West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-10-15
SHIP SUBSIDIES.
Republican Leaders Rsgging UD q
New scheme OF Robbery.

New scheme OF Robbery.
The decline OF American shipping Il
sore spot on the epidermis OF the high
protectionlst: IL IL a constant reminder
that In practice the theory OF protection
does not protect American ships. Since
the high protective tariffs from 1860
to the present time have been In ef-
feet the decline OF American shipping
In the foreign trade has been so rapid
that only s.s per cent OF our imports
and exports Is now carried on Amer
lean ships. whereas In 1861 05.2 per
cent OF our own trade ana some OF the
trade OF other nations was no carried
II n fact that the United States OF
1910. with 100000 inhabitants. own
cd more registered tonnage for oversee
trade than the United States OF 1908,
with population Of 10000, ,000 This
In clear indictment OF the Republican
policy OF protection that has allowed.
during Ae forty years II has been In
operation. American shipping TO de-
cline from 05.2 per cent 10 S.s per cent.
II the protectionists dared TO put In
effect for our ocean carrying trade q
similar law 10 that which governs our
constwisc trade-pamely, TO prohibit
foreign ships from engaging in it--it
would colligate the protection theory,
but the RESULT would bc more disas-
trous to our small remaining percent
age OF ships than has resulted under
the present laws. 1t would also be
ruinous 10 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 tho New England branch Of
the Protective Tariff league, has issued
n circular OF inquiry to governors. pres
idents OF colleges. railroads and banks
and principal merchants and manufac-
turers asking these questions:
as II your best judgment ~ that
constitutional means-that IS TO say,
discriminating duties and other regula-
tions OF commerce-should be used; or
(2) that subsidy system should be np-
piled: or (3) that nothing should be
done. and that foreign nations shall be
allowed to continue to appropriate our
commerce and navigation as II may
please themselves or as chance may de-
termineT
The evident intention Is to abandon
the ship subsidy scheme, which Hanna
and other Republican leaders promised
Mr.. 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 1t is practically a
dead letter, as our treaties with for
eign countries prevent It being Inn
posed. But the ship trust demands its
share OF protection, and II q ship SUBJ
sidy bill Is unconstitutional or congress
does not pass such an unpopular law
II turns 10 an increase of the discrim-
mating duties-that is, to add 20 or
% per cent more ad valorem duty on
goods imported In foreign vessels. so
that shippers win be compelled to send
their goods in ships carrying the Amer
lean flag. II is hardly necessary to
nay that under such system freight
rates would be raised so that the ship
trust would have the protection II de-
sires. and the American consumer
would have to pay the bill.
Foreign ships Will continue TO mo-
nopolize our carrying trade until the
whole tariff Is revised to n tariff for
revenue only. In which case American
ships. manned by American freemen,
will be again seen upon the high sens.