The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-01-10
RESORT TO A TRICK
ENEMIES or THE SHIPPING. RILLe
BECOMING ALARMED.
Take steps TO Prevenf Pnsange Of the
Measure Nv Innaming the Public
Mind Against rt-Great Foreign
steamship Lobby Present Ina
WnshIngton.

III the number of misstatements being
circulated concerning the merchant
marine revival bill. and most Of which
are alleged to originate in Washing on,
indicate anything at all, it Is that the
enemies Of that measure are alarmed,
and are taking steps to prevent it's
passage by the old trick Of infiaming
the public mind against 1t. Not a day
passes but an alleged special" from
Washington is published in this or
that newspa per--and 1t may be said
with truth that the great dailies in
New York seem to be worked more
often and at greater length than any
others-which dispatches predict the
failure Of the shipping bill.
|. The fact that the administration fa-
vors the passage of the bill, as Is we'll
known here, is never alluded to in the
dispatches referred to. The fact that
the great leaders on the Republican
side in each branch of congress have
ali expressed themselves as determined
to do their utmost to pass that bill,
scarcely ever appeafs In type. The
presence In Washing ton Ola great lob
by, representing the foreign steamship
lines, finds no space in the opposition
newspapers nor is the peculiar work
that these lobbyists do pointed out, as
it should be, for the information of the
people at large. These kinds OF tactics
may succeed for a while, and the peo-
pie may be fooled by them. but it can't
last forever. t
Here Is measure that has been ia
yorably reported for passage to the
senate and house by the proper corn-
mittees in two successive congresses.
It has been under consideration for
over three years in a public way, and
has been discussed from one end of the
country to the other. It's provisions
are well known; it has been Endorsed
by state legislatures, by chambers Of
commerce, boards of trade, agricultur-
al organizations and other representa-
tive associations. 1t has been indorssd
by political conventions and Industrial
conventions Nearly three hundred
different organiza lions. many Of which
are representative of the great indus
trial and commercial interests Of the
country, have petitioned congress to
pass 1t. and congress Is right on the Z
eve Of doing so. when opposition, insti-
gated by the foreign interests menaced
by the bill, appears in Washington de-
teYmlQGQ To QGIGdl &Il.@&1
But the people will not stand for this
thing. 1t is very clear that the public
are determined to see American ships
succeed to a portion "a majority por-
ton, too---of our foreign carrying. The
idea of paying to foreign shfpoWners
each year as much as we collect a. all
Of our custom houses; the idea OF hay
ing paid. during the past generation, to
foreign ship owners twice as much as
the sum Of our national debt at the 4
close Of the Civil war, As becoming in
tolerable to the people This sort or
thing. they see. is indefinitely deferring
the time when the United States shall
become d creditor, and cease TO be 4
debtor, nation. Nothing but American
interests they see will be- advanced IL
the bill pa sses--- only certain foreign
interests will be injured if II passes
This is a sort OF situation that will be-
come 50 clear. to the people that they
Will be very apt to manifest their dis
pleasure in ia very drastic, manner, II
congress again adjourns without en-
Acting legislation that will start the
country on the way Of building up Its
shipping In the foreign trade.
The producers Of the country have
seen where they will be benefited
through the enactment of shipping
bill They have shown that American
ships will only be able to secure the
carrying OF exports from the United
States, now enjoyed by foreign ships,
by a reduction In the rates Of ocean
freight No one will be willing to give
an American ship a larger amount OF
freight money for carrying away our
exports than a foreign ship will be
willing to carry 1t for, and the passage
OF. a mea sure Of this kind, it is seen,
will raise up rivals to the foreign lines
that now monopolize our export carry
inc, and which charge US, practically,
what they like for 1t. Tt was clearly
pointed out by Senator Frye, in his
great speech in the senate, that there
would be an average cut of rs per cent
In the cost Of carrying our exports and
IMPORTS. as soon as the measure then
and now pending got into good work
ing form Such reduction In the SAY
ing OF freight rates alone, he pointed
out. would amount to $4,000. coo a year,
SO enormous Is the annual sum now
paid for our foreign carrying.
TO save such a sum by sending cur
exports abroad in our own ships, and
to give to our people the employment
that comes from the expenditure IN the
United States of the whole S2O0,0o0,eoo
year now paid for ocean freight
transportation, is a pretty big under
taking and naturally the opposition
will be fierce ON the part of those Wf1t
now enjoy that carrying and the enor-
nous enrichment that follows there
from. But that is precisely what cons
gress is expected to do, and precisely
what those in the majority In congress
have for the past five years been FROM
Using Will be done.
Much surprise was felt in some quar-
tiers at the size of the vote on the HAY .
Pauncefote treaty. The president mas,
through Secretary Of State Hay, al
ready transmitted the treaty TO the
British government, and its acceptance
or rejection of it is expected to be an
nounced during the next couple OF
mopths-before congress adjourns.
There is some suggestion that the
passag e of the Nicaragua canal bill
will be deferred until the attitude OF
England on the Panncefote treaty
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