The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-08
SUBSIDY PLAN URGED
For the Rehabilitation of the
Merchant Marine.
OTHER NATIONS USE II
Something Must be Done
Quick If Ever to be Done.

!
in support of the project for the creation
of the American merchant marine recon-
mended by Secretary Gage.
Excluding the great lakes, practically
shut of by Niagara Falls from foreign
competition. the tonnage Of vessels en-
tered and cleared at seaports of the
United States in foreign arade in 1871
comprised 7,24S6 25 tons American and e.
$50. 41s tons foreign shipping. In oversee
navigation TO foreign ports more than l.S9O
miles distant. American shipping amount
ed to only 2,osS, 900 tons, compared with
q, 9l9, ops tons foreign.
CHOICE OF THREE COURSES.
"Only three pracaical courses, at the
present time, are open TO the United
States:
..First-We may retain our laws I'M
changed, ignore national navigation and
continue to rely on vessels under for
eign flags for the transportation OF our
exports and imports.
'.Second-We may permit foreign built
vessels to register under the American
flag, ship crews abroad and increase ma
tional navigation.
"Third-We may extend direct govern
ment aid to vessels built in abe United
States, and thus increase both navigation
and national shipbuilding.
THIRD EXPEDIENT FAVORED.
"The last named of these three courses
is suggested TO very great extent by
| our new relations to the rest of the world,
which expects the United States to be-
come a maritime power. For the first
time we now heold and shall doubtless
permanently hold inhabited territory be-
yond the limits of abe North American
continent.
IF all that such possession involved
were the physical force to keep these do
mains against all corners, the vote OF
| some extra tens of millions every year
10 the army and navy would be sufficient.
! The flag of the United States should be
| more the token of conquest by superior
| strength Our maritime position must
| correspond to our pretensions. and TO at
| tain this result American ship y'0ds and
| American ships must be increased, and
reasonable contributions from the treas
ury towards this result should not be be-
grudged.
Nations and individuals that dissent
from the general theory Of government
aid to private enterprise concede on
political grounds exception in favor
of ship building and navigation.
LOST THROUGH INDIFFERENCE
Largely through indifference we nave
| lost the share in transatlantic naviga-
ton which was once ours. The growing
| trade of the Pacific is rapidly slipping
Ion aff frio
and clearances from Asia and Oceania at
ports of the United States in 1890 amount
ed to 2Ss $40 tons American shipping and
in 1897 20 only 221, 43S tons. while foreign
shipping increased from 1929 tons to
924. 72O tons. Foreign nations are now
skilfully following the policy Of govern
ment aid to develop their navigation in
! the Pacific Toward steamship lines to
the east coast of Asia alone, Great Brit
ain last year contributed 81, $50, 900, France
s, PIG 900 Germany $4,000. Spain QS96)
$4,000. Russia s405 900 Austria s306 900 and
Italy S77, 600. The United States paid only
| $4,000 to American lines 20 Asia at regular
mail rates We have deluded ourselves
into the belief that the Pacific trade will
become ours without taking ordinary pre-
cautions to meet competition"
Iiberale xtracts are published from the
report on which the reichstag last year
| increased to 5.500.0o0 marks subsidies to
German vessels in the Pasifc showing
that Germany is already endeavoring 10
forestall the United States in securing
commercial control Of the Pacific.
SUBSIDY RATES COMPARED.
THE act OF 1891 was designed 20 Sc
l inc
in the world for the American service on
the Atlantic. Marine construction, how
ever. mas already advanced beyond uhe
size and speed contemplated when that
act was passed. 1t mas proved inadequate
for the Pacific. Its maximum rates for
that trade are $3.50 per nautical mile out
| ward for 16-knot steamer The British
! government pays S2S 10 the Peninsular
/ and Oriental and $40 10 the Canadian
Pacific lines; the German government s2-49
| to l4-knot vessels Of the North German
| Idovd. and the French government So
to the Messageries Maritimes for the
| equivalent of an inferior service 70 Asia
.'Snain imposed annual charges Of $780,
600 on Cuba. s125.0oo on Porto Rico and
| $1,000 on the Philippines for steam COM
| munication and herself contributed 5000
Gao more for that purpose. This Spanish
total is about double the entire support
the United States gave 20 American
/ steamships in 1897. The obligations We
have assumed by taking Porto Rico and
( the Philippines. annexing Hawaii. and
/ governing Cuba, thus require US 20 make
! larger appropriations for the merchant
/ marine. or 10 confess our weakness by
abandoning navigation 70 Great Britain
Germany. France and Japan
AMERICAN REGISTRY EXTENSION
We must also take steps for the quail
fed admission of foreign ships 20 Ameri-
can registry in order 10 enter immedi-
ately into active competition for Asiatit
trade. The act of 1881 calls for 5.9o0-to7
steamships of Is knots. We have only
ten sea-going steamships Of over f.el
tons Four ~ these are American trans
Atlantic liners and two New York and
Cuba mail liners. already under pOsts
contract. The Arizona $50 tons, Is knots
Is the only vessel complying with the re
/ quiremeuts OF ne act Of 1891. and she Wa
| admitted by congress last June % AHsri
can registry and boug1, by the war de
paTsment. Tire China. admitted by con
Sress at the same time. : $40 tons. I
knots. The Two remaining vessels are n.
City Of Picking. 5.9SO tons. but only /
knots. built IN 1S74 and the e RIO, ownes
by the navy under the name Dixie.
RELAXATION. WHY NECESSARY
Z Wiu require a. least IS months {,
bald vessels OF over 500 tons ana j
knots. needed 20 meet new conditions &
the Pacific. Meanwhile a combination o
four large German lines. aided BY -.
rescas,ag. i Fastening 20 complete steam
shins 20 carry out ne German inperia