New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-18
AN IRRESISTIBLE FORCE.

AN IRRESISTIBLE FORCE.
Thus by an irresistible force of circumstance
we appear be driven to the expedient OF the
subvention method Of rebuilding our merchant
marine, in connection with the plan OF admit
ting to American registry limited amount of
foreign tonnage. The Frye-Payne Shipping bill
is based upon a realization of these facts me
main features of that bill follows: 1t
limits the total amount of subsidy to S9oUOoOo
a year Owners of American vessels now IN ser
vice are to receive compensation f0I ten years
on such vessels while employed in foreign COM
merce upon the condition that they will build
and operate new tonnage to the amount OF -
per cent Of the tonnage already owned by them.
Foreign vessels owned by American citizens
prior a certain date are to be admitted 10
American registry and to receive half the com
| pensatiOn awarded TO American built vessels.
provided such owners shall build and put in
operation American tonnage equal in amount to
| that admitted. Thus the bill is at once protec-
| tive Of the interests Of the American sh1poWher
and the American shipbuilder.
While there appears 10 be substantial agree
ment upon the principle of the bill as thus de-
| scribed. strenuous objections have been raised
| TO some Of its specific provisions. These are
| chiefly as follows
(a) The free ship men advocate the uncon-
ditonal admission American registry of all
| the foreign built vessels need. Thus they
would speedily rebuild our merchant marine.
This pian however. leaves the American snip
builder in the lurch. and is strongly objected 10
on that account. 1t also appears to be too wide
a departure from time honored protective
pohcy OF conflning American registry 10 Alnerl-
can built ships
G) There are stin some who favor return to
the old form of protection through discriminat,
ing duties The Republican platform or 1876
contained a provision in favor Of that policy
but It has not been heard Of in Congress dur
culties attending a revision of our commercial
treaties and the danger of disturbing our COM
mercial relationships as already described con-
WINGED the party in power that this mode OF re-
lief is impracticahe.
IGNORING SOLID FACTS.
(c) There is large class politically potential
throughout the interior, and especially in the
Western and Northwestern States, who oppose
all forms of subsidy s unjusty discriminating
against the industries Of those vast sections.
They seem to ignore the peculiar relations OF
the merchant marine to commercial inter
ests and 10 the National defence. The fact that
we live upon globe, three-fourths of the sur
face OF when rs covered with water suttclently
explains the Importance of maintaining our
military power upon the oceans. But that VIII
always be largely dependent upon prosperous
American merchant marine.
I'D An able and well informed writer largely
engaged in shipping thinks the provisions OF
the bill inadequate to the speedy restora-
ton Of our shipping interests Accordingly he
recommends the admission of a much larger
amount of foreign shipping.
(e} There appear to be serious doubts as to
whether the provisions Of the Frye-Payne bill
are sufficiently promotive of the shipping inter
ests OF our Pacific Coast our most promising
field Of commercial and nautical enterprise
The Frye-Payne bill as it stands has been IN
dorsed by many commercial and agricultural
organizations in various parts of the country
The New-York Chamber Of Commerce, the New
York Board Of Trade and Transportation and
certain other commercial bodies have Endorsed
the principle of the BILL but not all of Its spe-
ci6c provisions still the general public ap-
pears to be strongly in favor of rebuilding our
merchant marine in way, and the convic-
ton that ii must be done through the duplex
system of subsidies and the admission Of foreign
built ships to American registry, as provided in
the Frye-Payne Shipping BILL is undoubtedly
the predominant sentiment. The difficulties
which confront the legislator weighty and
apparent. Earnest work in the spirit OF COM
rron1ise will be necessary in order TO secure the
passage of the bill in its present form. or in
some amended form. during the approaching
short session of Congress. Unless II becomes A
law by March 1901, the whole subject will
90 over as OF the leading questions before
the LVIIth Congress.
Huntington n Y Nov. IL. 1900