Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-18

THE PLEI FOR FREE SHipS.
Tho commissioner of navigation has
submitted his report and as previously
announced he recommends free ship
legislation. A. "a democrat who doubt
loss believes IN free trade. or policy
closely approNimatiug to It, mo- other
recommendation from him was to have
been expected II comes at time. how
ever, when 1t Is not likely to exert any
influence outside the ranks of free trad
crs for the American people have lust
declared overwhelmingly for the party
Of protection and this embraces the
shipping interest Of the country In com
mon with all others 10 which that policy
can be applied. 1t is perfectly idle,
therefore, FOR anybody to urge free ship
legislation with Il republican a3mius-
tratiou ana congress, elected 10y the
greatest popular plurality ever given,
coming into power.
But that portion of the report Of tho
commissioner which relates to the prupo-
sition to impose discriminating duties
on imports IN foreign vessels contained
III lll'' 1t lll'l'llitl llai illNllbl IllIi 'ls
merits attention, because 1t points out
valid objections TO that policy. 1t shows
that the proposed II per cent discern
nation would put an additional heavy
charge on our international cNchang 'S,
which would operate to our disa,lvan-
tage but more important tlan This is
the fact that such discrimination
would ncCrSsitatc abrOgnting numerous
treaties, the effect of which would be
to seriously disturb our trade relations
with the world 1t may be doubted
whether those who urge the adoption
Of the discriminating duty plank of the
republican platform had informed them
selves regarding the treaty obligations
with which that policy would interfere
and therefore it seems pretty safe to
say that when this is understood there
will be no general disposition to adopt
that policy. obviously we do not want
10 take Il course that will provoke re
taliatiOn on the part of foreign govern
mcDts and it is not doubted that the
imposition of Il discriminating duty on
imports in foreign vessels would do
This Besides, willie this policy had
highly satisfactory results in increasing
our carrying trade n century ago It by
no means follows that it would have
like effect now when the conditions
# International trade are so widely
different
This question of building mp the mcr-
chant marine Is certain to receive the
earnest consideration of the next con
grcSs ana administration. because its
great Importance is fully realized. The
vast sum annually paid to foreign ship
owners and which is growing from year
to year is Il serious drain upon the coun-
try, while everybody who has an in
telligcnt understanding of the matter
knows that our future commercial prog
rcss very largely depends upon our hay
ing Il merchant marine equal to its de
mandS. We cannot hope to compete sue
ceSsfully for the markets of the world
so long as we must be dependent upon
the ships Of our commercial rivals for
he transportation of our commodities |
We think it may safely be anticipated |
lIlat tlltfr VIII ne legislation ny tne next
congress looking to giving the country
an adequate merchant marine and it
will be of Il character that will not with |
draw protection from our shipbuilding
interest, but rather operate to enlarge
that interest already extensive and I'M !
portant Having every facility for build |
ing ships equal to the best in the world. |
there is no sound reason why American |
capital should be invested in foreign |
ships.