The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-11-26
ALIENS IN CONTROL.
Alliances Between Our Railways
and Foreign Steamship Lines.
4 Combination Of Interests Opposed
90 Measures for the Rehabilita-
ton OF the American Mer-
chant Marine.


speak, a close community of interest
between the principal trunk lines of
railroad in this country and foreign
steamship companies. This combina-
ton enables the railroad companies
TO secure the distribution of imported
goods and also TO gather and deliver
TO the steamship lines outward bound
cargoes. both steamship and railroad
lines apportioning the rates Of freight
and sharing in the profits Of the trans
portation.
OF the five principal lines of railroad
connecting the interior with Atlantic
ports, all but one have combinations
with foreign steamship lines, and thus
the carriage of the commerce OF the
country, from the various points OF
production 10 those OF distribution
and consumption, is almost wholly di-
rectly or indirectly controlled by alien
interests and combinations. The sol
itary exception among the railroad
lines maintains an independent system
OF steamship connection; otherwise IL
also would probably be obliged to com
bine with alien ocean transportation
interests in order 10 get it's share of
the traffic.
This shows how absolutely neces-
gary II Is that whatever protection is
afforded TO American over sea ship
ping interests shall be ample and Of
such a character as TO give assurance
of permanency in order TO be entirely
effective. The reciprocity navigation
treaties now in force require that at
least IL months notice shall be given
Of their abrogation. II Is easily con-
ceivable that during this interval Of
10 months the enormous aggregation
OF foreign capital employed in alien
transportation lines, and the infu-
ence of the railroad interests allied
with these lines, would combine with
the object OF securing the repeal or at
least the modification of enactments
OF character so inimical TO their in
terests as provided for the imposition
OF discriminating duties against inn
ports in foreign vessels.
The profits OF ocean freight carry
ing are very largely derived from Inn
ported goods having high freight
classification. Aliens practically en-
Joy the monopoly of ocean transporta-
tion, and through agreements among
themselves, freight rates are main
tanned with general uniformity. With
outward-bound cargoes practically as
sured, through combinations with the
principal railroad lines, and with but
little competition In passenger bust
ness, the foreign steamship com
panies could we'll afford TO lower rates
on imports to such figure as would
materially lessen the profits OF Amer
lean ships enjoying the protection OF
discriminating duties against imports
In foreign vessels.
Therefore the measure of protection
which IL is proposed 10 give with the
object OF promoting American ship
building interests and restoring the
American merchant marine should, at
the outset, be SO liberal and of such n
character as not only TO be entirely eff
fcctive in it's purpose but such as TO
give assurance of being maintained for
a term OF years.
Capitalists could not be expected to
take the risk of establishing plants for
the Of cargo ships TO COM
pete with foreign vessels IL there
should be the remotest probability of
such modification of the measure Of
protection, through foreign or domes-
tic influences, as would tend to dis
courage the operation of such vessels
when they were water born. Neither
~ 4 4 la I'D htt,a
be likely to perfect their arrange
ments for employing the vessels in the
over sea trade without some assurance
TINT the protection afforded would be
sufficient TO compete with allen en-
terprises.
II Is believed by those who have
given this matter careful considera-
ton that ten per cent. discriminating
duty against imports in foreign yes
sells is none too great, and that any
less degree of protection would be In
effective and moreover, dlscouraging
TO the interests which are sought TO be
promoted. Hon. Stephen Il. Elkins,
the Trainer and the earnest advocate
OF the measure providing for discrim-
mating duties on imports in foreign
vessels, in his speech In the senate in
April. 1897, said:
II IN not claimed that tho bill under con-
Celebration Is perfect or will bring all needed
relief. II will have TO be supplemented by
further LEGISLATION. II In claimed. however.
I'm it's behalf. that the principle has been
tried for nearly 70 years and produced the
most beneficial results, and TO restore dis
eliminating duties now would be a start In
the right direction.
Though the measure 10 TO some
extent tentative. the principal is
by no menas experimental. Per-
lection of the measure. according
to the best lights obtainable. would
give promise OF such results as would
be a practical guaranty of It's success
full operation despite the opposition OF
the combinations OF capital and OF In
fluence that would be arraycd against
a.