The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-05-29
OUR FLAG ON THE SEA
AMERICAN MERCANTILE MARINE TO
BE REVIVED.

DiscriminetAnB Duties rbvorlnK Our snip
ping to BE Restored-win Cover Oceans
With Stars and stripes-senator Elkins
Makes Vigorous Fight.
Senator Ellzins of West Virginia is
making good fight for the enactment
Of shipping law that shall discrimi-
nate in favor of the shipping interests of
the United States. Senator Ellzins is q
stalwart protectionist, and he is ready
to support any measure that will be
beneficial to American interests, wheth-
er Of the factory, the farm or of com.
MERGE.
The West Virginia senator is equally
In earnest with respect to the bill which
he introduced early in the session, the
object Of which was to restore the dis
eliminating policy as enacted by former
legislation OF congress, by which Amer
lean ships carrying goods imported
from foreign ports are to be given an
advantage over ships owned and sailed
by foreigners This policy is in line
with the best protection to American
shipping, which is certainly entitled to
every fair advantage that can he given
by the laws Of an American congress.
Senator Elkins' bill is still quietly
sleeping in the pigeonholes of the COM
mittee on commerce, and although that
committee is presided over by so good q
friend Of American shipping as is Sena-
tor Frye of Maine there does not appear
to be any prospect Of the bill being re-
ported and favorably considered during
the remaining few days of this session.
Like the revenue bill and similar meas
ures that are designed to give more and
better protection to American interests
from the tremendous competition to
which they are subjected by the cheap
labor and low standard of living in the
old world, the shipping bill must wait
until the senators become awakened to q
realizing sense of the duty of the hour.
1t is creditable to Senator Elkins,
however, that in the face of the discour-
agements of the times he continues his
fight for all protective measures, and
that he promises to stir up the senate
before the present session is ended with
some vigorous talk and work for the
shipping bill and discriminating duties
in favor of our shipping.
The history OF such discriminating
duties, the levying of a 10 per cent addi-
tional duty on goods imported from for
eign countries when they are brought in
here in foreign ships, gives so much evil
dence of the benefcent effects of that
policy upon our shipping that it would
seem that mere reference to it should
arouse even the Republican members Of
the United States senate. Every time
that policy was tried it resulted in splen-
didly stimulating the American mer-
chant marine. During the periods when
the discriminating duties were enforced
our shipping interests were materially
revived, and the abandonment of the
policy was promptly followed by COR
responding decline in our shipping in
terests.
After more than half century of do
nothing policy and the competition Of
the heavily subsidized shipping lines of
foreign countries that are aggressive in
their contests for trade, the result has
been that American ships are carrying
only 1 / per cent of our foreign trade.
Under the policy of protection to our
manufacturing industries and in spite
of the vicious and unrelenting opposi-
ton of the free trade party, our indus
tries have thrived and prospered until
the present blight of the free trade adj
ministration. But, even during those
years Of continuous protection to do
nestle industries, the American ship.
ping interests We're denied one of the
simplest and safest means Of securing
protective advantages by the adop.
ton of policy that would also afford
additional protection to American in.
dustries and put more money i'll the
treasury, where it is now so greatly
needed.
We wish Senator Elkins success in
his battle for moro protection to Ameri-
can shipping. He is so true friend to
protection to all our industries that his
labors in behalf of our shipping inter-
ests cannot but result in good fruits at
no distant day. And the sooner the bet
ter. The policy he advocates is dis
tinctly American in idea and spirit. In
results also it would be distinctly Of
American advantage. Therefore we need
it. And the more legislation of sim
liar character that we can place upon
our statute books the better it will be
for the United States.
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