of regis
try and the contracts with the Cramps. To
leave that measure ont Of the reckoning and
To make the registry of foreign built ships the
only element in the ease Is 10 impose upon the
crc,lulity Of ignorant readers
II i probably on such dishonest prctrXts rs
this that Mr. Fithan will urge the passage
Of his Free ship bill He will also refer TO the
prosperity of the British merchant marine and
ascribr IL 10 the free shipping policy; and that
will be- rs disingcnuous Il plea rs Commissioner
Chambcrlans contemplate performance. 1t is
true that Great Britain set the example Of adj
hitting foreign ships 10 registry in 800 but II
was not until free trade in frelghtins had been
established by International arrangements and
IL was entirely safe 10 have free ship law
owing TO the marked supremacy of English
shipbuilding. Free shipping has not been the
direct cause Of the progress of the British COM
Al.
United States Government was removing dis
eliminating duties and tonnage dues by which
American shipping was favored and exposing it
to destructive competition under free trade con-
ditons of ocean frclghting. England was build
ing up its merchant marine by bountics, mail
subsidies and subventions Of every kind The
substitution Of iron for wood, when the srprcm-
acy OF that marine was established In foreign
trade, provided English shiphulldcrs with SUI
pcrior facilities, which enabled them to defy
competition Then came free ship legislation,
when it could not do any harm to England If
Mr.. Fithan undertakes TO prove that Eng
lands commercial supremacy has been caused
by free ships and that Americans at this late
day can regain their rightful share Of the ocean
carrying trade simply by allowing the English
to build ships for them, he will beg the whole
question ut issue.
This free ship policy is characteristic Of the
Democratic party. Always opposed TO leglsla
ton Of creative or constructive tendencies, that
party invariably exhausts its energies In undo
Ing something that has already been done
Confronted with the fact that the American
commercial marine has been declining during
the last fifty years it demands the repeal Of
the statute enacted by the patriotic legislators
Of the Revolutionary era providing that Amcr- |
can-built ships alone should be entitled to the
privilege Of flying the American flag. Repeal
that anlquatcd statute" they eyclaim. and
American commerce will again whtcn every !
sea-" They know as little about the causes Of
the decline Of American shipping interests or
about the actual experience Of maritime Eu |
rope during the last century as seaguls know |
about the Gulf Stream Their one idea always |
Is to repeal legislation already in force. Their |
main policy invariably Is to follow the advice |
which English Free Traders bcncvolently be- !
stow upon them. 1t is the party OF molcs and
bats and English sioolpigcons