The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-20
Protection to Ship. Owners.


The Massachusetts Republican con-
vention adopted, March %, the follow
ing plank which has since been re-
adopted by the Republicans of Oregon
and New Jersey: I'VE have always
given protection to our shipbuilders. In
late years we have neglected to pro-
tect our ship-owners. We believe the
time has come to return to the policy
of Washington and Hamilton, which.
by discriminating duties in favor of
American bottoms, secured 80 per cent.
of our carrying trade to American
ships. and which. If now restored, would
again revive our shipping and cause
American freights to be paid to Ameri-
cans" An effort will be made at Har-
risburg on Thursday to secure SINH
lar expression from the Republicans Of
Pennsylvania and 1t will deserve to
succeed.
An instructive brief of the benefits
which the re-adoption of this policy by
congress would confer upon the Ameri-
American Merchant Marine associa-
tion. 1T is,' says the association.
sound Republican protective doctrine.
1t puts money into the national treas
ury, instead of taking money out, as
bounties and subsidies do. 1t creates
preference for American ships in the
carrying of American commerce. 1t
was in force for nearly forty years
down to 1928, during all of which time
an average of 80 per cent. of American
foreign commerce was carried In
American ships. Ship protection was
thought necessary, and from that time
the proportion of carriage of American
commerce in American ships has de-
clined, until today but 1l.7O per cent. of
American commerce is carried foreign
In American ships. Five million tons
of ships are employed in carrying
American foreign commerce. less than
three-quarters of a million tons of
which are American. Four houndred
million dollars would be spent in
American shipyards building the ships
necessary to carry American commerce
if the policy advocated in the Massa-
chusetts plank were adopted by the
United States. Three hundred million
dollars now annually sent abroad to
pay for the carriage of American COM
merce, passengers and mails, would be
retained in the United States If Ameri-
can ships did the work. Four billion,
five hundred million dollars, it has been
estimated by competent experts, have
been sent abroad during the past
thirty years to pay for the carriage of
American commerce. passengers, mails,
etc. The weakness of the United States
is only apparent upon the seas of the
world; the adoption of this policy would
strengthen the nation where it's one
weakness at present exists. 1t Is pol
icy that provides for the same protec-
ton for American ships that Is now
provided for American manufactures,
TO wit: discrimination against foreign
ships, just as we discriminate against
foreign manufactures, by higher duty
upon the foreign articles, be they ships
or products Of foreign nations. The
United States navy Is weak, because
Americans are not to be had to man
our warshps. The adoption of this
policy would provide resource for the
manning of the navy. sufficient to pro-
vide the men for the nations protec-
tion, ii ever assailed by foreign
power"
To this succinct presentation of the
subject little need be added save that
Pennsylvania, with its large ship
building interests, is specially interest
ed. No Republican disputes the sound
ness of the foregoing conclusions. 1t
only remains for Republican initiative
to give them practical effect.