The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
NUMBER 24.n

Of the United States by the republicans and
piotectionists, with no prejudices against
subsidies, on the ground that the line did
not materially increase our exports, while
our Imports by 1t had immensely increased.
In all, the Roach line received a million
and a half dollars in ten years, and down
to 1899 the subsidies paid by the govern
ment amounted to more than 900.
1t therefore cannot be contended that the
proposition to pay mail subsidies is a new
experiment in this country. 1t has been
repeatedly tried, and has repeatedly failed,
but at this time the shipping interests,
recognizing that the manufacturing inter-
ests of the country are demanding that the
walls which prevent them from reaching
out for foreign trade shall be battered
down, are rushing to the front with the
present bill, and are supporting it merely
a pretense and disguise to attract the
attention of the country In that direction
and to prevent them from passing legisla-
ton that is really intended in the interest
of our fast expanding foreign trade.
There is but one law that will answer the
purpose, and that is the law that England
has tried and which has proven a success.
We must have free ships. Until we repeal
the navigation laws of our country and
adopt the same liberal policy that England
and Germany have adopted we need not ex-
pect an improvement in our merchant ma
rine.
Even our high tariff laws are detrimental
to the increase of our foreign trade. To IL
lustrate: l find that the iron and steel
manufacturers of this country are COM
peting successfully in the markets OF Eng
land and Germany with the manufacturers
Of those countries at their own doors. and
yet we are not able to compete with them
in the markets of France. The French ma
ton are large importers of pig iron, steel
rails and other iron and steel articles, but
we are deprived of this market.
You ask why? 1t is because France has
a maximum and minimum tariff rate, and
the difference in the duty on pig iron
amounts to about $1.50 a ton and on steel
rails about $11 @ ton. England. Germany
and Belgium, our great competitors, are
charged the minimum rate, whereas the
American manufacturers are charged the
maximum rate. On account of this discrim-
nation we are not able to compete with
them in the French market.
You ask why France has thus discrimi-
mated against US? France has answered
the question herself. They say that we do
not give them the characterization clause
in our commercial treaties with them, be-
cause we discriminate against them as to
the Importation of French laces and wines
and other exports from that country. In
other words, the great iron and steel man
ufacturers of America must be barred out
of tho French market in order that rev
lace and wine merchants IN TINS country
may be protected.
Another reason why our merchant marine
does not expand Is on account OF the dls-
eliminating port regulations charged at the
ports in this country Foreign ships are
excluded from our coastwise trade-some-
thing that England has never done. A
tramp steamer will not come to the United
States, where 1t can only get foreign
cargo, IL 1t can go to South American or
European port where 1t has the chance OF
getting either foreign cargo or cargo
for some other port in the same country.
The proposed bill Is not intended to ex-
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