The true northerner., 1897-01-13
RESTORE OUR SHIPS.
REPUBLICAN POLICY TOWARD OUR
MERCANTILE MARINE.

I
lse8-Msjor MsKinicy's Endorsement In
His Letter Of Acceptance Senator FL
kins' Discriminating Duties BIZ.
TExtract from Republican national platform,
adopted June lS. 1895
We favor restoring the early Ameri.
can policy of discriminating duties for
the upbuilding Of our merchant marine
and the protection Of our shipping in
the foreign carrying trade. SO that
American ships-the product Of Ameri-
can labor employed in American ship
yards, sailing under the stars and stripes
and manned, officered and owned by
Americans-may regain the carrying of
our foreign commerce.
Extract from William McKinley's letter on
cially accepting Republican nomination for
the presidency. Aug. "a, 1895.
The declaration of the Republican
platform in favor of the upbuilding of
our merchant marine has my hearty APP
proval. The policy of discriminating
duties in favor of our shipping which
prevailed in the early years of our his
tory should be again promptly adopted
by congress and vigorously supported
until our prestige and supremacy on the
seas are fully attained.
We should no longer contribute direct
ly or indirectly to the maintenance of
the colossal marine of foreign countries,
but provide an efficient and complete
marine of our own. Now that the
American navy is assuming position
commensurate with our Importance as
nation, a policy am glad to observe
the Republican platform strongly in
dorses, we must supplement it with a
merchant marine that will give us the
advantage in both our coastwise and
foreign trade that we ought naturally
and properly to enjoy. 1t should be at
once matter Of public policy and ma
tional pride to repossess this immense
and prosperous trade.
The Discriminating Duties Protection Bill.
On March 8. 1895, Senator S. B.
Elkins Of West Virginia introduced
bill in the senate, which Hon. s. r.
Payne Of New York introduced in the
house on April 4, 1896. On May 81
Senator Elkins strengthened and amend.
ed and reintroduoed his bill, which now
reads as follows:
b4TH CONGRESS- oooo
lsT SESSION. % o~@o'
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
May 81, 1896.
Mr.. Elkins introduced the following
bill, which was read twice and referred
to the committee ON commerce:
A BILL
to amend section twenty five hundred
and two Of the Revised Statutes of the
United States.
Be it enacted by the senate and house
of representatives of the United States
o. America in congress assembled, That
section twenty-five hundred and two of
the Revised Statutes of the United
States be and the same is hereby amend
ed so as to read as follows:
''Sec. 2502. A duty of 10 per centum
ad valorem, in addition TO the duties
now imposed by law, shall be levied,
collected and paid on all goods, wares
and merchandise imported in ships or
vessels not of the United States, and in
cases where no duties are imposed by
law on goods, wares and merchandise
imported into the United States, there
shall be levied, collected and paid
duty of 10 per centum ad valorem on all
such goods, wares or merchandise that
shall be imported in ships or vessels not
of the United States. And any and all
clauses i'll existing treaties in contraven-
tion hereto and all acts of congress in
conflict herewith are abrogated and re-
pealed"
Sec. 2. That this act shall take effect
10 months after the date of its passage
Results.
Ihe adQntinu Of fha Ranuhl obi =,