The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05
the shipping BIN.

The Shipping Bill.
II II extremely gratifying to note that
the senate has decided to give the ship
ping subsidy sbiIl the right Of way in the
present session: as this win go far toward
insuring its passage before the 9Th Of
March, when the present congress expires
that In tl,e senate the Democratic oppo-
sition viii not take fractional form, but
will be confined 20 speeches and voices
against the measure. Had the opposition
m the senate devoted It's energies to de-
laying the passage Of the bill. II could I'M
doubtedly hnve succeeded IN preventing
nnal action. during the present session;
but such tactics are not available In the
house, under the present rules, II the bill
PASSES the senate. the Republican ma
jority in the house can press It to a vote
whenever they desire.
OF the shipping subridy bin; and the more
quickly II can 90 into effect. the sooner
the great work OF upbuilding the Ameri-
can merchant marine can commence. Its
passage win BE- marked by the laying
down Of the keeis Of many vessels for the
deep-water trade. with the consequent
stimulation not only Of the shipbuilding
industry. but dozens Of others closely al
lied 10 n. the Pacific coast will share
largely In this stimulns. for II Il the Pa
cinc trade which will expand the most
rapidly In the immediate future. and II is
on the Pacific coast that the shortage OF
available tonnAse In most seriously felt.
In tho building Of wooden vessels Puget
sound can compete with the world. In the
building OF steel vessels II IL somewhat
handicapped BY the present necessity of
paying freight charges on raw material.
II IL a question OF nice calculation
whether that disadvantage Is not In great
measure balanced by the greater demand,
and consequently better market. which
there win be for vessels on the Pacific.
In any event. the present handicap OF
high freight rates on raw material Ia tenn
porary. IL II merely a question of time
when the Pacific coast. more particularly
the state OF, Washington. will be able to
produce all OF its raw material for ship
building. II arready has the lumber. II
has abundance of iron ores OF good quail
ity; II has eoking coal and limestone In
any quantity, A measure which VIII slim
uiats shIpbaiidins and consequently en-
large the market demand for steel to 60
into those vessels. viii certainly have the
effect of inviting the attention OF capital
lists To the opportunities afforded here for
the production Of steel. In plate and In
other forms for whirh there IL present
good demand and a prospective enormous
ems. The freight charges. which are a
present drawback 10 the users OF such
material GA the Pacific enass. win have
precisely the opposite effect as far as CON
Germs the producers ~ the raw material.
by n-ursns tasm against che disastrous
essmrrtits0n az Eastern sssSl rivals
In doEens of WAYS the passage 81 the
shipping subsidy hlil wia b. ~ benant TO
the people OF Tire Pacific coast. and none
are more interested Ia the passage os that
measure than tl1s people Of Seattle. who
hook forward 20 the Development here Of
manufacturing % essry description. who
aspsre to al ultimate large share In the
commerce % Asia and who are willing
and anxioas 70 share. a. owners o. deep.
water sailing vessels and sses ans hips. m
the rehabilitation os The american ner-
chan; marine