El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-05-13

check.
Among women in Germany the Anne
r.can boot is SO popular that many
foreign makes are sold as such.
Proposed Increase in Tonnage Dues.
From the American Economist. RI
European shipowners have new
grievance. Last year the commerce
of this country, carried 10 foreign
vessels, amounted to over 80 per cent.
of the whole. This year owing to the
withdraw wal of about 100000 tons Of
shipping for war purposes, It is pro-
bable that the foreigners will have Al
most the entire monopoly sof TIE
oversee carrying trade, freight
as we'll as passengers. Not
withstanding this fact, however,
they are not satisfied. They are nov
protesting against the proposed in
crease of the dues upon registered ton
mage imposed by the war revenue
bill.
Heretofore the tonnage dues inn
posed by this government have been
extremely low, only Six cents per ton,
about one half those imposed by Great
Britain. Foreign shipOwners have en-
joyed greater facilities at our ports
than ia almost any country In Europe,
ana GQe1f DuslQ6so u6S OSSA 0tSOH.
mOusly profitable.
The proposed tax is twenty cents per
ton, or not exceeding 80 40 per year:
amounting to 10000 up'n vessel OF
5, 600 tons making ten trips per year.
Only the regular liners, however. make
this number of trips, and the bulk OF
the trade is carried in sls, sail and
steam VIII Oh arr ;ao constant, ! 'ngsged
in transatlantic business. Even ad-
hitting tina. the dues will be 81, 600 per
trip on large vessels, the increased
cost will be only 500, compared with
the dues now in force, and this increase
does not seem to be excessive, consider
ing the fact that during. the war and
until the ocean service by American
lines shall be restored there will be
| no cOmpet:tiOn in the business and,
| therefore, advanced rates OF freight
can be maintained.
In the last calendar year the fOre.go
commerce of he country amounted to
S742, 631. $50 imports, S1.O79, 863, 018 do
mestic exports and S19, $50, $50 foreign
exports, a total of 81, 842, 374 9O4. or
the imports 1858, 963, 49S were brought
in foreign steam aud $3l sos, 634 in for
| l4S were brought in American steam
srd So, 037. AL in American selling
vessels. or the domestic exports $780,.
sos $50 were carried in foreign steam
and $40, 954, 745 in foreign sailing yes
sells, while ouly S5l. 1852 were car.
ried in American steam and S21 ,519, $40
lin American calling vessels. OF the
| foreign exports SO, 344. $50 were by for
eign steam al 1866, 982 by foreign sail
ing vessels, while s3,OS5, 40 we're by
American steam and SS14, 800 by A mer.
lean sailing vessels. These figures
show how enormously the foreign YES
sells must have profited by the COM
| MERGE of the country, and. therefore,
how unreasonable is the protest Of
foreign ship-Owners againsG the fmpo-
sitiOn OF the incre ased tonnage dues.
| Some of the agents of the foreign
lines assert that the increased tax on
Shipping will have tendency to divert
,ret fic to Canadian aud to Mexican
ports Neither of these countries has
facilities for handling the enormous
ocean traffic, and it is not at all likely
that any such diversion of business
will even be attempted. Therefore
commerce will not be affected ~ 10 al
legged. It is quite possible that tho
protests of the foreign shipowners and
the pressure brought to bear by rep
resentatives of foreign governments
| may result in inducing congress to
modify the proposed tonnage dues.
But congress is unlikely to yield TO
threats OF retaliation, should such be
made, and, therefore, whatever con-
ceseion may be agreed upon will be for
| the purpose of maintaining harmonious
relations between this country and the
shipping interests.
| Congress should at once inaugurAte
measures for the organization or an
American merchant marine. For near
ly forty years, until the establishments
Of the American line of ocean steamers
the trapsatlantic carrying trade has
1 hrn nj, ,hr11 ~
foreign flags. The time is now ripe
for the Introduction of measures which
will promote American shipping en-
lterprises. After the ending of the
war there will undoubtedly be an en-
orLous demand for American built
ships to replace coasting and sother
vessels which have been acquired BY
the government for war purposes.
This demand will stimulate Americ-
An shipbuilding enterprises to IN enor-
nous extent, capital will be invested
in this business in amounts sufficient
| to organize new and extensive plants,
and shipbuilding will grow to be one
of the most important of our industries.
1t is asserted by those who are In .
position to be we'll informed that
modern steam vessels can be built In
anywhere in Europe. This being the
case congress should not delay the
consideration of laws which will ade-
quetely protect aud promote this in
dustry. We encourage American
manufacturing by imposing protective
tariffs: American shipbuilding 10 also
entitled to fair degree of protection.
Great Britain and other European
countries have for years subsidized
their shipping, thereby promoting its
rapid growth, and there is no reason
why this country, with its enormously
increasing commerce, should longer be
compelled to rely upon foreign bottoms
for ocean transportation.
Spanish Losses in Cuba.
| Harpers Weekly.
Some idea OF the losses suffered by
the Spanish regular troops during the
| Dresan MT insurrsctiou in Cuba NAV be