The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-24

''NN'' u 'f'f'''' ~ VIVA '"tIf'NFt u
welI.known organ OF the shipping industry. in
a recent article on the shipping hill. said:
Clearly our American cousins are greatly n
earnest on the subject OF commercial eNpan-
sion and British manufacturers and merchants
would d. well to take time by the forelock and
strengthen the strong position they already
hold IN China as the party in possession. \
consideration Of the American occupation of
the Philippines and the forthcoming effort to
secure n share of the trade with China brings
US to an examination Of the means 10 he en-
~ployed-the third factor which makes for in.
creased competition with Great Britain. II the
United States is definitely determined upon
mon0poli2ing. in whole or in part. the trade
ofthe Philippines and exploiting a big business
with China, then 1t is IA necessity OF such
effort that her mercantile marine he
very materially augmented. Needless TO say
this is duly recognized by President Mckinley.
and special aIlusion was made 10 the matter in
his address TO Congress. Last year he stated.
American vessels TRANSPORTED a smaller share
Of exports and imports than in any former
year. and the measure OF our DEPENDENCE on
foreign shipping was painfully manifested to
our people from necessity From this it rs
latent that American competition with Great
Britain, both IN shipping aud in manufacturing
enterprises. Will not be relaxed, but increased
IN the next few years. We do not wish to M
ply that the q is any need for drsUOudeucy AZ
such prospective competition; we merely urge
watChiulncss and a yet closer attention to
those PERSISTENT and enlightened efforts which
have enabled British -hipowners and manu-
iantnrers 70 attain their present position.
The annual report of the Liverpool Steam
ship Owners ASSOCIATION for $50 contains
thi, statement on the subject:
Possibly when The country secs the fun en-
tent nj the development of the mercantile ma
rine Of the United states. which will undouht-
edly result from the policy upon which
that country Is now entering, time and means
Will be found 10 relieve the British shipOwners
from some OF the disadvantages under which
they have now TO carry on their trade"
These disadvantages which the British shin
owners complain OF relate to certain fees aud
dues which they have TO pay at home. The
ifrrdld ~ t%oDnncroe OF London. had this to say
In a recent issue:
The american shipping bounty bill. known
in the lat Congress as the Payne-Hanua bIll,
has been before the appropriate commuters OF
the House OF representatives and the Senate,
where speeches were made ana evidence given
IN its support. And we may say. at the outset,
that there Is good reason to believe that the
blll will pass INTO law. Every thoughtful Brit
ish s~hipowner and member of Parliament will
appreciate the possible influences and cOnsr.
quenreS OF this piece Of shipping legislation
The reports of American COnsuIs made to
the State d. rartmeut, based on data obtained
from foreign shipbuilders. the names OF whom
are given. show that wages IN shiryards and
on board OF ships are from 90 to 100 per cent.
lower in Europe than In the United States. A
comparison OF the wages paid in the shipyaris
on the clyde IN scotland. and those ON the
Delaware River in the United States. show an
average difference of nearly 100 per cent.
for instance. patternmakcrs on the clyde
average -. d{ a week. am, Oh the Delaware.
SIS; machiniSts average 81. ~ on the CIyda
and Sl3.5O on the Delaware ship carpenters
get - - on the Clyde and SIS IN the Della
ware. aud 30, On with other ,workmen. These
facts will illustrat" the following statement
taken from a recent issue Of the LlyerpOO.
JIurHdl n CDutWerce:
1t Will be very many years before the
United states Is able to send sixty or seventy
first class steamships on transport work solely
from one port without dislOcating trade. Yet
Liverpool Is actually carrying out thls national
duty to-day on So gigantic a scale IN order
to bring our troops To the front in the Trans
wal The genius Of England il for the sea.
and Il viii be a sad day tor this country If
ever their capitalists follow the lead set them
by their American connections shortly after
the fratricidal civil War. Once a trade il
lost there Is. a decided difficulty in the way Of
recovery. Moreover. the high wages all around
prevailing in the United States. Consequent in
a measure on the protection to.natiye-indu,-
try system. must prove fatal when the com.
a. ple. with a much lower standard # COM
Tort
The great advantage the British have had in
their war with South Africa because Of their
merchant fleet j. referred TO I'm an article IN
Fngii,fTi"O Of Iondon, which SAYS.
"A navy may command the seas but So soon
a. war l. declared, a merchant fleet may be
required equal 10 transferring an army corps.
for merchant ships Of other nationality would
probably Involve delay, aud wouli certainly
cost enormous sums. even although naval
power was by thcir side a. protect them
fIIrpdy. a wcll-known London weekly.
edited by Sir Howard Vincent. a Prominent
mombero OF Parliament, regards the Shipping
bill pending before Congress in a very serious
lisht. Referring to The bill, fo,trily say:
What British -hipuWuer- AMI shilbuildrrS
have TO lis their mind on is the ia't that the
Republicans are bent on carrying TIN. subsidy
measure, tina they are III an absolute majority
In the new Congress; AMI That they ar" cute
enough 10 mas" concessions aud avoid vN-
tremltIes 50 as o. minimize the probability OF
al attumpt 10 repeal the meI-drr in the sue
cpedlHg Congress. The prospect as regards
American competition with British shipping
Was never 80 serious ~ II l. now.
These extract from foreign u"w-paIers, all
OF which are specially devoted t. the interests
Of British -~hlpuNner-. demonstrate con-
cluslycly that the passage %, the Shipping bill
is regarded with anxiety by foreign ship
owners. ard explains why q lobby = Sept by
thonI NJ Washington o. oppus" he bll. and
everything possible done 10 ]pgrluIIo" public
opinion IN this country against thl, wise and
boneiceut measure.
Na"rum In Washington.