The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-10

store the American merchant marine
by means of ocean subsidies and boun-
" grants. Perhaps in relative import
ance this bill should be placed first;
it certainly should If il will do what
is expected of it. Yet violent opposi-
tion is said to be arising to it in Dem
ocratic quarters, based, as usual, IN
Misrepresentation Of fact.
one argument offered againet 1t is
embodied in the statement that in
twenty years it would cost the country
$1,000 900. The advocates of the bill
claim this estimate is too large by 80
per cent, but whether the cost he
much or little, it could come only
through increased shipping under the
American flag. As T.. J. Gibson, chief
Washington correspondent of the
philadelphia Press, points out, there
must be the prospect OF a commercial!
success sufficient to induce vessel to
enter into trade before any voyage
could he made except at loss if a
vessel relied chiefly upon the encour-
agement of the government. Vessels
compensation under the act. To secure
the benefits of the act vessels must be
actually engaged in promoting the for
cign trade of the United states, either
by cargo OF passengers or both, for
every mile navigated for which it re-
ceives compensation.
Under the bill, as MIR. Gibson eX-
plains, when the payments reach the
sum of $3.50, 900 the tonnage in the for
eign trade will be capable Of earning
and undoubtedly will earn $i0,00O0OO a
year in freights and fares. In cash
terms the business will pay the United
States 400 per cent. on the investment.
No foreign vessel can engage in the
trade under the American tlag without
first providing for the construction Of
another vessel in American yards with
contract to navigate it under the
American flag. The officers of all YES
sells receiving pay will have to be
Americans and large percentage of
the crew of every vessel must be of
American citizens. No compensation
will be paid except where foreign COM
petition is keenly felt. Vessels en-
gagged in the coasting trade or in the
trade in the great lakes are excluded
under the bill. The same vessel can
not receive pay for more than sixteen
round voyages in one year. The special
speed rates of compensation for large
and fast steamships are to be paid
only to vessels suitable for carrying
the mails of the United States or as
auxiliary naval vessels. All vessels
that avail themselves of the benefits
Of the proposed act will be compelled
to carry the United States mails free
of charge.
AS to the alleged large annual OK
pense the bill will incur Mr.. Gibson
shows that based on the vessels en-
gagged in the trade in 1897, including
sailing vessels and fishing boun:io3, the
total expenditure would be only $2,O9t,-
G57 a year. For every dollar of increase
in that amount of payment in each
year in future there must be an in
crease in tonnage and in actual opera
ton, which would bring in receipts and
very highest amount in any one year
that can be paid under the bill or that
| is ever likely to be paid during the
| twenty years that it will continue in
/ existence will be $4,000 900. But if the
/ government paid that much under the
| bill, there would be tonnage in opera
| ton sufficient to earn $S0,0O00CO In
freights and fares. Thus in any event
! it would be paying investment.
The Treasury Bureau Of Navigation
! estimates that the United States pay
! now $115,0O0,000 in ocean freights and
! for passage money. 1t is estimated
! that $lI00O,OlU of that is paid to Amerl-
can vessels in the foreign trade. II
| the time should ever come when SO,
| OOO 900 is paid out under the pending
shipping bill by the government, Amer
! lean vessels in the foreign trade would
/ Mr. Gibson points out, receive S63 600,
1 00O more annually in frcights ana fares
/ than they now receive. Foreign ships
! with which American vessels compete
now annually receive from their re.
! spective governments In subsidies and
bounties S25O)0,Oo Against ships thu.
aided, unaided American ships cannot
! compete, hence the steady decline in
our tonnage in the foreign trade. A
bill that will produce 400 per cent re
turn for every dollar invested under
its provisions ought, in NJ. Gibson,
opinion. not TO meet with any opposl.
! ton whatever.
The enactment of the shipping bill I,
strongly demanded by public senti
! ment.