Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-17
COMMERCE DESTROYER,

lUIIiliiituOL
... Ms. Potent Character is What
Ir E.kinss Bill Would Be
oo-sd Into Law--It Would
- p, the Detriment Not Only
",,r,s~.can shipping, but Would
2~s---rauv Close All Ports to
.e-.oan Products-Little Dan
f. Ever Being Seriously
1s5ered in Congress
..,.o lie Register.
-.n April 16.-It is alto
,ouo.e senator Elkins himself
had any nope that Congress
,.s induced TO pass the bill he in
,na dme ego. providing for
cen discriminating duty on
sr ~-as brought TO this eoun-
r1-owned vessels. The os-
-tt.,- os The bill is 70 encour-
~-osa shipping and restore to
s -.e great feet of American
..,.-.--n which were destroyed by
p..ra.equ system Of protection
s4c ne bill, if it became 4
t n1- only drive from the
-.. s.r American vessels now en-
.-.t En- foreign trade but would speed
sss-1v American commerce CT all
.-f. Dr. is easy 10 see how the oper-
.,~s a. the proposed law would have
effect.
4 senator EIkins' bill provides that a
II eliminating duty of 10 per centum
N valerln. in addition TO the duties
'--,.45 bv law. shall be levied, col
and paid on all goods. wares and
Merchandise which shall be imported
. vessels no- belonging TO citizens OF
r. United States: and any and al
7-zas % existing treaties in contro-
| ra--ln hereof. and all acts Of Congress
contrary hereto, are hereby abrOgaJed
and repealed.
The first effect Of this bill would be
% force an importers to have their for
egn goods consigned 10 them on YES
s,s owned by Americans. Ii they had
their goods brought into our ports on
orsign-0wued vessels. the cost of them
would be increased 10 per cent, so that
they could not possibly sell them in
competition with merchants who i'm
p1-.i their goods in vesslS owned 10y
Americans. Now, no foreign vessels
l- 20 our ports with cargOes OF for
I'd goods. that do no. take return car
ss c' American goods away with
lsm They must do so in order "a
axe living. There would be no
-ofr for their owners in coming tC
America loaded and returning hons
gh- Neither would they come 70
sse ports light in order 20 take home
.h them cargCes Ct American pro-
gca or manufactures. SO'that if they
deprived OF the carrying trade
he imposition of additional 10 per
duty on the goods they brought
e. they would cease coming 10 the
ted States altogether. They would
Is in Other countries the goods which
s. now take from ,hiS country. The
of commerce TO the United S.a Is
- would result would be enormous
But this would not be all. II is no.
0 te supposed for an inS ant that Eng
--l Germany. Holland, France. anC
other nations whose vessels bring
--Ces TO the United States and take
goes away would fail to resent il
b practical manner the determinations
1osed by the ElkinS bill. They
u.d adopt retaliatOry measures
-aiusJ goods brought into their ports
vessels owned by Americans, and
Foi.i discriminate in various ways
nlust AN American products. Here
--i1 The commerce Of the United States
rid suher. Now suppOsing. encour-
gel by ,be Elkins bill. a feet Of Amer
en- vessels were built large enough ia
l1s To- our ports all the foreign goods
.'luat by American consumers, this
p, would be driven out Of business
The terminating duties imposed
sans, them by foreign governments.
a.{ would get cargOes for America
england Germany or France, but
-.' would have to sail light TO Europe.
ase american products could not
soe m those countries in cOmpeti-
MN 'he products OF countries
were not engaged in such a war
.-e ElainS bin proposes to inaugu-
american cotton. meats and grain
DC Increasingly difficult now TO hold
own in The markets Of Europe
.ls. the competition Of the cotton
-..ia and Egypt, and the meats and
~ o south America and Russia.
'I-a New Determinations against them
g s. The ElkinS bill would be sure
'.'oNe they would be absolutely
OUT o, the markets of the old
-. Not only would the American
'Iue' as ruined but American com
Sce q. all kinds would be reduced 10
minimum.
-. Project advocated by Senator Ell
> ny no means new one. nor is
-o9'o statement of its results. if
.-s5d on theory. i similar
,R' 10 promote American ship
VT, tried in the early days of the
10 and was found to work in
way thar is now predicted for
scheme
,,' .'tnnateIy there is not and
us oeen any danger that the FL
v,- ",,l pass. Ii has no more
--, e., laYorable action than would
oedo West Virginia 10 Great