The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-08
COMMERCE and SHIPPING.

n ISPATCHES from Wichita announce that the
! J Trans-Mississippi Congress, assembled in that
- city, has adopted by a large majority resolu-
ons in favor OF legislation designed to promote our
merchant marine The resolutions recommend grant
of subsidies to Amercan-built mail carriers and
freghters sufficient to enable them to compete with
the subsidized ships OF foreign countries, and IN
doubtedy represent the prevailing sentiment OF the
people OF the Great West
A thousand evidences are to be found on every
side OF the rapid expansion OF our commerce and OF
the growing needs of our shipping The war with
Spain itself so far from checking our commerce, has
tended to increase it by increasing Our prestige in
foreign lands In that way the has served as an
advertisement for us and has caused enlarged de-
mand for the products OF our industry.
That view OF the subject has been very well stated
by Jacob Aston, who after going through the San
tlago campaign as a private soldier made extern
sive tour through Europe. In speaking OF his obser-
vations Mr.. Astor said in a recent interview: The
war did more to advertise the United States
among the Continental nations than anything else
could have done I had lots OF people tell me that
until we whipped the Spanards their idea OF the
United States was that OF a waed-in country, so to
speak with no influence abroad either politically or
industriay American manufacturers OF electrical
and mechanical devices machinery and the like, are
going to be overrun with orders from the Continent,
EVERYWHERE I went I was asked about the accom-
pshments OF the United States in the line OF inven-
ton and development"
While the increasing demand for Our products IS
OF vast benefit to us do reap the full profit OF
1t so long as the great bulk OF our foreign commerce
is carried in foreign ships In recent speech Senator
Frye estimated that paying foreigners upward
OF 100000 day for ocean transportation, and some
authorities place the figures much higher. The pay
nent of such sums day after day constitutes heavy
drain upon the profits OF trade and leaves US at the
end Of the year much less rich than we should be.
While the problem is one which concerns every sec
ton OF the Union it is OF especial importance to the
Pacific Coast and was therefore rightly taken up by
the Trans-Alississppi Congress. The upbuilding OF
cur merchant marine will mean more to the West
than to the East because the expansion OF our com
rlerce in the immediate future will be mainly in the
Pacific Ocean The opening Of China to foreign
trade means the greatest stimulus to commerce that
the world can expect to see. That commerce, so
far as the United States are concerned must be chiefly
carried on through Pacific ports and it is American
shipping on this side OF the globe therefore, which
principally needs promotion and encouragement.
In the course OF his speech at New York Senator
Frye pointed out that the extension OF our merchant
marine would result in other benefits than that OF
saving the money now paid to foreigners for trans
portation By carrying our commerce in our own
ships he said, we should make OF the officers OF
those ships active intelligent and interested agents
for the discovery OF new markets and the promotion
a. our trade Suppose to accomplish it does cost us
100000 annually will there not be ample compen-
sation?'
The question hardly requires an answer If any
were needed it has been given by the Trans Mis-
sissippi Congress