The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-16
THE INTELLIGENCER.
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The ed section OF the Dlngiey Bill I'M
posing a discriminating duty of 10 per
cent on all goods coming into the United
States in ships other than those OF the
United States, is attracting more atten-
tlon and exciting more discussion than
any other part of the bill or any measure
that was passed at the recent special ses-
sion of Congress, The fact that the dis
cussion has developed an astonishing
amount OF misunderstanding regarding
the purport of the section shows how
fortunate It is that public interest Is
aroused, because 1t will better educate
the people in the direction of adopting
such means as will restore our-merchant
marine,
The 22d section of the DIngley bill Is
substantially. with few changes, Sen
ate bill No. l, introduced by Senator Ell
kins on the first day of the extra session
Of Congress, and which he supported In
an exhaustive speech. delivered In the
senate on April 8, last, which was widely
noticed by the press of the country, re-
ceiving many favorable comments, es-
peclally from the Republican papers and
the commercial and shipping journals,
The object of the Ellsins bill was to build
up our merchant marine and restore 1t
to what 1t was in the early days Of the
republic.
Senator Elklns' bill is only revival OF
the measure to build up American ship
ping that was introduced in Congress by
Mr.. Madison in 1894. and had the APP
proyal of Hamilton, jefferson and Wash
ington, and under which American ships
increased their carrying OF American
commerce from 20 to SO per cent in TWEEN
ty-five years, building up navy that
enabled us to defeat England on the seas
in the war OF 1872.
The principle OF this policy is simply to
impose a duty OF 10 per cent on all goods
coming into the United States In ships
not of the United States. If, however,
the same goods are imported In vessels
OF the United States the 10 per cent duty
is not collected. One can see at a glance
that this would force the importing OF
goods in American ships without the cost
OF one dollar to the government. We are
now paying the enormous amount OF
5000 1000. 900 per year to foreign ships to
haul what we buy and sell, or more than
100000 day in gold. The purpose Of
Senator Elkins was to chan5e this SO
that American ships would at least haul
90 per cent of our commerce and save
this $500, 900, 900 to our own people.
When Senator Elkins first drew his
bill he substantially adopted the Ian
Euage OF the Madison bill, but soon
found that the measure was open TO the
objection that goods might be brought to
Canada and Mexico and be transported
from one of these contiguous countries
by rail and thus avoid the 10 per cent
duty In the bill which he introduced
in the senate on the first day Of the extra
session he attempted to insert a provie-
lon that would prevent this evasion Of
. the law and OF discriminating duty. The
22d section makes but one or two changes
In the Elkins bill; and the question
arises whether goods coming by foreign
ships into Canada can come into the
United States in bond without paying
this 10 per cent duty.
Senator Elklns purpose was to have
the 10 per cent discriminating duty eff
fective when the treaties between this
and other countries should be abrogated
and It was not his purpose to try to cor
rect the abuses Of the Canadian Pacific
road in the 22d section OF the DIngley bill
on the "a Of April. 1896 he set forth the
abuses OF the Canadian Pacific road ant
It's violation Of our interstate commerce
in taking freight from our railroads, and
gave notice that ne would follow thi.
with more elaborate speech and n reso
luton to abolish the bonding privileges
" the Canadian Pacific.
It IL gratifying to the people OF Yves
virginia to know that our Republican
senator has been able to bring befor,
the country one Of the most lmportan
questions that has engaged the attention
Of Congress and the country for many
years. and one that promlscs to build al
American shipping and save two hun
dred millions Of dollars annually 10 ou
people. instead Of paying II out to foreign
steamship companies. II will be rcmcm
berod. In THIS connection that fourteen
Republican state conventions, as well al
the national Republican convention u
IT, Louis last year, adopted the prInclpl
Of the Elklns bill almost In the sam,