Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-14
TIE PRODUCERS INTEREST.

Senator McCumber Of North Dakota,
in supporting the shipping bill now be-
fore the senate, stated that he did SO
because he believed that the results Of
it's operation would be beneficial not
only to his agricultural constituents, but
to the people Of the entire country. He
said that what the agriculturists of the
is an opening to the trade Of the Orient
and he believed the operation of the
pending bill would afford them that
opening. There is no doubt that the
proposed legislation would encourage
the building up of an American mer-
chant marine in the Pacific, nor ear
there be a reasonable question that the
effect of this would be to develop trade
between the Pacific coast and the far
east, which would necessarily be bene-
fetal to the agricultural interests of the
west and northwest.
In the report on the pending bill sub
mitted by Senator Frye it was pointed
out that both positively and negatively
the American transpacihc mail system
which the measure makes possible will
contribute powerfully to American mari
time a%scendancy in the Pacific. 1t will
accomplish this result, the report de-
clares, because 1t moves along the nor
NAL lines of the worlds progress. Spe-
ciaI conditions render 1t certain hat the
earliest and most rapid development Of
American shipping under the bill will
be on the Pacific. while American
shipping" says the report, sin transpa-
ciic trade has been stationary and for
eign shipping has doubled within four
years, nevertheless that trade is not so
completely in possession Of ships under
foreign flags as is the tradeOOf the At
lantic; the opportunity for hew Ameri-
can maritime ventures Is greater"
The agricultural producers have a fur
Their interest in the building up Of an
American merchant marine for our for
| eign m for the a that a
great part of the vast sum now annually
paid to foreign ship owners for carry
ing our products abroad. a very consid-
cradle portion OF which is paid by those
producers, would be kept here and dis
tributed among our own people for labor
and supplies. Under the proposed legis-
lation the shipbuilding industry OF the
country would be greatly increased, Civ
ing employment to a vast amount of
labor. The capital thus expended would
to a very large extent find its way to
the food producers, thus giving them a
better home market. The advantage IN
this is obvious, even If with an Ameri
can merchant marine u producers had
TO pay as much as now for the carrying
Of their products abroad. though It is by
no means probable that this would be
the case. Under existing conditions
nearly all that they pay to the foreign
ship owners goes abroad. helping t.
maintain the shipbuilding industries anC
adding to the wealth and maritime
power Of other countries. With al
American merchant marine on the oceaI
adequate to the demands OF our foreign
commerce. most Of the large sum tina
now goes into foreign pockets, estimated
to be from $150.OOO.0O0 to $200,OOO.OO o
annually, would be retained and ex
pended here, increasing our nationa
wealth and Strengthening our own mari
time power.
This question of an American mer
chant marine is national in its scope
No section OF the country has a monop
oily Of interest in it. The agriculture
producers of the west and south woul
derive not less benent from 1t han tn
manufacturers Of the east and middl
states.