The morning times., 1896-12-04
IAX0N SHIPS FOR revenue
Senator EIkins Would Make For
eign Vessels Pay Tribute.
SHORTAGE COULD BE MET
At the sa me Time a Home Industry
Could he Built Up-AmOunt Re-
ceived from This Source would
Reach 500. 900 O.OOO-America a
Great Maritime Power.

The richest country in the world Is
bankrupt said Senator Elkins last night,
'and something must be done atonce
He holdsthat something must Immediately
be done to raise sufficient revenues to meet
governmental expenses, and Will support
the Dingley bill or any ether measure that
promises 10 afford relief. II some plan Is
suggested which does not meet with his
full approval, but will bring money into
the Treasury, he IL prepared to indorse.it
This is not a time. he feels. when per-
sonal desires or preferences should be CON
suited, but any plan which will obviate
the necessity for Iurther bond issues should
be adopted, even If IL does not meet the full
approval of those supporting 1T.
In the meantime, Senator Elkins has u
bill Of his own now before the Senate,
which was introduced May 27 last. which
might, with slight amendment, solve
the pending perplcxing economic problem.
Mr.. Elkins' bill is as follows:
A TEN PER CENT DUTY.
"A duty Of 10 per centum ad yalorem,
in addition to the duties NOW Imposed by
law, shall be levied, collected, and PAID on
all goods wares and merchandise imported
III snips or ves.sIs not OF tine Snited states
by law on goods, wares, and merchandise
imported mo the United states. Iaere snail
be levied, coll ected, and paid IA duty OF 10
per cen,um ad yalorem on all such goods.
wares anu mercnan'iise uiias si-iiii nG iii-
ported in ships or vessels not OF the limited
states And any and all clauses in exist
ing treaties in contravention hereto and
ali acts of Congress in c'infhct herewith,
are hereby abrogated and repealed
When senator Elkins INTRODUCED this
bill it was intended onl y for the protection
and advancement or American ship
building industries. since the growing
shortage III the Treasury mas become 80
alarming the Senator has formed the opin-
ion that il would be just the revenue IHeas-
ure that is needed II would do away with
all tariff complications and its passage ip,-
mrtiiately would secure the purposes for
whicn IL WAS introduced The amount uf
revenue which would be brought in by
the passage of the bill, according to re-
ports from the Treasury Department,
would be in round numbers $50 900 900.
A quiet canvass is now icing made OF
Senators and members, will out regard to
political affiliations, as to the probability
Of its passage. 1t orld be rushed through
the House without difficulty, but in the
Senate trouble il anticipated. democratic
Senators W ould have to support 1t IN order
to secure its passage Though ehat hody-
The canvass is now being made chiefly
among Senators to ascertain how many
friends Of the measure can be iolid.
1t is not known to what extent the recent
election has lcssened the chances or the
measure When Congress adjourned Sen
ator Morgan, among other Democrats, was
in favor of The bill as introduced, which
made IL operative fifteen months after the
date of passage. The proposition now is
TO make It effective at onceH
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS
The inquiry will te carried further than
the Senate and House. An effort viii be
made to learn President Clcveland's views.
Ii is thought the old stand taken yeSter-
day by him in retaliating upon Germany
for inI osfiions practiced upon American
shippers will incline him to Stili further
carry ont the same policy on TINS line anC
settle old st ores with all foreign nations.
The pa assagr OF this bill " ould abrogate the
shipping clause i'll every treaty now III cx-
is;ence between the United States and
other countries Congress has the power
to DO this and II the President will give
the least inti,nation that he VIII permit
such a measure to become law it's as
sage will be most vigorously urged.
In 1898 the amount o: mcrchanlise
carried 10 the United States in foreign
vessels amounted in value to $3.50 53s 1862
10 per centuIn ad valorem duty on this
amount would give abont $4,000 900
revenue. 1t would he couple OF years
before American vessels could be built
and bought in sufficient numbers To carry
the import trade OF this country and in
that time the tariff could he revised and
put in good working order. Enough money
could also be raised to make a small pay
ment on the bonds already issucd-enough
almost to equal the deficiency during Mr.
Cleyeland's administration.
This plan is considered superior to the
Dingicy hill, in that il provides materially
more revenue, and avoids the Clashing of
interests. 1t is believed that a tax on beer
would he necessary TO the Dingley bill, in
order to make it adequate as rcvenuc
measure.
WHAT MR.. ELKINs SAYS.
This hill of mine would not be pro-
lection TO n special industry said Senator
ElkiIis. .'in\the sense the word protection
is used now. 1t was the law OF the country
up until after the war of 1912, when 1t
was abrogated by treaty with Great
Britain. Wooden vessels We're then the
carri ers of the world. We had the
forests and no nation could equal the
ships We built. We held this first place
until the iron vessel became the carrier
and then our shipping began to decline.
Great Britain had a similar law on her
statute books in force until she became
the great maritime nation of the earth.
Sit ltlOWtu law ltpthl Will Iitl
subsidies and will continue to be the
worlds freight carrier unless we do scme-
thing after the line indicated in my mea-
| sure. She will drive us from the Pacific
| Ocean unless we can meet her with our
| own ships.
IF this bill is not passed we can only
| encourage ship building by voting sub
| sides. Personally, i dislike to vote away
| the peoples money for the building up of
any particular industry. If we grant a
| subsidy of a hundred millions, England
| can go us four times better. At present
we cannot compete with her treasury.
| l would have this bill act Just the same
| as the law does now with reference to
| our cOastwise and lake trade. Were it
not for the fact that the law prohibits
such a thing, England would today be
| running our coast and lake trade for us
| just the same as she does our ocean traffic.
when this law was in force. and the
| populationof America aggreg gated but three
| millions, we carried 80 per cent of our i'm
| ports in American vessels. The bill was
| primarily intended to bring us'back to oul
old-time maritime glory. 1t can, however
| be Il revenue measure. We are bankrup,
| now and Something must be done and done
at once. l shall urge my bill toits passage
! Rather than see the shortage in the Treas
| ury continue will vote for the Dingle,
| bill or any measure that will give immcdi
| ate relief. If 1 cannot get what l wan
will take what the other fellows Civ,
| me-"
Cattle Dealer Probably Murdered.
Dallas, Texas, Dec. al. c. Quits, a
prominent cattle dealer al Tourney, twent
| miles south of Dallas, has been missing
| since yesterday morning. 1t is believed
he has been murdered, as his horse witt
saddle and other trappings was found COW
cred with blood. a lariat was found OF
| r;,,it n th.