Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-06-02

Senator ElKins, or West Virginia,
who, by the way, is one among the real
friends of Protection in the Senate who
has repeatedly expressed desire to see
some legislation enacted by the present
Congress in the interests OF the falling
industries of the country, is also MAX
ing good fight for the enactment OF Il
shipping law that shall discriminate in
favor of the shipping interests OF the
United States Senator Elkins is a
stalwart Protectionist, and he is ready
to support any measure that will be
beneficial to American interests,
whether of the factory, the farm or or
commerce. In reply to the question re-
Gently propounded by us 10 the Senators
respecting their duty toward the Ding
ley Revenue bill, Senator Elkins
replied promptly, and with great earn
estness, that he favored pressing the
bill to vote at every opportunity, and
that he had been of that opinion from
the beginning.
The West Virginia Senator is equally
In earnest with respect to the bill which
he introduced early in the session, the
object of which was to restore the dis
eliminating policy as enacted by former
legislation of Congress, by which Amer
lean ships carrying goods imported
from foreign ports are TO be given an
advantage over ships owned and sailed
for foreigners. This policy is in line
xrrttt he A ,sifan
shipping, which is certainly entitled to
every fair advantage that can be given
by the laws OF an American Congress.
Senator Elkins' bill is still quietly
sleeping in the pigeon-holes of the
Committee on Commerce, and although
that committee is presided over by so
good friend of American shipping as
is Senator Frye, of Maine, there does
not appear to be any prospect of the
bill being reported and favorably con-
sidered during the remaining few days
of this session. Like the Revenue bill,
and similar measures that are designed
to give more and better Protection to
American interests from the ire
mendous competition to which they are
subjected by the cheap labor and low
standard of living in the old world, the
Shipping bill must wait until the Sena-
tors become awakened to realizing
sense of the duty of the hour.
1t is creditable to Senator Elkins,
however, that in the face of the dis
couragements of the times he con-
ti,uac bic fobt for oil protaotiva poaoc
ures, and that he promises to stir up
the Senate before the present session is
ended with some vigorous talk and
work for the Shipping bill and DIS
eliminating duties in favor of our snip
ping.
The history of such discriminating
duties, the levying of 10 per cent.
additional duty on goods imported from
foreign countries when they are
brought in here in foreign ships, gives
so much evidence of the beneficial eff
fects of that policy upon our shipping
that it would seem that mere refer
ence to it should arouse even the Re-
publican members of the United States
senate. Every time that policy was
tried 1t resulted in splendidly stimu-
lating the American merchant marine.
During the periods when the dlscrimi-
mating duties were enforced our ship
ping interests were materially revived
and the abandonment of the policy was
promptly followed by corresponding
decline in our shipping interests
After more than half century of do
nothing policy, and the competition of
the heavily subsidized shipping lines
of foreign countries that are aggres-
sive in their contests for trade, the re-
suit has been that American ships are
carrying only IL per cent of our foreign
trade. Under the policy of Protection
to our manufacturing industries, and in
spite of the vicious and unrelenting OPP
position of the Free Trade party, our
industries have thrived and prospered
until the present blight of the Free
Trade administration. But, even dur
ing those years of continuous Protec-
ton to domestic industries, the Ameri-
can shipping interests were denied one
of the simplest and safest means OF Sc
curing to it Protective advantages by
the adoption of policy that would also
afford additional Protection to Ameri-
can industries, and put more money IN
the Treasury, where it is now SO great
ly needed.
We wish Senator Elkins success in
his battle for more Protection to Ameri-
can shipping. He Is SO true a friend to
Protection to all our industries that his
labors in behalf of our shipping inter-
ests cannot but result in good fruits at
no distant day. And the sooner the
better. The policy he advocates is
distinctly American in idea and spirit.
In results, also. it would be distinctly
of American advantage. Therefore we
need it. And the more legislation of
similar character that We can place
upon our statute books the better 1t will
be for the United States.
Try to give pleasure and you will re-
ceive more than you give.