The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-15
PRACTICAL SHIP SUBSIDY.

PRACTICAL SHIP SUBSIDY.
Congressman F.. c. Stevens in re-
cent article on the ship subsidy bill in
the Duluth News Tribune, gives a
plain and practical statement of his
position on the measure which is so
severely criticised by the people of the
west, and justly so in some respects
The wholesale criticism of the bill ii
general has led many to think that the
ship subsidy scheme is fraud from
start to finish, which is certainly not
the case. Mr.. Stevens justly says: So
''This hasty discussion and dismissal
OF such an important question is un-
worthy of our people. Last year, of
our foreign carrying trade, SIT, $685.
was transported in American vessels,
while $l,977 ,536796 was carried in
foreign ships. That is, less than eight
and two-tenths per cent of our foreign
trade was under the American flag.
ut will be seen, therefore, that, un-
der the wonderfully. progressive and
epoch-making administration of Will
liam Mckinley, which advanced our
nation in nearly every line of en-
deavor, there was an actual decrease
in our foreign shipping during the
four years in the value of goods an
nually carried to the amount of Sl1,-
253,36 and loss in percentage from
eleven per cent. in 1897 to eight and
two-tenths per cent. in 1901.
1.-THE number of ships constructed
during the past year was 949 vessels,
of 245,O68 gross tons, and during the
year before, 1853 vessels, of 246,979
gross tons. The reports received by
the commissioner of navigation up, to
April l, 1902, show that on that date
there were less vessels under contract
for construction in the ship-yards. of
the United States than at the same
time in either of the last two years.,
| During similar period in Great
Britain, in 1901, there were con-
structed in its ship-yards nearly 1900
vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of
100000, or five times as much as was
built in the United States.
"There is paid every year by our
foreign trade nearly 100000, 900 for
the transportation of our own goods.
Much, if not all, of this vast sum
should be earned by our own people
and retained in our own country
1.-THE reports of no less than twenty
consuls of the United States, stationed
at some of the most important seaports
OF the world, state that during the last
year, If there had been any means of
direct communication between their
ports and the Uuited States, the trade
between their sections and our country
could have been vastly increased.
These reports in most cases specify
some of the articles which could be
sold by our people to advantage in
these foreign cities. Among these
mentioned were breadstuffs, including
wheat, -four, corn and other grain
products, cattle and hog products of
various sorts, agricultural and mining
machinery, and great variety of
small articles: such as are produced in
the United States better than by any
other nation in the world.
The main trouble in constructing a
measure that will secure these benef-
cent results will be the elimination of
the selfshness and greed of the owners
OF competing lines and old ships, who
desire to have the bounty of our gov
eminent turned into their own pockets.
But if the house committee on mer-
chant marine can withstand the argu-
ments of the old-established passenger
lines, and consider broadly the welfare
of the producing and exporting classes
of our people, they will be doing a, SER
vice to our country.'' .@a i
BLIND piggers cannot find much sat-
isfaction in the act of 1901 which is
one making provisions for the pun
ishment of parties who keep a blind