The San Francisco call., 1896-02-08
UNTAxED SHIPS.

The recommendation OF a committee
of the Chamber of Commerce that the
mem bers at once begin the work of q edu-
eating the people OF the State as to the
necessity for placing our ship-owners in
a better position to compete with the un-
taxed ships that are now doing the work
our ships should do" is one that ought to
receive the cordial approval of ALL 1t
| would be an important part of that gen.
eral campaign for the promotion of home
industry ON which SO much has been done
during the past year, and to that extent
the Manufacturers Association might CO.
operate with the Chamber of Commerce in
carrying it on.
Certainly if any home industry needs
careful fostering at this time it is that of
our merchant marine. The committee of
the Chamber of Commerce points out that
the San Francisco ship-owner Iabors under
the great disadvantage of coming into
direct competition with foreign shipping
built cheaply and subject to no taxation.
This is disadvantage to which no other
industry involving great outlay of capi-
tai is subject, and it is therefore certainly
Justlfiable to urge upon the people the
adoption OF constitutional amendment
providing that all vessels registered or en-
rolled at any port in this State, and en-
gagged In ocean commerce between any
port in the United States and any foreign
port, or between ports in the United
States, shall be exempt from all local and
State taxation.
The Importance of ocean commerce to a
people cannot be overrated. In an elabor-
ate history Captain Mahan of the navy
has recently told us of the advantage of
sea power in time of war. 1t is not less
| important in time of peace. It supplies
wings to all other industries of a country
and enables them to find profitable mar
kets IN the remotest quarters of the globe.
This fact is well understood by wise
statesmen, and as consequence the great
nations of Europe and many of our own
great States have done all in their power
not only to free their ships from heavy
burdens of taxation, but to give them
every advantage possible over their COM
petitors.
San Francisco holds on the Pacific Ocean
| the point of supreme ad dvantage. Through
the Golden Gate must pass the vast and
rapidly increasing commerce between our
own growing country, the rising colonies
VI AuSIIdifd anu the advancing. peoples !
the Orient. That trade if it were gath
cred into our hands and carried in our
ships would make San Francisco as pow
erful and rich in the course OF time as old
Venice and perhaps even as modern Lon
don. It will never come into our grasp,
however, if we tie our hands. If our ships
are taxed while other ships go free the in
exorable law of competition will take the
trade from us. We shall see the wealth of
the East and West pass through our gates,
but it will be carried beneath other flags
than ours and its profits will be in other
hands.
1t is certainly full time to begin the cam
palgn of education on this subject. The
Legislature to be selected this year should
be fully instructed in the importance of
what is asked of them. Untaxed ships
will bring benefits to all. The expansion
OF our commerce means better markets for
our goods, and to all producers of every
kind and de gree there is an assurance of
gain when through the Golden Gate ships
of California come and go free and un-