The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-19

| to our merchant ships have suggested
another policy-that of discriminating du-
ties The judgment of those who have
given careful thought to this proposition
is that it would be unwise. The United
| States now has existing commercial treat
les with every commercial nation OF the
world, save North America and British
West Indies, which forbid such discrini-
nations. TO place discriminating duty
on imports carried in foreign-built shops
would be TO invite retaliation In the first
place, however. the president would have
to be invested with power to terminate
ali our commercial treaties. This would
take from one to two years. Meanwhile
the end to be sought-the Improvement Of
our SHIPPING industry-would be delayed
at the outset. Then would come rtalia-
ton by the nations OF the world. We
do not, in our present situation. desire to
invite retaliatory action by the nations
of the worid-we do not desire in this
great fight for commercial supremacy 10
be placed on the defensive.
"Once we had discriminating duties.
This was when the nation was young.
The shipping industry improved. but not
because Of discriminating duties. At that
time we were building ships for other
countries, and It was profitable. Again,
we had no commercial treaties as now.
Then we had a prohibitory tonnage lax
against certain classes of ships.
Suppose discriminating duties were
laid. There would always be the danger
that a succeeding congress would repeal
the law. This itself would prevent the in
vestnent of capital in the shipbulding
industry. The duties would have to be
levied on imports. Our imports in 1893
were $40 millions. OF this, 35 per cent was
raw products. It is not possible that a
duty would be laid on such material.
Forty-four per cent was on the free list.
A duty would not be laid on articles on
the free list. A duty would not be laid
on articles on the free list That would
leave probably $4oO.Ooo.Oe9 available on
which duty could be placed, TO establish
our merchant marine.
France tried the method Of imposing
discriminating duties in 1872 and aban-
doned it in eighteen months.
The United States in the beginning
adopted discriminating duties as matter
Of reprisal for discrinina tons made
against this country, and when the pur-
pose was accomplished, abandoned them.
Representative Benjamin Goodhue. Of
Massachusetts. father Of the navigation
laws. on April q, 1879. said
There would be no occasion to lay
additional duties on ships owned by for
eigners If our own vessels were not sub
Jected to charges in foreign ports over
and above what the natives pay It is
the operation of this unequal burden that
renders it necessary for as to discrimin-
ate
THE payment OF bounties on exports
has been suggested as a method of re-
storing our merchant marine. If we put
a bounty on wheat we must also put it on
cotton, iron ore and manufactured pro-
ducts as well as the products Of the farm.
Such bounties could not be confined to
our own ships, for we have treaties with
more than twenty countries in which we
that if we put bounties on pro-
ducts carried in our own ships, we will
also put bounties On similar products car
ried in the ships OF other nations. This
method would be as 1mpracticable and
as would that OF discrimi- !
mating duties.
Another method suggested IS the ad-
option of the free ship policy of Great
Britain AS ! have already suggested, /
the free ship policy in Great Britain does
not mean the construction of ships by /
other nations. but it means their con- (
stTuction in that country, because they
can be built there cheaper than else
where. We already have law admit +
ting free Of duty the raw material requir- /
ed in the construction Of ships To ad- I
NIT the ships themselves free would be to
declare to the world that we could not
and did not wish TO build our ships in this /
country. The progress that has been I
made in building the ships of our great /
navy shows what can be done in ship
building in the United States If encourage (
ment is given our citizens to continue in I
the business. A free ship policy in this
country at present means closing our ship
7ards and transferring the industry across f
the sea The people of this country are
not yet ready to adopt such policy. Our
navigation laws provide that only ships
built in this country and owned by
American citizens can engage in the
,oasting trade of the United States.
These laws have existed for over a cen
Jury and have resisted every effort at
their repeal. As a result OF these laws
our people control absolutely the coasting
,rade Of the United States, and the pro-
yress and development Of that trade
shows what is possible for our people to
10 in the foreign trade If we but avail
ourselves Of the methods adopted by 9TH
II nations.
This is a national question, and IS not
ocaI in its character The restoration Of
,ur merchant marine does not benefit
solely the Atlantic and Pacific states,
where the industry Of shipbunding IS car
led on. and into whose harbors come and
20 the commerce Of the world. It inter
ssts the whole country and benefits the .
.arTner as well as the seaman.
James 9. Blaine in his Twenty Years
y Congress- wrote these words IN ISs5
md they are as true today as when writ
en-
81 With a more extended frontage on
he two great oceans OF the word than +
my other nation; with 2 Iarrer freight
ICE than that Of any other nation. It VIII
e a rcproach 70 the United States. more
pointed and decisive every year. u 1t
leglects to establish 4 policy which shan
develop q mercantile marine. navy aie-
-uate 70 all the wants Of the republic.
f congress, IN the sixteen years follow
ne the war, had given q 1.-THE Of the en-
OF Tire building and sailing
2 ships. that II has wisely given 70 man
fractures. 20 the construction % rail- 1
vays and 70 every Industrial pursuit on
and. our flag would before the close q
hat period have stood relatively a. the Z
.ceaa IS strong and IS permanent as e