The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-17
FOREIGN SHIPS CARRY
BULK OF OUR COMMERCE
Plans to Have Congress Enact
Laws to Stimulate Building of
American Bottoms.
WORK OF COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-"In the fiscal
year 1902 American exports to European
nations amounted in value to 1891. GA. 762, al
most a billion dollars. Of that enormous
sum Ia per cent. was carried in American
vessels and 9SA per cent. was carried in
the ships of other countries. We imported
from Europe $474, 927, $50 worth of goods, of
which s30,OO0,0O0 worth was carried in Amer
lean ships. OF the total imports and ex-
ports from Europe and to Europe, the
enormous sum of SLAP, 591, 900, only 3A per
cent. was carried by American vessels, and
had it not been for the existence of the
American line, sustained by postal sub
sidy, the total of our trade with Europe
carried under the American flag would not
have exceeded one-sixth of one per cent"
This interesting statement was made by
Representative Grosvenor, chairman of the
committee which has just ordered reported
to the House a bill creating a commission
TO consider and recommend legislation for
the development OF the American mer-
! chant marine.
If present plans are carried out the way
will be paved at this session for the en-
actment of laws to stimulate the building of
ships for the American carrying trade. The
bill which Representative Grosvenor has
reported to the House provides for the crea-
ton of a congressional commission, to be
composed Of five members OF both houses,
two members selected from the Senate and
two from the House to be of the minority
party. President Roosevelt recommended
In his message that a commission be APP
pointed, but his idea that ii should be made
up of members of the. Cabinet was not
adopted. Indications are already at hand
that the commission plan will be opposed.
even by Republicans, although the leaders
believe that the bill will be passed.
LAVISH EXPENDITURES.
THE United States is lavish in its ex-
penditures for building up the great fea-
lures Of American strength at home and
abroad" said General Gresvenor. Lavish
expenditures for the army and the navy
and the marine corps are annually made.
Almost limitless appropriations are con-
stantly made available for every known
purpose OF national prosperity, national
strength and national glory. We builded
the Pacific railroads in large part out OF
the money contributed by the people. We
have builded a navy scarcely second &c
any of the nations of the world. The an
prOpriations for our army are lavish. We
give more money for pensions growing out
of service in the army than all the civilized
world combined. We are expanding enor-
nous and almost unknown sums of money
for the irrigation of the arid lands in the
West, and TO that purpose have devoted
substantially the whole remaining area OF
public lands in a great body of the States
and Territories. Their. is no legitimate ex-
penditure possible within the wide scope
of national jurisdiction that the American
people do not rush lavshly into, even to the
extent of promoting experiments in aeria
navigation Mr.. Grosvenor then calls at.
tention to the fact that the great bulk o,
our m is carried in foreign bot.
toms. I'VE fatter ourselves justly" h
says, that We are a leading nation in al
that makes a great nation great. and yet
we are a subservient nation and a helpless
nation in one of the great factors of ma.
tional wealth and national Independence.
When the subsidy bill was considered in
last winter it was productive OF
great bitterness among Republicans. Will,
the measure had previously passed the
Senate, no progress could be made with il
in the House. Now most of the Republican
members of the committee on merchant
marine indOrse the proposition TO create &
commission which shall make a thorough
investigation and report it's conclusions
TO Congress at the short session next win.
ter.