Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-10
AGAINST SHIP SUBSIDY
Committee Appointed by the
House Of Commons to In
vestigate.
PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDY OPPOSED
1t is Claimed They Restrict COMPETE
ton and Facilitate the Establish
ment of Federations and Shipping
Combinations Numerous Other
Reasons are Set Forth in the Report.

London. Dec. 10.-The select commit
tee of the house of commons, appointed
to consider the question of granting
shipping subsidies, has made public it's
report. The report emphatically OPP
poses the principle of granting subsi-
dies for the reason that they restrict
competition and facilitate the estab-
lishment of declarations and shipping
combinations.
Numerous other reasons for the OPP
position to the principle are set forth
in the report. The committee asserts
that British shipowners have not suf-
fered from the fostering effects of sub
sides paid by foreign nations, and de-
olares that skill and industry are the
major features In the recent develop
ment of the shipping and trade of for
elgn countries, notably Germany.
The subsidies granted by foreign
countries, the committee says, are
merely minor factors in the Develop
ment of foreign shipping. The system,
the report continues, except for services
rendered, is costly and inexpedient,
without government control of the
maximum rates on freight.
In rare cases. where, in view of spe-
cial imperial considerations, subsidies
may be desirable, the committee de-
clares the conditions must include ade-
quate speed and forbid the sale or hire
of any subsidized ship without the per-
mission of the government.
The committee considers that, in or
der to give British shipowners a fair
show against their foreign rivals, the
board of trade regulations should be
enforced against foreign equally with
British ships: that all light dues should
be abolished. the cost being betrayed by
the nation, and that means should be
adopted to secure the removal of regu-
lations by which British shipowners are
excluded from the coasting trade of
foreign countries. The committee sug-
gests that regulations should be inn
posed on foreign vessels participating in
the British and colonial trade of the
empire, as a means for securing recip-
rocal advantages for British shipoWners
abroad.
The committee discussed at some
length the effect on British trade on the
transfer of merchant vessels to foreign
ownership and enumerates the British
lines sold to Americans, including the
Morgan syndicate, and to Germans.
Dealing with the Morgan transfer the
report says:
IF the American railway manage
ment unites with the steamship man
a gement, a very influential undertake
ing may perhaps be formed, but too
many interests are often involved to
make such combinations quite as pow
erful as they might be supposed to be.
It remains. however. quite certain that
the transfer Of British ships to foreign
flags, whether owning foreign subsidies
or otherwise, may cause serious re-
suits, such as developing new trades in
which British shipowners, without gov
eminent backing, cannot engage, and
the substitution of foreign officers and
crews for British"
The report points out that, as the
coast line of the British empire is the
of any country in the world, !
Great Britain has no need to fear eff
fective retaliation If she reserves the
British and colonial coastWise trade /
and imperial" coasting" trade, which I
would include voyages between any
two points of the empire to British and I
colonial ships and to vessels of nations |
opening their coasting trade to British I
md colonial ships.