The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-01-29

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spiclous for the rehabilitation Of th'
: American marine, and to attain suCt
successful results, as the present,
Senator Elklns introduced n bill
0 some years ago, on these lines, but
found that under the favored nation
treaty clause, 1t would lead to great
conflict and trouble. The business men
Of this country are sensible In knowing
that il would be foolhariiness to at
tempt to compete on a great scale with
The opportunities So largely in the
hands NJ our competitors, We are Just
awakening TO the fact that the prece-
dent Of our early congresses In dis
eliminating in favor OF American
bottoms was practically subsidy in
itself In this subsidy bill We have
come to know just what we can give
and reasonably ascertain what we will
get, because its terms are specidc.
The glorihcation Of our past SUI
premscy on the sea arose through the
fostering care OF American legislation.
and the restoration Of the pre-eminence
Of American shipping must again have
the fostering care Of the national gov
ernmtnL
1t would seem tha, the mere state
ment that about - per cent Of our car
rylns trade is in the hands Of foreign
ers should be enough to awaken the
American people 10 united determi-
nation to wrest this vast amount OF
proht nearly $2OOcOOoOo per annum.
and distribute it among our own peo-
pie.
Let US not be deceived by the tre-
mendous opposition against this bill
that comes through the money and in
huence Of foreign owners Of steam
ship lines, their allies in the press and
their sympathizers here, the timia and
hesitating who dare not seize an oppor- /,
t0nity; but let US stand for American |
and American future develop |
ment.
Il; the protective policy Of the Re
party has been justified by the
great development Of its Industrial life.
why should not the policy that was so
successful to the factories on the land
be as generously applied to the floating
factories OF the sea?
The 100000 appropriated annually
.or a term Of twenty years is but bag
itelle. 1t means simply more than the
Of ships. 1t means that We
'aI lot compete for the trade Of the
world unless We have ships especially
adapted for our carrying trade whose
.apacity and equipment will be so efic-
ent as to lay down at any port the /
argest Of cargoes at the minimum Of
ost. The production Of our machinery
so. enormous that it only takes
natter of 5 per cent surplus to bring
tagnation and loss Of profit.
The farmer, the miner, the capt. | I
llist are alike Interested in this ques-
on. We must not forget that this
nnual subsidy is not all outgo. The II
lcreased supply Of tonnage would lead
decline in rates, and the poorly
iuipped vessel like the poorly equip u
I'd railroad, would have to suceumb h
, that competition that could provide :,
lore desirable vessels at lower rates. c
In this way believe that in less
nan three years the decline In the n
1st of foreign freights would more II
nan equal the subsidy paid. II We
'lsh the trade II the world W. must
ave the tools Of commerce to hold il.
here is no sentiment in profit and c
Jss. 1t is a frozen fact Of calculation q
hat will not go down. I believe that II
ow is the golden opportunity to st =
n motion this plan to rehablitate our
lerchant marine.
we have the capital seeking invest "
1ent at low rates; We have the great j
Master Of industry and commerce; We
ave the raw materials and manufac-
ufed product far in excess II our own '
eeds, and to preserve heal,hfu con- n
itions at home We must have this Il
reat outlet abroad. =
All rejecting business men Of ex-
erience believe that a crisis is at Il
and; that not only is our domestic
rosperity determined largely by the
assage Of this bill, but that he in .
rea5e Of production # our natural a
and manufactured articles will o.
e held in abeyance for years to come
Mess the subsidy bill be pa sed by