Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-02
HISTORY OF AMERICAN SHIPPING.

EH
In 1889 only q per cent Of the foreign
commerce of the United States va
carried in American ships, although
American ships were built from 81 to
80 per cent cheaper, and better, and
lasted longer, than foreign ships. The
first act OF the first congress, and subse-
quent acts Of that and other congresses
during the latter part of the last
century, created q preference for Amer
lean ships in the carriage of American
foreign comerce, by taxing imports in
foreign ships more than they were tax
ed in American ships. That policy,
during the nearly forty years it vas in
force, enabled American ships to carry
80 percent OF American foreign com
| merce.
In the mistaken belief that American
ships could thereafter carry all OF our
| foreign commerce, without any stat
utory preference, the legislation that
| had created that preference was partly
repealed in 1915, still more was repeal
| ed in 1917, and In 1928 was wholly and
finally repealed. From that time
| American ships carried less and less Of
| American commerce, and at the begin
| ing of the civil war they carried less
| than 66 per cent, WEIGH had fallen at
| the close of the war to but % per cent,
and is today but III per cent Of our
| cOreign commerce..
In 1892 "a act was passed which con-
fined our coastwise and inland com
merce to vessels of the United States,
an act that has never been disturbed
and which has given to the United
States the finest inland shipping in
world. In 1892 American registry was
denied to foreign vessels, which act
has been continually in force ever
since. But the act Of 1928, above re.
ferred to, nevertheless permits foreign
ships to freely compete with American
ships in the carriage OF American for.
eign commerce.
From time to time attempts have
been made to again give the carrying
of our commerce to our " ships, BY
bounties and subsidies. In l848 sub.
sides were granted to two transatlantic
American lines and withdrawn In 1853
whereupon the lines failed. The sub
sidy act OF 1891 has, by the help 81
another act, placed four vessels under
the American flag, two Of which are o
American construction. That is the
sum total Of accomplishment under
subsidies Of the United States. There
has never been q bounty act passed fol
the benefitof American ships, although
such q bill has been discussed and ad'
vOcatod.
The foreign commerce Of the U. s
annually consists Of between one and
y halt and two billion Of dollars worth
OF imports and exports, and employs
several million Ions OF foreign ships.
In order that American ships may be
restored to the carrying Of this com
morce, al agitation has been begun f0l
the readoption Of the policy Of 1883
TO create 4 preference for American
ships BY taxing imports higher duty
when brought here In foreign ships
Senator s. b. Elkins, Of West Virginia
and Hon. s. E. Payne, Of New York
have this year introduced In the Unit
ed States senate and house, respective
II, 4 Joint bill which provides for /
duty Of ten per cent more upon i'm
ports In foreign ships than Is leviel
upon imports In American ships. Thil
policy has this year been Endorsed bl
the republican conventions held In TIL
following states: massachusetts,. New
Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, Pennsyl
vania, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan
Delaware. West Virginia, NORTH
Carolina, Warrington. Colorado and
Maine. The Ohio republican platform
favored the use 81 American ships fol
the carriage u American commerce,
without specifying any policy. II Il
expected that the republican natiOna