New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-18
THE MERCHANT MARINE
WHY THE FRYEPAYNE SHIPPING BILL
SHOULD BE PASSED AT THE
NEXT SESSION OF
CONGRESS.

rc the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The Frye-Payne Shipping bill for the
restoration OF the American merchant marine
v-ss favorably reported to the Senate and to the
uouse Of Representatives during the first ses
sion Of the present GvIth) Congress but its
further consideration was postponed until the
asxt session of Congress in order to make wav
Cor more exigent legislation. In order to reach
g clear understanding OF the commercial eco
rornic and International aspects of this bill II is
necessary to refer to certain historic facts and
experiences.
The maritime policy adopted by this country
during the administrations of Presidents WASH
.,secn and Adams--1TS9 to 1S01-embraced dis
eliminating duties upon goods imported in for
Elm ships, discriminating tonnage taxes on for
eign ships entering at American seaports, and
the absolute Limitation Of domestic or coastvisA
trade Of the United States to American vessels
Besides. only vessels built in the United States
and wholly owned by American citizens were
allowed To wear the American flag This policy
vas copied from the maritime code Of Great
Britain. and had It's origin in the time OF Oliver
cromwell. In so far as relates to the coastwise
or domestic trade. original maritime policy
is firmly maintained. and to-day the shipping
engaged II that branch OF our commerce is as
prosperous as ever But by the act of May "a
1925 we abandoned the protective princple with
respect n our shipping engaged I'm foreign COM
rlerro Under the provisions of that act we
offered "a allow foreign ships and their cargoes
10 erter at American ports from any foreign
port on The globe with goods. the produce of any
country. on the same terms as American vessels,
this privilege 10 apply to the ships of any nation
which should grant to American ships and their
carEoes like privileges in its own ports This
free trade in shipping. and it eventually
worked our DOWNFALL in the branch Of our mer-
chant marine engaged IN foreign commerce.
The policy established by the act Of 1928 has
been incorporated into our commercial treaties,
or is expressed in reciprocal ARRANGEMENTS as
provided in the act So long as international
commerce was carried on in wooden sailing YES
sells our merchant marine prospered under this
policy hut upon the advent Of iron ship build
Ing. ana especially the construction Of iron
ocean steamers, the tables turned upon us.
Various circumstances Of historic interest con-
irihuied TO this result.
PROMISE OF REVIVAL
Upon the close Of the Civil War in April 1865.
* was assumed that fallen shipping inter
ests would Immediately revive as did the com
mercial and industrial interests of the country
generally. But in this were disappointed.
The proportion Of American tonnage employed
II our foreign commerce continued TO decline
after the war. This led 10 Congressional
inquiry. In the year 1869 was ordered in my
then official capacity as chief of the division Of
tonnage in the Treasury Department 70 compute
the damages inflicted upon our merchant ma
rne during the recent conflict and to report
generally upon the of the continued de-
cline NJ American shipping. This done in
two official reports to the House of Representa-
tves dated respectively January %, 1870 and
January -, 1871. 1 reported that the losses
incurred by capture and by transfer foreign
flags IN order to avoid capture amounted to
S19.257 TONS and that the continued decline OF
American shipping caused by our changed
maritime policy, in connection With the fact
that the cost Of building and operating iron
or steel vessels much greater in the United
States than In Great Britain and other coun-
tries Of Europe with which were obliged to
compete. This latter cause OF our decline is
still operative. though in q less degree than
formerly One of the most potential causes Of
the decline of American shipping seen to
arise from the enormous and inviting opportu-
mites presented to commercial and industrial
enterprise within borders, largely the
result Of railroad construction from the At
lantic 10 the Pacific Coast Such enterprise Of
fered much more tempting opportunities for
the investment Of capital than did the ocean
carrying trade exposed to the competition of
The nations OF the globe.
RETURN RECOMMENDED
IN Tie'v Of the facts thus reported l recon-
mended return to the former policy OF dis
eliminating duties and discriminating tonnage
tax The conditions then existent were highly
favorable TO such action. The Nation was ex-
asperated with Great Britain on account of her
conduct during the war. France had held Max
imilian in Mexico in defiance Of our cherished
Monroe Doctrine. and Spain had acknowl-
edged the belligerency of the Confederacy be-
TORE the first battle of Bull Run. The plan thus
recommended was considered in Congress. and in
some quarters earnestly recommended Con-
gross. however. hesitated, eventually adopted
certain utterly Intellectual remedies. and as the
ES&Ts went by the relative amount OF Ameri-
can tonnage engaged in our foreign commerce
continued 10 decline. This is clearly indicated
bE the following statement. showing the ton
mage Of American and foreign vessels entered
al American seaports during the years 1860
1896. lsso. 1886 and 1899: