The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-11

Washington, June lO.-Ihe RepuDllcdh
minority of the House committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries has submit
ted to the House a report against the free
shipping bill introduced by Representative
Jithian, of Illinois, which the Democratic
faction of the committee has recommend
ed to the House Representative Perkins,
of Iowa, is the author of the report and
it also bears the signature of Represen-
tives Gillet, of Massachusetts and Phil
lips, of Pennsylvania
1.-The measure is more fifty entitled to
designa ton as the bill to destroy Ameri-
can shipbuilding in the interests of for
eign Countries said Mr.. Perkins. 1.-THE
report from the majority is wholly occu-
pied in placing the worst possible esti-
mate upon the present condition of our
own merchant marine The minority are
not disposed to accept so dark a view,
or disposed to make argument wholly On
the darker side. The majority wholly
eonfine themselves to the most discourag-
ing view of American competitive efforts,
and make this the only excuse for an
abandonment of a distinctive national pol
icy which has been undisturbed through
all the successive changes of party and
administration since its initiation at the
beginning of our government. No attempt
to establish the passage of the bill into
law would prove helpful to the govern
ment of the United States or to the ship
sit1cn is for an unconditional surrender
to foreign powers, both of the profits and
safeguards involved in the maintenance of
our independence as the builder of our
own ships. That the adoption of this
course would prove highly satisfactory to
Great Britain and other important marine
powers, need not be questioned; that it
VIII prove other than a humiliation to this
republic, a certain disgrace, and a possible
disaster, may be accepted as equally prob
able.''
BOunties and Subsidies.
The, discussion of the question, contin-
ues the report, may be carried on apart
from the ma tier of "boInties. and f.slIb-
sides, TO which the majority of the COM
mlttee devotes so much attention. IL is
improbable that a bounty system III the
sense pointed out would be resortad to,
and yet the statement Df an American
|ShlpDulIder that steamship owners v no
perform public service by transporting
ocean mails undoubtedly expect to pay
for it, and there is no reason why this
country may not pay FOR such service as
well as countries with which il is chiefly
in competition. During che year 1888,
England, France, Germany, Russia and
for transportation of mails by sea. Eng-
land is acknowledged to have been so en-
tirely successful in it's marirlme policy,
that it is now urged as useless for Us to
stand out longer against the complete
domination by England of The shipping of
this country The question is asked
whether, II we were to depal1 upon fCT-
eign ships because they are cheaper, fer
eign countries should have been depended
upon for the new navy and an inferior
line secured, and thus ietard I'd TIE &C.
velopment of establishments Whirn are
now able to propose to the British end
Italy for the contracts. 1t is sail TO be
settled that the United States car build
as good ships as any country, and bold
them cheaper than any country say e
England But for the law of 1872 this
country could not have dreamed of com:
peting with England for the building of
her own ships. There is SAID to be less
reasc0 now for assaulting our navigation
laws than at any time since the var,
particularly since the tield OF Profitable
employment is now greatly reduced. The
first cost of the ship is said not to be the
controlling consideration, but its rroflt-
able employment. So long ds foreigners
portect themselves, the carrying trade
cannot be taken away By the expedient of
free ships. 1t would be folly to abandon
the building of iron ships when the
work has just commenced. That the
wages of American seaman are 80 Fer
cent. higher than chose pait; abroad. is
said to explain why so many foreigners
ship with US. 1t is not so desirable. to
have the cheapest ships as the best stIPs.
The extension of free registry to vessels
engage in coastwise trade is held to be
the natural sequence of the proposed sys-
tenn. In conclusion, it is norad that no
appeal has come from shipping interests
to Congress for the change.