The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-31
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 81.


Australia Is in the field and proposes to
trade with China and Japan. which the
states on the Pacific coast have been so
carefully attempting to extend and con-
troll. AS is usual in British operations OF
the kind the Australians have appealed TO
their local government for assistance In
getting the trade inaugurated and are to
receive such assistance In ample form.
An Australian commissioner spent some
months In Japan last spring, and as re-
suit of his report, the government has pre-
pared to assist in the establishment OF
transportation service between Japan and
Australian ports by a subsidy of 200 to
a steamship line. conditioned that the
freight rates on -four from Australian
ports should be reduced to an equality
with the rates which had been or might be
established by lines plying from the Pa
cific ports of the United States.
This is the kind OF competition which
American merchants, manufacturers and
ship owners are compelled TO contend
with and yet wonder is expressed that our
with fais field and 10 favors. the Pacific
states would fear no competition with
Australia or any other country in trade in
our products with China and Japan. But
here is the handicap. The work of in
vestigating and examining new fields OF
trade must in this country be done by local
and individual effort in other countries
such work Is undertaken by the govern
ment through commissions of trained OK
perts who inquire into the whole subject
and whose report furnishes the basis from
which the government determines whether
or not 10 assist in establishing the new
trade. AS a next step. should the enter
prIslng American merchant, after investi-
eating the field at his own expense. deter
mine 20 try and reach out for the new
trade he has TO enlist private capital in
establishing the necessary transportation
service. As the trade is only prospective.
Of course capital lis naturally slow in tax
ing hold of such a scheme. In other coun-
tries, as is shown in the example from
Australia. the government takes "A prac-
teal initiative in furnishing the transport
alton service. by Offering a bonus sufi-
cientiy large TO insure the proposed
steamship line from actual loss should the
trade prove slow In developing
The heavily subsidized Australian line
from Vancouver. which has already di-
verted large share Of the Hawaiian
trade from California. the line from Van
couver % China and Japan. and the new
Australian-Japanese line are Illustrations
of how this policy tends to divert
trade from those countries. such as the
United States, which DO nothing 20 foster
or extend II. but rely solely on uaaided
private enterprise for such work
The market for -four IN the Orient. such
as IL Is. has been built up purely through
the private enterprise OF American raer-
chants and American transportation lines.
without shadow OF government assist
auce or encouragement. Under ordinary
circumstances the trade would rapidly in
crease and ultimately a market might
have been created for the entire surplus
crop OF tire Pacific coast. The question Of
doubt now comes In: can the transnorta-
ton lines successfully and finally compete
with other lines in receipt az heavy sub
sides from foreign countries?
This country cannot prevent other coun-
tries from opening ncw trade routes by
means Of subs iics 80 transportation lines.
but n can. and Il should. n the develop.
ment Of oar foreign trade IS 20 be an oh
sect. ;nsugurate the same policy 81 sub
sidies TO the full extent Il Is practiced in
other countries. II the Development; Of the
internal commerce. OF the country was
worth the numerous subsidies Paid the
original Pacific railroad lines. surely the
development OF our foreign trade :
worth the expcdlture OF a few millions
annually. when every dollar 80 expended
VIII find SIS way hack into the treasury
from tho increased wealth which WIN flow
iato the country from heavy expansion
81 foreign trade.
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