The San Francisco call., 1897-04-06
The United States Must Enter
tie Struggle With England
for Marine Supremacy.
BUT A FREE SHIP POLICY Is
DANGEROUS HERE.
With the Encouragement of the Pro.
posed R bate of Duties the Build.
ing of Vessels Would Increase.


galleries OF the Senate were crowded to-
| day with New England excursionists. As
the morning hour hae expired Morgan's
resolution extending belligerent rights to
both Spain and Cuba offered last Thurs
day, went over until to- morrow.
Elk:ns (R.) of West Virginia addressed
| the Senate in support of his bill to allow
rebate of 10 per cent on customs duties in
favor of merchandise imported in vessels
of the United States He opened his
speech with the explanation that under
proper policy Of encouragement to Ameri-
can shipping the United States with its
5000 miles of sea coast, its navigabie rivers
and lake coasts, fine harbors variety of
climate, productive capacity, rapidly in
creasing population, its position on the
globe-Asia on one side with 600 600. 600
and Europe on the other side with 4O0,-
600, 900 people. should be the leading COM
mercial and maritime power OF the world.
The people OF the United States had not
during the last thirty years. Elkins said.
given to shipping the attention it deserved.
They paid $500 900 day to foreign ship
owners for carrying what the people sold
land bought. TRat enormous sum, or
most of it, should be saved to the country
| and would be saved under proper policy
| of aid to shipping.
The United States had a common inter-
est In the oceans and seas OF the world
and should share in the fruits and bene-
fits that arise from occupying them with
its vessels; especially should it have the
largest share in carrying its own foreign
trade.
To restore our lost shipping and place
the United States where it belongs in the
carrying trace of the world would in
volve great contest-chief1y with Eng
land-not of arms. but as friendly rivals
for commercial supremacy. Great Britain
would resist every step in the direction of
restoring American shipping. One of the
reasons urged against the passage of the
bill under consideration is that Great
Britain and other ship-owning countries
will retaliate. But should European
countries adopt retaliation they will do it
in way not to increase the cost of our
farm products to their people. Two-thirds
of all our exports to Great Britain are food
| products, and she cannot afford to in
crease the price of these products to her
| people. 1t is doubtful whether England
would retaliate; to do so would be to
adopt protection and reverse her free
| trade policy.
As to the plan or policy of free ships
Elkins declared his opposition to it, and
said: $50 far as our ship-Duilding inter-
est is concerned, the free-ship policy
| would reduce US to a state OF dependency
and vassalage. Because we can buy ships
cheaper from foreign builders is not
sufficient reason for doing so. If we
would pursue this policy we never would
build our own ships, and in the event of
war between other countries and the
| United States our commerce would be
| swept from the seas"
The passage of this bill would provide
business for our ships which they do not
now have and cannot get under present
conditions. Under the provisions this act
will not take effect for fifteen months after
its passage. Ships can be built and got
ready for the new business that will come
| to them.
II American ships could have the carry
| ing of our imports which would give
them regularly the incom ing cargo to the
United States this would put them in a
position to compete with foreign ships for
outgoing cargoes, especially tramp ships
| coming our ports in ballast. 1t is esti-
ma ted that more than 5000 foreign vessels
came to our ports in 1894 in ballast in
search of return cargoes. It may be said
that other ahip-owning countries, espe-
| cialIy Great Britain. would retaliate and
not allow American vessels to haul their
| imports. In case OF retaliation We might
| not transport in American ships our ex-
ports to ship-owning countries. but we
! would be in position to successfully
! compete for and take the business of car
| rying exports from the United States to
countries not owning ships; we would
| gain this in addition to carrying our i'm
| ports in our own ships. It is believed
that among the good results that will
follow the passage of this bill one will be,
and not th- least, it will hasten the crea-
tion of department of commerce so
much need ed and so ably championed by
the distinguished chairman of the Senate
Committee on Commerce (Frye).
In conclusion Mr.. Elkins said: II have
| tried in what | have said to present the
cause OF American shipping to the Senate
| and to the country, and make this appeal
in its behalf. If I do nothing more than
draw attention to the facts and help to
add to the interest already aroused in this
great subject I will feel amply rewarded
for whatever ! have done or may do here.
after. II any plan better than the one