The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-17


publican party ~ committed Is the en-
couTasemens Of the American marine BY
practical legislation. The report Of the
commission OF navigation for ISL. sly
nop~ts OF which appeared In the columns
OF tas Poss-Intsiiisencer yesterday morn
Ing. shows how. year by pear, . heavier
percentages Of this foreign carrying trade
Of this country Is passing into foreign
hAnas. and that new and more active COM
getitors are spsinxinx up. He points out
sBe obvious natural advantages which the
unssed States has for the control OF the
transatlantic trade. which is. however.
r. psaiy passing into the hands Of the Jap
anese.
Commissioner Chamberlain recognizes
the existing evil. and that there should
b. some practical legislation 10 revive
American shipping. bat that II So far as
he goes. When 1t GENES 10 a suggestion
10 the proper ieslslation To apply he
can suggest nothing more practical than
an extension OF the act OF isss-. under
which two foreign built steamships. New
York and Paris. were admitted TO Amers-
can registry. His sole idea seems TO be
the opening Of the American market 20
foreign snip builders on the theory that
II ships can DE purchased little cheaper
everybody would want 10 buy. He siren
uoasly opposes the proposition 10 i'm
pose discriminating duties upon eargoes
brought into the country I'm foreign bot
toms: and would probably be equally -
strenuous In opposition 10 tho giving Of
hounties 10 American vessels. had such
a proposition been pending before con-
gresx.
Tho party can recognize existing evils.
IL can csiticise existing legislation. but
when Il comes 10 applying practical REM
sdies. II goes completely into the air.
No suggestion can receive Democratic In
dorsement unless II Is on some line for
INFLATED b. Thomas Jefferson or Andrew
Jackson. no change from existing laws
can receive Democratic support unless II
can be found that some Democrats
statesman OF the dead and buried past.
had suggested such change. There never
i. In tho Democratic mid. any recognl-
ton of changed conditions TO which new
methods must be applied.
As 10 tha commissioners recommends
ton 10 permit foFslgn built vessels TO
have American registry. IL would have.
II carried into legislation. but the small
est appFeciahio effect upon stimulating tho
American carrying trade. The cost OF
construction % vessels is but minor
factor Ia the problem.
The American SUPREMACY In the carry
Ing trade OF the world. once held. has
the principal OF which. In recent years..
Is tho hsavy subsidies paid by nearly
every country whsel cprnp~fes With a.
IN the carrying sraea TO vessels flying
their o~n Says. II II the suissaaies paid
h. the Japanss0 government which have
tFsastgs aseas ses heavy increase in the
nunslsF 81 sspensse steamships now en-
gAssd is fafssEs sotnuNfc@. ff the United
siatss sss3zksAx b0uxAt ;fsesf vessels In
tie zsssse sn&xkst here tie japanese buy
theirs. gises wpaiA ssslg hs unable to COM
pess ~ish rise asaxgsy subsidized japanese
tines, saisss gsAs subssdies we're extended
20 thsm.
Notwithstanding ths criticism OF Com
missioner ChsrspeFlaia Of lie proposition
10 impose discriminating duties upon car
goes hrosgas snie the United States ~
forelgn vessels. that policy would be much
mere likely 60 accomplish the result
aimed at tasa anything waica has been
suggested. II IL TIE American protecg.vs
safsu system spss.et TO sAe csrry.n;
trade. n ss nos e novelty. II was triad
early IN the nations History with aston
isasaS results. Prior 20 the war tha
DATED states bad the largest merchant
marine ia sAa ~eF.a. ard MAS indeed tae
common carrier Of the word The hus.ss.
ing up ef that merchant marine was dus
10 the laassas given shspsallaGns ard ne
carrying trade sy prsca&eiv saeh ssscrsa,.
tnssaas dsttes as Il - nov proposed Ia
have reztossd.
The gfeaf merchant marine q. Great
Britain. which wrvsses srars ths United
States les ocean carrying trade. nas bsssl,
~ BY a alrcct bounty system. as tho Jap
snsse marine i SOW saslAiag mp oGe
method ~ re ether sAaniI BE sssorses 70,
either Tire bounty sgsfeas or that Of G.s-
eliminating duties. n sas nesssn, Goa.
s.sian % he treasury If the rnsses st.ses
slss argument tnas Il waasd pace an al.
a.ssaaa. cAasSn cF ss@,sse,o0 aeaa Imports
put forward ~ x.@-ars.s.sas,A~ t.An-,Aew.
Ian As a. ssSuaaeas against discriminate.
tax aas'sS ssssns rather a. &rxnneas IA
saesr fssos. Sss-h aaises waala aTSra
that snusa asasssassl reyesae 20 m GOV.
e<nsnens GAsa saea sssae as American sasp.
easi&ses saa sflFos asFs coala. gaser sAs
stimulus thas afforded. cev~r the seas
win vessels saosSA 10 handle he carry.