The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-02
SUBSIDY FOR
OUR SHIPPING.
rs
Chairman GrOsvenoT's Report
to the House.
CARDINAL PURPOSES OF BILL.
Field for Trade and Commercs Opened In
China and Eastern Asia.
WAY TO REGAIN FOREIGN COMMERCE.
n Time Of War Large Merchant Marin, VII Be
ofGrsat Advantage TO the naD frosct
for The TTsalV.
Field for Trade and Commecs Opened Ia
China and Eastern Asia.
WAY TO REGAIN FOREIGN COMMERCE.

Washington, April 2.-Representative
Grosvenor of Ohio, chairman of the
House committee on merchant marine
and fisheries, presented to the House
Saturday the amended Shipping bill,
and the report in its support by the
majority of the committee, constituting
all the Republican members. The re-
port says in part:
"Our abundant natural resources and
our industrious and increasing popula-
ton make il OF great value 10 increase
the means OF profitably disposlng OF our
surplus productions, and as our export
trade is increased so will be home con-
sumption and employment.
our exporting competitors have for
a long time been. devoting themselves
to increasing their export trade : and
getting possession of markets. Africa
is an example Of the methods pursued
of partitioning territory or recogniz-
ing spheres OF influence, possibly east
ern Asia being eventually destined TO
receive similar treatment.
THE FIELD IN CHINA.
China" the report continues. may
be left open TO falr and equal competi-
tion with respect OF trade with the
u
committee believes. lone of the largest
IL not the largest field for trade and
commerce of other nations will be open
TO those possessing the facilities for
taking advantage 'of the opportunity"
The first in the field with its own
productions and own means OF trans
portationN will achieve the largest sue
cess, for which, reason China must re-
move the barriers which now almost
entirely exclude foreign intercourse.
Other parts OF the world In which our
commerce holds SO small a share, would
repay particular study.
The need of abundant establishments
for the construction. docking and re-
pairing of ships, IAN adequate navy"
and great feet of merchant vessels"
all i'm readiness for any exigency Is as
serted by the report to- be "a self-evi-
dent proposition" on these grounds
other nations have fortified themselves
by increasing their sea power in all
OF the ways referred to with the double
object of strengthening their facilities
and power for carrying on foreign COM
merce. After giving the statistics on
the extent OF tonnage the world over,
the cost of ship building, wages, etf.
Mr.. Grosvenor's report sums up the
cardinal purposes of the bilr' as foi-
lows:
CARDINAL PURPOSES.
"One-To aid in a real and practical
way-and no doubt under existing con-
ditlons, the only possible way-In
bringing to the greatest extent pos
sible our own foreign trade back INTO
ouy own hands, and thus saving 10 oup
country certainly more than $lOO.O00.-
0O0 transportation money annually
which now goes to increase the wealth
OF other nations.
"Two-To greatly increase the expor-
tation and sale CT all kinds of our su-
per-abundant productions and espec-
lally In the vast regions CT eastern
Asia. evidently very soon to be opened
TO the trade OF the world. This is a
trade that the nation best prepared TO
engage in will necessarily get the
greatest, proportion of by its own ships
under its own flag and with it's own
postal facilities and its own commercial
establishments for the disposal of its
productions.
"Three-To bring into existence at the
earliest possible time a great American
fleet OF merchant vessels, built in our
own country. with our own material
and by.our own labor as a most neces-
sary means of national aid and national
safety in time of international war or
other disturbances. the probability of
which is unhappily not small. even now
"F'our--To increase the number of our
citizens who viii be educated in sea-
farlng work and who will thus have the
skin and be better able to defend the
honor and intrests OF our country on the
seas, however suddenly the occasion
may happen.
"Five-The bill we think, will IL the
proposed compensation is large enough
accomplish these great and important
purposes"
PROMPT ACTION ADVOCATED.
Gen. Grosvenor's report concludes:
1T will, OF. course. take a consider
able time to reach the desired end,
but the sooner the policy is entered
upon the sooner and easier will be its
accomplishment.
THE means proposed are open TO the
capital. the enterprise and the skill of
all our citizens alike and on equal
terms. There Is no ground for any
form OF monopoly. There is absolute
safety TO the treasury. i'm the fact that
no payme1t can be made until I'm each