The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-18
SUBSIDIES FOR OUR SHIPS.
INFORMATION PUT BEFORE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.

I
1t Necessary to Adopt Some suhsi-
dy Scheme-Facts and Figures
showing Whnt Is Done in This
Line by other Countries-EXtensiv
Growth OF the Merchant Marine in
Germany. France and England.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE hearings be-
fore the Senate Committee on Commerce
in the interests Of what is known as the
subsidy bill, Indicate clearly the purpose
of the friends of this measure to put IL
through Congress this session.
Former Senator Edmunds who has APP
peared before the committee in the IN
terest of some Of those principally ac-
tive in the support OF the project, has
himself gone on record as opposed to the
general expansion policy of the admins
tration but he explains that while he
did oppose the taking of Hawaii, Fand
" lille he does not agree with the admin
istration policy with regard to the Phil
ippines, he is nevertheless very strongly
of the opinion that so long as this kind Of
expansion has been accomplished, it is
the duty of Congress to take every ne
cessary step toward providing for taking
advantage of what has been done. lie
believes that It is necessary to adopt
some subsidy scheme for the merchant
marine, to encourage shipbuilding and TO
procure such an increase in American
shipping as shall insure the commerce
from this country being carried, to a
much greater extent than now, in Ameri-
can bottoms.
A good many Democrats who are OPP
posed to the tariff principles of the Re
ppblicans are inclined to support this bill
for two reasons. One OF these is that in a
general policy of protection the shipping
interests have a right to share in the
benefits as well as the manufacturing in
terests. The other reason is that they re-
gard a subsidy of this character less bur
densome in its effects than a protective
tariff The tariff, they point out, places
upon the people the burden not only of
the increased cost of the articles import
ed, but of a consequent increase upon ar
ticles of domestic manufacture of a sim
liar nature; whereas the amount of bur
den in this subsidy plan is fixed. OF course
the Republicans have the power to enact
this or any other kind of legislation they
choose. and what the Democrats think
about it has very little to do with the
case.
In other Countries.
Some very interesting facts and figures
are presented by the state department on
the methods of other governments in
their treatment of the shipping interests
These come in the shape Of consular re-
ports and made large volume. Some of
the information contained in the volume
is summarized below:
The report from Austria shows that in
1898 there were ,659 vessels engaged in
the merchant marine, with a tonnage of
1S5, 923 tons and 1925 seamen. Austria
pays an annual state bounty and a ton
mage and distance premium for each voy-
age made; the government also pays about
81 ,S00,0 coo a year for the mails carried
The merchant marine of Belgium con-
sists of sixty-six vessels, with a total
measurement of 9O971 TONS. OF this num-
Der of craft in existence on Dec. 81. 1898,
sixty-two OF 1889 tons belonged to the
port of Antwerp, one of 100 tons to Lou
vain, one of sixty-nine tons to Newport,
and two of 113 tons to Ostende. The state
also owns thirteen steamers, two sailing
vessels and one auxiliary, most of which
are employed IN the postal and passenger
service between Ostende and Dover. The
report says nothing of bounties pad.
The Danish merchant marine consisted
on March /, 1899 of 3,170 sailing vessels of
a gross tonnage of $4,000 tons, and sos
steamers of a gross tonnage of SS7. 200 tons.
against 3199 sailing vessels of a gross
tonnage of 1872 100 tons, and 442 steamers
of a gross tonnage of ZIG, 800 tons on April
/. 1897. AS to the condition of the same
there are seven sailing vessels over 100
years old, one dating from 1776 two from
1856, two from 1924, and two from 1886
There are about 100 sailing vessels of 80
years old. The mails of Denmark are
usually carried by Danish ships.
Statistics From LIoyds.
According 10 the statistics furnished by
Lloyd's Register for 1899, the number of
French. steamers of 100 gross tons and up
ward recorded in the register book was
639, of a total net tonnage of 5l6,096 and
Of a gross tonnage of 1925. OF these.
ten were built of wood of 1,4SS gross tons,
one was composite built of $50 gross tons,
36S were iron of 512S27 tons, and 26O of steel
Of 4S2, S54 gross tons The number of sail
ing vessels of 100 tons burden and upward
was SAB, of a net tonnage of 2ASJ6 tons
Of +haea 400 pvera huilt of wood rnaasiirino
74,7S9 net tons; one composite built, 461
net tons; sixty-one of iron, 81 ,O2S net tons,
and seventy-two of Steel gauglng us,57S
tons. Besides paying a bounty of so much
a ton for construction. France pays $685.
900 a year to its subsidized postal lines.
I'm the whole record Of German progress
and development during the past thirty
years" says the report from that country.
mo chapter Is more striking than which
dascrihes the growth and imDrovament of