New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-12
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
ENGLISH COMMENTS UPON THE PROS.
pEcrs OF THE AMERICAN MER-
CHANT MARrNE-MORALs
FROM MARITIME
EUROPE.

EUROPE.
London. September 30
"The Tines has been discussing this week
the improved prospect for an American merchant
marine in foreign trade. 1t comedies frankly
that a country which has turned out the victori-
GUS fleets OF Sampson ard Dewey does not need
| to fear competition In material resources. me-
chanical appliances and constructive skill with
any shipbulders In the world; but II contends
that the development OF the merchant marine
cannot be effected so long as the United States
Government refuses to grant the use Of its flag
TO ships not built in American yards. II
| sumes that with free ships American shipping
! Interests would speedily regain the advantage
which was lost during the Civil War and Il as
serts that II Englshmen were 10 consult ther
| own interests solely they would be disposed 10
hope that the repeal Of the navigation laws Of
%he United States might be deferred az long
possible
This argument ia analogous to the one which
u.ed 70 b.. heard in England respecting free
trade in America. With free trade. the Golden
ties were accustomed 10 say. America would
manufacture for the world and England would
! he driven out OF the market. consequently as
| patriotic Englshmen" they would add. having
a selfish interest in the supremacy OF British
ouated system Of American protection Will be
| deferred as long as possible" That was paus-
ible argument but It never convinced English
men themselves. They never ceased 10 welcome
every lower tariff in America as a great gain for
their own trade, and Invariably deplored every
triumph Of the ProtectIonis,s az a staggering
blow 70 British commercial interests. II they
had really believed that the supremacy OF Brit
ish trade depended upon the maintenance %
American protection. By which they were de-
Iivered from the menace Of destructive compet-
ton that under Free Trade would be fatal 10 a.
they would not have condemned the Mckinley
and Dingley tariffs. nor have applauded the
Wilson bill John Bull has never been conspicu-
Gus for altruism. He Is less interested In hav-
Ing other nations do what is best for themselves
than he is In having them adopt policies which
will promote his own interests.
The contention that free shipping VIII enable
the American people to develop their CONNER
cial marine and to compete vigorously with the
English In the business Of ocean freightage has
the same hollow ring. 1.-The Times" apparently
Is not seriously impressed with II. since II ad-
mits that the immediate effect OF the repeal of
the naviga ton acts would be highly benencial 10
England. since It would lead TO the transfer TO
the American flag Of q large number OF foreign
cargo boats and tramp ships ard 70 the flooding
Of English shipyards with orders from American
firms which are now deferred from entering the
carving trade by reason Of the hopelessness OF
competing on even terms with foreigners. Never
theIess. II maintains that sooner or later with
free registry law the American shipbuilding
trade would be able to supply all the demands
Of the country for shipping, ard 70 that extent
British trade In the long run would be the loser
In other words as 1.-THE Times" sums up the
case the navigation laws OF the United states
really act as measure Of protection to British
Industry rather than to native industry. and
their repeal is not British interest, whatever
may be the temporary benefit caused by a re-
newa Of activity in the shipyards Of Belfast, the
Clyde and the Tyne. or
sPECIOUs PLEA FOR FREE SHIPS.
1t is doubtful II this argument convinces any
body in the English ship-building or shipping
trade. II the shipowners and builders really
believed that the policy OF free ships In America
would lead to division Of the ocean freightins
business between England and the United
States on equal terms. they would not be anx-
ious to have the navigation laws repealed. The
passage Of a free-ship bill undoubtedly would
be welcomed here as a substantial beneft TO
English interests. Ship-owners would put up
shipbuilders would expect large orders from
America for new tonnage; and the shipping
community here would be confident OF Its ability
to hold It's ground against American compett-
ton II sounds we'll in academic polemics
for English controversialists to assert that
America with free trade and free ships
would undermine British supremacy in manu-
featuring and ocean transportation. and that
Is consequently no interest OF theirs 10 have the
protective tariffs and registry acts repealed
AS matter OF fact. all England would rejoice
II those tariffs and shipping acts were repealed,
and would profit AT once by the change OF
policy English advice even in an era OF good
feeling. can hardly be regarded as strictly
benevolent and atrustic.
Indeed, II the article in THE Times" be care
fully Analysed It will be found to refute ITSELF
The construction Of the new navy. the develop
ment Of the iron and steel trade. the impulse to
shipbuilding from the recent war. and the ac-
tivity prevailing in shipyards are cited as
proofs that America can now turn out ship
plates for European yards and compete ener-
getically and successfully in shipbudns. II
this be the general result OF long and ap-
parently hopeless struggle. why should the reg
istry acts be repealed at the moment when
American shipbuilders prepared to do hus!-
ness on a large scale? Why should foreign ship
owners be favored with an opportunity for
working OFF their old vessels In the New-forK
market at time when the iron manufacturers
and shlpbuilders have re-establshed an industry
in which the Americans were once unrivalled'
Why should British shipyards be flooded with
American orders when the shipyards OF Maine
New-York. Philadelphia. Wilmington. Newport
News and San Francisco are fully equipped for
providing an American built merchant marine!
Certainly. II there had been free-shipping law
the inductry would not have been created: ana
the premature repeal OF the registry acts VIII
inevitably retard its development and pros