Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-17
SHIP SUBSIDIES.
Republican Leaders Rigging UP .
New Scheme of Robbery.

Republican Leaders Rigging UP .
New Scheme of Robbery.
The decline of American shipping is
sore spot on the epidermis of the high
protectionist; it IS a constant reminder
that In practice the theory of protection
does not protect American ships Since
the high protective tariffs from 1862
to the present time have been in eff
feet the decline OF American shipping
that only S.S per cent of our imports
and exports is now carried on Amer
lean ships, whereas in 1861 6a.2 per
cent of our own trade and some of the
trade of other nations was so carried.
1t is q fact that the United States of
1910. with 100000 Inhabitants. own
ed more registered tonnage for oversee
trade than the United States of 1908,
with a population OF SO,0000O04 This
is clear indictment of the Republican
policy of protection that has allowed,
during the forty years 1t has been in
operation. American shipping to de-
cline from 60 per cent TO SO per cent.
If the protectionists dared to put in
effect for our ocean carrying trade a
similar law TO that which governs our
coastwise trade namely, to prohibit
foreign ships from engaging in lit
would colligate the protection theory,
but the RESULT would be more disas-
trOus to our small remaining percent
age of ships than has resulted under
the present laws. 1t would also be
ruinOus to our agriculture, for foreign
customers would refuse to buy of us,
and the price of what little they were
compelled to take would largely in
crease in price through the high freight
rates that such ships as we would then
have would be obliged to charge.
But the protectionists feel that some
thing must be done, and they are at
their wits ends to know what to do.
The Home Market club of Boston,
which is the New England branch of
the Protective Tariff league. has issued
a circular of inquiry to governors. pres
idents of colleges, railroads and banks
and principal merchants and manufac-
turers asking these questions:
as it your best Judgment % that
constitutional means-that is TO say.
tons of commerce-should be used; or
81 that subsidy system should be APP
piled; or 81 that nothing should be
done, and that foreign nations shall be
allowed to continue to appropriate our
commerce and navigation as 1T may
please themselves or as chance may de-
termineF'
The evident intention is to abandon
the ship subsidy scheme. which Hanna
and other Republican leaders promised
MT. Griscom and Mr.. Cassatt in 1893
In return for their large contribution
TO the campaign fund of that year, and
resort to an increase of the discriminat-
ing duties that can be charged on goods
imported In foreign ships. The present
tariff provides for such an extra duty
of 10 per cent. but it, is practically
dead letter, as our treaties with for
eign countries prevent it being i'm
posed But the ship trust demands Its
share OF protection, and If ship sub
sidy bill is unconstitutional or congress
does not pass such an unpopular law
it turns to an increase of the discrim-
mating duties-that is, to add 20 or
% per cent more ad valorem duty on
goods importeds in foreign vessels, SO
that shippers will be compelled to send
their goods in ships carrying the Amer
lean flag It is hardly necessary to
say that under such a system freight
rates would be raised so that the ship
trust would hive the protection it de-
sires, and the American consumer
would have to pay the bill.
Foreign ships viii continue to mo-
nopolize our carrying trade Until the
whole tariff is revised to a tariff for
revenue only. In which case American
ships, manned by American freemen,
will be again seen upon the high seas.