The times., 1897-04-06

pute the formers supremacy. and flom its
position control not only its own, but the
larger part of the worlds carrying trade.
He sketchcd also the navigation laws of
Great Britain, noted the measures em-
ployed by England TO maintain control Of
the seas, and said few, if any, false steps
Were made, and none out OF consideration
for her competitors. Great Britain today
controls so per cent of the carrying trade.
owns half the floating property of the
globe unfurls her flag over one-uuarter
of it's area. and rules nearly one-thiid OF
its population. Could this position have
been achieved or maintained, he asked,
without first excluding foreign-built YES
sells from her commerce, and 10y enforcing
discriminating duties, together with sut-
sides and mail pay on an enormous scale,
and other forms of support?
England, under a system Of laws N full
force for about 130 years, laid the found
alton for the present prosperous condition
of her shipping and commerce Industries.
We are told that England has free trade IN
shipping and maritime reciprocity, and
that therefore, this policy is test FOR the
United States. But the conditions are
are not the same. In the matter Of ship
ming the United States is iii one sense
now where England was when she adopted
her navigation laws, and we are not as
well off when we Notwithstanding
duties in 1891 If the United States had
enloyed for 130 years the benefits Of such
navigation laws, and had followed them
with discriminating duties, enormous sub
sides and mail pay, then our people might
be willing to adopt free trade in shipping.
We would be on an equal footing with
England.
1t is not claimed, the Senator asserted.
that this bill is perfect, or will bring all
needed relief. 1t is claimed, however,
that it was tried by this country for forty
wears with beneficial results, and thatnow,
after protection to American shipping has
been abandoned for seventy years, this
would he a start in the night direction.
When the makers of the Government, inn
mediately after the adoption OF the Con-
stitution, desired to encourage and build up
shipping, they adopted the policy set forth
in this bill, and passed other acts, all Of
them short. direct and TO the point. They
did not attempt to subSidize American snip.
ping. nor can we now doso, on scale that
Will be effective and commensurate with
its needs.
Elkins said, irrespective of party, earn
estIy desire TO enlarge and extend their
foreign trade, and to sell more OF their
agricultural and manufactured products
The best means TO this end is TO increase
our shipping. No nation can have its Just
andpropershare initsforeiln ncomnlerceand
IN the foreign markets unless it is al
owner ana builderof ships. Reclaimed that
l.ss-i In
ton would be to foster shiphuilding. Our
people, in addition, should have the pro
ceeds which come from the transportation
u ships now paid tc other nations IT the
people Of the United States could avail
themselves of the profits resulting from
carrying what they buy and sell, $780,
600, 600 annually would be paid TO them
selves. In 1885 there were 353,55S ar
rivals and 401, 1922 departures to and from
ports of the United states. a total of 761,-
$50 passengers, nine-te nths, OF about
$50, 600, OF whom were carried in foreign
vessels at an average OF $50 per head, or
S32, 500 200 made by foreign shipowners,
which belongs to Americans.
No industry affects the country more
widely and generally than shipping. The
farmer. as wen as the producers of coal,
nun, etNNl anu LlHNs oAO iAAtNttHANh
in building up the shipping and shipyards
OF the country, as these interests afford
employment TO consumers. Ninety per
cent of the farm products which are eX-
ported are carried in foreign bottoms.
If these products could he transported in
vessels OF the United States it would
stimulate and help all branches Of business
at home. Passing this bill would pro-
is a provision that it viii not take effect
for fifteen months after It's passage, ships
can be built and gotten ready for the new
business that win come to them. The
difficulty now is that il We had ships we
could not get business for them, and under
present conditions capital viii not invest
in American ship owning.
] have tried TO show, said the Sena-
tor, that under discriminating duties
American ships would carry our imports
from foreign countries, amounting in value
to nearly one thousand million dollars per
annum. He pointed out that importations
from South andCentraI American countries,
Mexico and the West Indies amounted to
about S195, coo, 900. Those countries
are non-shipowners. We export to them
S9l 600 900 of products annually. IL
American ships could get these imports
they would take from foreign vessels the
return products.
Z The revival of American shipping, Sen
ator ElkinS declared, is not the cause OF
any party; it belongs TO no section. 1t
concerns the whole country, its future
prosperity and welfare. 1t has become
the cause of 90 900 900 of people. Hence
forth they will take care OF it: in their
keeping it viii no longer languish-it VIII
not die.
Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky, addressed the
Senate in favor Of the bankruptcy bill
A Joint resolution was introduced by Mr..
Bate ofTexas, aud was passed nanimonsly,
authorizing the President to direct the
Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital
Bureau to distribute all available sup
plies of tents, blankets, food and medicine,
and to purchase such further supplies as
may he necessary for the relief OF the suf-
ferers by the Mississippi floods.
A resolution was adopted, instrueting
the Committee on Civil Service and Re
trenchment to investigate the case OF the
discharge of employees from the Bureau of
Animal Industry in South Omaha, Neb.,
and also one offered yesterday for like
Investigation of the dismissal of eighty
five coIored persons from the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing in Washington for
no other cause than that of color
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Chandler
"Abolishing competition in trade and pro-
ductions, and authorizing combinations
to enable merchants, manufacturers, and
producers of commodities, subject to inter
state commerce, TO maintain prices and