New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05


such possessions. and. second. to apply the same
discriminating duty TO all merchandise imported
into the United States In British vessels from all
ports Of the globe other than those OF the BRUSH
possessions In Europe. 1t will devolve upon the
Department OF State to ascertain to what extent
the vessels of other countries will he subject TO
this discriminating duty. If the above view as TO
the effect OF the provisions OF Section 2 of the
Tariff shall be sustained. that act will be about
as efectual In the protection of American shipping
is in the protection Of American manufactures
and other American Industries.
Certain provisions as to contiguous foreign coun-
tries were nterjected into Section p OF the Tarf
act of July "a 1897, in conference committee. but
they do not IN any manner affect the matter mere
under consideration. The words "or convention IN
the exempting clause of Section = appear 10 h'Nc
| been introduced in conferer ce committee.
There are many collateral issues of statutory pro-
vision and Of treaty involved in, the subject here
under consideration to only enc o. which snail
! here allude.
On July p. 1ss7-the same day that the Tariff act
became law-the following act was approved by inc
! President:
! BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repr@-
sentatives Of The United states Of a n ib Revised
Statutes is amended by adding TO the r same 's
following TO wit PROVIDED ,hat tng Of Sec
tions 42ls and 2j92 that foreign vessels ron
G Gog G, Sn parqi vcsHe or partial dis
eliminating import duties upon Amerca,, mr. nry
inses wbcb tS same class of American vessels
/ and merchandise may enjoy In said foreign co"'
! try"
Approved. July "a, 1897.
! This act. which had passed the House Oh hVPo
! sentatives was rushed through the senate oF oe'
ator Morgan OF Alabama, on July %. IL gives '"
the President the power 10 modify and regulate 'ie
privileges accorded TO foreign vessels uhoei VI.
provisions of the Maritime Reciprocity act OIL -hd'
a. 1875 whereas Section % of the TariH act VIII
draws ali privileges of TIE said act OF Ma! ~ 49,
which are not secured by treaty provisions.
The object of the present communication i ~ III
| vite public attention TO what appears 10 DC an
enactment Of Congress in a high degree protective
of the interests OF the American merchant marine
As an officer OF the Government. IN the yea
1871 | presented report to the Secretary OF ','e
Treasury, in which discussed at some length III,
subject OF Foreign Commerce and TIE frlc''c"'
Workings of Maritime Reciprocity TINS rePo'
WAS transmitted to Congress by the Secretary Va
! the Treasury and Is known as II. H. TX poC' ~
! 7s-XIIst Congress- third session 40 ho' ui'N
| I can better express my views as TO the "i'
Of curtailing the privileges OF the act oi may -
1875 than in the following extract from that report
From the year 1890 until the recent War o. ~
Rebellion no necessity arose for the passage ~ any
Ia esnecg Marine as aeainst the competition Of
fornpn Sims our shipping interests took care OF
,hemTcTs o dn Ty he our own but our tonnage in
foreign commerce increased rapidly. !! rof" from ron
wben tho ronea Of the restrictive maritime laws OF
Great Britain took effect. thus provlnt ", ocr
DAYS OF wooden sailing vessels we Were aS 10 ~
both the competition and the opposition Ci E t J
But since the introduction OF steam naEiF"lu' 49,
! the substitution OF iron lGr Woo u. VI bnxe de-
ti1n of vessels or maritime int'f' SIS nav '.
clined rapidly and at time 100 wHom co., on bofcrc
! The difficulty appears 20 he that we Gam. mnF ,,yi
tempted TO compete with fore!cnGrS IN s'.lin
| gallon upon principles applicable only 10 S"'''hI
The policy Of maritime reciprocity has bee1 i4..
! and fairly tried The mutual advantages af99rdr'
/ nv these rela lions Of trade are apparent hhn ~
rot to be surrendercd or ahandonod without I3 Y
ful consideration. With all other nations th"h hhH
| In the totally changed condition Of martini ,
affairs a question OF great momoit pr'S'I,n "a
| rs 70 whether We cannot nor" easily mcct any OPP
posiiior of England arising from modihcatl4,n OF
/ partial abrogation Of our relations OF mari,lHe
rrernrocitv (at least In so far relates TO steam
! navigation than We can meet her conP mo,
under the unrestricted operations Of the pollcy o.
/ Sree Shipping Shall we permit England. our onl|
maritime rival TO grasp our cominerEr ",'n a Tt'
! that commerce to own ships? In other w9rds
shall We abridge that freedom Of shipping whiIa
! is simply the freedom OF briush S"'P' ~ '"'
! American ships off the seas?
| AT the time when this report was written the
percentage Of imports in American vessels had
fallen from GO per IN 1850 TO 30 Per cent In S'
During the year ended lyme 3D. 1885, the yane y OF
| amounted only 10 l5.7 per cent OF our to'ai I'M
p9 Tba nlatform Of the Republican party in 1896
contained the following expression Of faiih ana
We favor restoring the American policy OF dis
! eliminating duties for the upbuiding OF our Tn"r
chant marine and the protection OF our shppins ~
| the product of American labor. employed ~
! Stripes and manned differed and owned b.
! Americans-may regain the carrying OF our Tor
II Section q Of the Tariff act of July "a 1897. does
| not embrace adequate protection 20 American ship
ping 1t hehooves the T i.ss s sDaeJIIy re-
deemed Joseph NlMMo, JR.
Washington. D. C.. Aug. 81. 1897.