The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-24

building sea-going vessels by the whole
sale, and will from that reason alone
have so reduced the difference between
cost of construction at home and abroad
as to be able to compete, Notwithstanding
a rapidly diminishing extent OF assistance
from the government. because of all that
follows a rapidly increasing industry.
These are the broad features and pur-
poses OF the bill. 1t has my support be-
cause | believe a merchant marine is
demanded for the general welfare and
common defense, because the bill is nom
partisan and durable. and is the most
intelligent, most carefully prepared and
most practical measure which has come
to my knowledge. 1t is the only measure
which seems likely to secure the approval
of congress.
Clement A. Griscom
President Of the American Line.
deal not In dry statistics, but appeal
to the common sense OF the American
people, and ask that they rise en- masse
in their sovereign power and demand Of
congress the enactment of a Ia that Will
establish our flag on the hit seas as
firmly and as securely as it is established
all over this vast domain that is our COM
moa heritage d D. c. Mink
President of the American Coastwise
Steamship Association.
Our trade with Russia. China and ia
pan, from both the Xx,,.,
Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. is fast grow the Orient
ing In Importance
as is also our trade with the Central and
South African republics. and with the
rapid development now In progress in
these countries continued for ten years
to come there will be an immense trade
direct from the Pacific coast with these
countries, and we shall act very unwisely
as a nation il we fail to appreciate 1t and
provide American ships and other facili-
ties with which to conduct and control
1t and share in it's benefits, and also be
on hand and prepared to conduct
and control the trade Of the Hawaiian
and Philippine islands, Cuba and Porto
Rico, When the changed conditions now
near at hand shall give the people of
these places new courage, more business
and better government.
The rebuilding of our American mer-
chant marine, American ship yards, and
the education of American seamen can
be fully achieved, and the American for
eign trade transferred to and secured
to Americans, and the nation thereby
enriched 500, 900, 900 annually, our manu-
features strengthened. our commercial
relations enlarged and reciprocity made
easy with nations purchasing our manu-
factuIed goods and paying freights to our
ship owners by the enactment of a prop
er law tor the purpose.
j. E. Lombard,
Laie Lieutenant, U. S. Navy.
Direct payments of either class, the
subvention or the s.bs,d.es
bounty. find album
dant Justification in Justified
the fact that the
val
ships in postal service and in the ma
tional defense, inasmuch as the vessels
may be converted at short notice into
naval auxiliaries or military transports.
A well thought out and carefully framed
bill providing for bounties for American
ships was before congress at its last
session and will again claim the atten-
ton of that body when 1t meets in De-
cember It is designed to hasten good
movement It only needs now the earn
est support of the American people in
the South and North, and the West and
the East, TO put 1t on the statute books
where 1t VIII be a hfe-giving force to
American shipping. Public sentiment
should mass itself behind this bill IN
volume and with power that will over
come all opposition. It IS not the ship
builders alone who will derive advan-
tages from such legislation. There Is
capital which is always alert for profita-
Bile investment There are steel, ma
chtnery and material to be bought from
American manufacturers. There are
wages for great number Of mechanics
and seanen. It has been truly said that
If the government adopts this new policy
in regard TO ships the demand Tor ma
teriaI for new vessels will be so great
as to guarantee activity in the iron and
steel trades, already so busy and pros
porous, for a long time to come. Such
feeling Of security in respect of one Of
the most important of our industries Wa.
confer direct or indirect benefit upon all
classes of our population.
President of the American Association Of
Manufacturers.
Without delay the national government
should restore our
Sea Po"er merchant marine
Essa,+,oI and place our flag
over American mer-
chandise upon the high seas, where some
of It's proudest victories were won. By
national aid, If necessary, launch Amer
lean hulls for American commerce. Let
no foreign trade do what hostile guns
could not accomplish. We should carry
our exports to all markets and bring
hither our imports in vessels flying our
own flag. Better even admit foreign-built
the ocean carrying trade to pass from
under the national ensign. The maritime
power of this nation must be restored,
ard we should be aroused to sense Of
the danger and decay which threaten 1t.
The craftsmanship of Washington and
jefferson in placing the maintenance Of
the merchant marine among the chief
safeguards Of national security should
never be forgotten.
wit q al
ton that national effeminacy accompa-
MES the degeneracy Of the merchant ma
rine, and that the decline of maritime
power is followed. sooner OF later, by the
decadence of enterprise and commerce.
George F. Stone
Secretary of the Chicago Board Of Trade.
The only way in which this nation can
wrest fair share OF Ahso1,,4.,,,
the oversee carry
ing trade from for Necasearv
eigners Is to fight
them with their own weapons-grant to
American-built ships bounties, subsidies
or discriminating duties favorable to our
own vessels. If by the payment of $10,
100000 annually to American ship owners
$500, 900 900 could be saved to the people
of this country every year, 1t would in
deed be shortsighted policy not to pay
it. Such a liberal policy would mean the
establishment of new shipyards, employ
ment Of capital and labor, and would
give to our country ships and seamen
in time Of war. The establishment
of the American merchant marine is alb
solutely necessary to the general welfare
of our land. Its present condition is q
national disgrace. Richard P. Joy.
-seE----------
Wages In England.
During the first six months of the year
irln La,