Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-12-14
lines or which could easily be diverted

10 Such service from other routes.
What is imperatively needed Is such
a system Of protection as will enable
shipbuilders to devote their attention
to the manufacture of vessels suitable
for the construction of such ships need
encouragement to enlarge their facili-
ties without materially augmenting the
cost of their permanent force employed
in drafting, molding and other opera
lions incident to ship construction. 1t
is essential TO economical shipbuildins
that two or more vessels of precisely
equal dimensions and form shall be I'M
der contract at the same time, so that
multiples of every part can be pre-
pared with only the additional cost of
the material. Vessels so built would
be uniform In every respect, perfection
in model and workmanship and ma
terial would be attained, the reputa-
ton of the builder would be estab-
lshed and this economalic plan Of
construction would enable him sue
cessfully to compete with foreign
builders and thereby secure profitable
contracts.
1t Is said that there Is not now a
duplicating plant in this country which
Is equipped for the economical con-
struction OF cargo steamers in the man
ner above indicated. And yet there Is
scarcely yard, at least on the Allan
tic seaboard, which cannot build q
steamship as cheaply as it can be con-
structed abroad, the lower cost of ma
terial and the use of labor-saving ma
chinery and appliances nearly If not
quite counterbalancfng the enhanced
cost of labor. The English shipbuild-
ers are devoting their attention and
energies to the construction OF steam
ers instead Of sailing vessels. They
are. by manufacturing two or more
ships Of the same size and pattern at
the same yard. reducing the cost of
construction to the minimum, and they
are striving to the utmost to retain
their advantage of economical produc-
ton.
Clearly, therefore, this is our oppor-
tunity. No time should be lost in pro-
yiding such system Of protection as
will enable our shipbuilding industries
to retain the Advantage they now en-
joy and to ACQUIRE further advantages
by the enlargement of their plants for
the still greater economy of ship con-
struction by what may be termed the
wholesale manufacture of vessels, as
is done in the Er fish and Scotch
yards The adoptior of the policy of
discriminating duties upon imports in
foreign vessels would create such
demand for American cargo carrying
ships as to stimulate the enlargement
Of our shipbuilding plants to the ca
pacity required for the manufacture Of
large numbers of vessels of he same
sizes at the same time, and It would
also encourage the establishment of
additional yards and restore the ship
building industry Dc its pristine vigor.
Alike ac to the buiding and operating
of American merchant ships, the
policy of permanent protection in
dorsed in the Republican national
platform of 1896 seems to be the policy
best adapted to the placing of our COM
merciai marine industry upon an even
keel with foreign competition.
Germany's Cheap Labor.
Lower the tariff according TO Demo
cratic ideas and American workingmen
will soon find the country flooded with
the productions of Germany's cheap
labor. Germany. Notwithstanding the
Dingley tariff. is actually forcing some
of her productions into this country be-
cause of the cheapness of labor. Our
tariff has not even stopped the sale or
German sugar to America. 1t comes In
spite of all competition. For the year
ending June 80. 1897. the sugar ex-
ported from the Breslau district
amounted to S29s.909 The price was
then 1923 cents a pound. 1t is now
sold at 1859 cents for raw. in addition
to which the manufacturer gets an ex-
port bounty.
This is a matter that should be con-
sidered Immediately by the working
men of this country.-Buffalo News
Our Luty TO the Orient.
i is now thirty-seven years since
William Fl. Seward. as Secretary of
State, gave these instructions to our
Minister to Japan: You viii. by an
equal. just and honorable conduct OF
your mission. make the people Of Japan
respect not only the Institutions OF
your own country but the Institutions
Of Christianity and Western civiliza-
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