The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-14
Discriminating Duties and Mer-
chant Marine.

f. G.. Stevens gave good illustra-
tion yesterday before the st. Paul
Chamber Of Commerce Of what con-
gresham is for; that. he has some dr-
ties to render to the community which
exceed the capacity of q messenger
boy, and that emergencies arise where
in a knowledge of affairs, derived from
close and careful study, are worth hav-
ing. This statement may not be fully
credited in this community, but it is
nevertheless true.
Mr.. Stevens has been one Of the clos
est students of the question of ship
subsidy and all other measures calcu-
lated to promote the growth Of our
merchant marine. 1t might be sup
posed, from careless consideration of
the matter, that the best means of adj
vancing the interests of the merchant
marine was matter for the repre-
sentatives of those sections of the coun-
try lying along the seacoast to busy
themselves about, and not particularly
interesting to the people of the far in
terror. AS matter of fact, however,
the people Of the interior are quite as
much interested as those in the mari
time sections of the country.
Mr.. Stevens careful study of this
question has qualified him to discover
the bearing of proposed measures for
the benefit of the merchant marine not
only upon the shipping of the country
but upon its productive industry. This
has led him to sound a note Of warn
ing at a very opportune time.
The special merchant marine COM
mission, which has been touring the
country for the purpose of discovering
sentiment and developing ideas on the
interests committed % them, appear to
have been much impressed with the
plausible theory that to aid American
duty of 10 per cent against freights
brought from other countries in ships
owned by citizens of country other
\ than the one in which the cargo origi-
mated would be clever and effective
device.
It looks simple enough, but the facts
do not lie altogether upon the surface
elimination would be in violation of
numerous treaties with foreign coun
r tries which now protect the commerce
Of this country; that whereas such dis
elimination might seem to be in favor
not only of the shipping of our OWL
country, but of those countries from
which the goods were exported, the
fact is that so much of the commerce
of the world is carried in vessels no.
( countries that the immediate eff
feet would be to impose {
burden upon the export trade
of many countries and result il
. such natural retaliation and dis
elimination against our trade in return
as to inflict upon us, in all probability
much the more serious damage than W.
could or would infict upon others
This would probably be felt first wher'
our exports are largest, in the rang
of our agricultural and other foo
products.
Just at this time Great Britain i
urged by Mr.. Chamberlain and his fol
lowers to discriminate against al
/ natural products which can be sue
cessfully and sufficiently produce,
within the possessions of the empire
I The discriminating duties against for
4 eign shipping would fall with peculia
WEIGHT upon British shipping becaus
it carries the freight of the world, an
such action on our part would unques
tionably stimulate sentiment in Grea
Britain in favor Of the Chamberlai
scheme and discrimination agains
American products 49,. ~.a.
Mr.. Stevens represents our exports
Great Britain and her colonies for tn
! SO per cent of our total exports. TIL
maritime interests of Great Britain ar,
as he suggests, of the greatest in
portance to the empire, and course Q
action on our part calculated to criI
17ple, and, in the end, largely destroy
I this great British industry might b
3expected to provoke retaliation wher
Ill it would be most effective. At presen
this retaliation would be felt mos
seriously in discrimination against on
national products because they const
tute the largest part Of our export
but at the present rate of increase in on
exports of manufactures it would not b
long, if the increase were maintained
3 before manufactures would share tn
retaliation equally with nature
II products.
Not only is this method of discrim
nation calculated to operate disastrou
s ly upon our export trade, but, accort
ing to Mr.. Stevens idea, it is donbtfl
s. If it would confer any material adval
tage upon our shipping, because, wit