The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-09
SEATTLE, FRIDAY, DEC. ..
ron A MERCHANT MARINE.


The suggestions and recommended
lions made by Secretary Gage In his an
nuAi report for the building UP Of the
merchant marine of the country are re-
newed and emphasized by Navigation
Commissioner Chamberlain in his re-
port, synopsis OF which appeared In
Thursdays Post-Inteiiigencer.
Secretary Cages recommendations
may be ebitomized as follows;
.First-A remode.ing and extension OF the
act Of March 3. 1881, relating to the carry
Ing OF ocean mails in American steamships.
80 tina, il shall meet requirements which
have arisen since the law went into opera
ton.
6A0ond-The establishment Of a system
of grated bounties upon the mileage nays-
gated by registered American Vessels while
engaged In the foreign carrying trade, as
compensation for the training of seamen
available for national defense, the system
to have regard also 10 the construction OF
vessels which may be promptly and eco
nomscaily converted into cruisers, troop
ships. Golfers and supply ships fer the use
OF the government
Th.rd--Extended application OF the pria-
cipie Of the act OF May l2. 1872 by virtue OF
which the st. Louis and St Paul were con-
strnctod In this country upon the registry
OF the forejgn bu.,t steamships New York
and Paris. this extension TO continue for
short term OF years, and TO be 80 guarded
a. To preserve the coastIng trade to Ameri-
can built vessels.
The secretary further recommends an
Increase In the tonnage taxes. equaliz-
Ing them with corresponding charges
imposed at London. Liverpool and Ham
burg, also the restriction of the trade
between the United States. Porto Rico
and Hawaii. and the coasting trade Of
those islands, to vessels Of American
registry.
The secretary urges that the PROPOSE
tons are drawn from the current prac-
tices OF our competitors: that they can
be put into operation promptly upon
their enactment. that they will not raise
political questions upon which parties
as now constituted, may divide. and
that they are adequate TO our needs. II
ne thinks they viii not raise political
questions upon which parties may d.
vide, he viii be undeceiyed when Com
gresham Lewis reaches Washington
as that statesman has definitely an.
nounced his intention to antagonize any
such legislation.
The recommendations of the naviea-
ton commissioner are practically on the
same lines as Secretary Cages. but he
emphasizes the argument for giving al-
rect government aid to vessels built IN
the United States. by furnishing stats
tics Of what other nations have been
and now are doing in this line. lie calls
attention To the fact that foreign ns-
tons are now Kkilifuliy following the
policy Ct government aid 10 d.velnn
their navigation in the Pacific. The r.
suit Is, the growing trade If the Pacific
is rapidly slipping away from rs. This
Is matter IF great interest 10 the peo-
Pie OF this state. Here in Seattle il IL
wei known that 1t is impossible e. -.
cure freight space in the steamers NV
Ing between The Sound and Asiatic
ports to accommodate one-half the traf.
nc offered. There are Two active rea.
sons for this anomalous conditlon-larS
of vessels suitable for the service and
inability Is secure fsegh, sufficient -
make the return voyage to this por,
profitable
An adequate government subsidy
would speedily remedy these sRvers.
conditions by first Inducing transport.
ton companies to furnish she reaolrei
vessels. and with the line once estab.
'ished and making quick and rerula,
trips, The freight problem would soon
be solved. What tho iraasg.arta;l.
companies require is a guaranty aea,nN,
too great q loss while building up a rAx.
ing business.
The olen door policy in he Pha.r.
fiaes brings American shipping in al
rect eonpe tsion With the suhsiagn,a
steamship lines of European countries
England. France. Germany. Rass.a
Austria ana Italy each ray large sub
sides - steamship ilnes u AsfAtte
ports. Congress must pat American
steamship lines 81 tertas - eqaality
with them. or Ne may as we'll give VI