The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-06

in the coasting trade. In that trade
our tonnage has risen from 2,S97,1So
gross tons in 1861 to 4.33S.146 gross tons
In 1900, and two-thirds of the increase
has been upon the Great Lakes.
Where foreign competition enters,
our registered tonnage has decreased
from 2,f42,62S gross tons In 1861 to
S2s.6a4 gross tons in 1900. aud is less
than at any time In the past sixty
years. except during Our short war
with Spain. For the past three years
American ships have carried annually
only per cent. of our exports ana
imports. the smallest percentage in
our history.
Yet-to quote again from Commits
sioncr of Navigation Chamberlain.
"the conditions for successful effort
to secure again a proper share of the
carrying trade and to re-establish our
commercial flag upon the oceans have
not in a generation been so faNorable
as at this time. Our heavy, contin-
uous expenditures for the navy have
created shipbuilding plants adapted to
our surprising production of coal and
steel insures cheaper materials than
can he obtained elsewhere, and abun-
dance of capital, the product of labors
prosperity during the past few years,
awaits new enterprises. Coupled with
these advantages at home, temporary
causes have increased the cost of ship
-. n tl,t tt.N,.t tt,rr
siderations must not blind us to our
haclkwardness. We shall build, even
in this year OF great activity in our
shipyards, less than one-tenth the
shipping for foreign trade to be built
by our principal competitor. We do
not carry per cent of the worlds
sea-borne traffic. Tho effort, to he
successful. must be begun promptly
and unremittinglv prosecuted for a So
ries of years. and is entitled to the
cooperation of congress-
The shipping bill now under con-
sideration in the senate is framed to
fit this need and has the heartiest in
dorsement of experts. In brief it pro-
vides subsidies for American vessels
in foreign trade based on gross ton
mage of the ship and mileage. The
subsidies are calculated to offset the
difference in the cost of building and
navigating American vessels COM
pared with British vessels. American
vessels already built are subsidized
for ten years; vessels hereafter built
for twenty years. The maximum sub
sidy payable in any one year is fixed
at $9,00U,000. AT the present time the
expenditure under the bill would he
about S.5O0,0Oo a year. n ten-knOt
ship with a mileage of $1,000 miles per
annum would earn $14i,75h A twenty
one knot ship with a mileage of SS,20o
miles per annum would earn $30l.29n.
The bill admits to American registry
all foreign steamships owned by
Americans on January 1, 1000. Such
steamships are entitled to half sub
sides. Before these foreign built
steamships can be registered and re-
cnive subsidy owners must build in
the United States corresponding
steamships. as in the eases of the New
York and Paris. All vessels receiving
subsidy are required to carry the
ocean mails of the United States free
of charge, and may be impressed as
auxiliary cruisers or transports.
Iii short, the proposition is to risk
S9,G0000O q year in the hope of saving
$500, 100000 now paid by Americans to
foreigners annually for ocean freights.
Governor Pingree appears to base
his granting of pardons upon the
proposition that there were other Gull