The Republican journal., 1904-12-08
NEW BILL TO AID SHIPPING.
Increased Tonnage Tax 10 Be Proposed


An increased tonnage tax and increased
lighthouse dues to be imposed on all vessels,
American and foreign, entering ports of the
United States, will be the chief recommend
ations of the Merchant Marine Commission,
, popularity known as the shipping commits
sion" A further provision OF the measure,
the passage of which the commission will
recommend, will arrange LOT tne Segresa-
ton of the increased revenue from these
sources and its use for the promotion of the
American merchant marine. The commits
sion appointed at the last session OF Con-
gress, after holding hearings in eighteen
leading shipping centres OF the country, met
Wednesday afternoon at the Capitol in ex-
ecutive session, to formulate plans for the
conclusion of it's work. Contrary to some
what general expectation, the commission
will not recommend the direct substituting
of American vessels. Neither is it likely to
suggest the ACCESSIBILITY of enacting differ
entail tariff law with benefits to imports in
American bottoms, although some of the
members are heartily in favor of such legis-
latiOn. Neither is the suggestion of free
ships seriously considered.
1t is possible that the commission may
conclude to suggest the expediency Of in
creased postal subventiOn, with view to
extending the shipping trade of the United
States, but that point remains to be deter
mined. With a view to acquiring further
information on that subject the commission
will hold hearing on next Friday morning,
which the postmaster general, the secretary
and other federal officials will attend.
The commission has had under cOnsidera-
ton six propositions, as follows: % A d.
rect subsidy to American vessels; (2) ad
ditiOnal postal subvention, the government
now paying liberal sum to vessels carrying
United States mails; 90 an increase of the
tonnage tax on vessels az increased light
house dues; (5) the admission of foreign
built ships to American register free of
duty; Co ditferential duties on indirect
trade, that is, on the goods of one nation
shipped in the vessels of another.
The proposition of Il discriminating duty
on goods imported in foreign vessels, a
practice common in the early history of the
nation, was reluctantly dismissed when it
was found that at least ten of the treaties
now in existence would have to be abrogat-
ed before such a law could be put into effect.
The proposition to impose a discriminating
duty on indirect trade was then seriously
considered, and is still champioued by
some members of the commission, but with
little prospect of having their Recommended
lions adopted The proposition for free
ships came, of course, from the Democratic
members of the commission and has been
rejected as not in accord with Republican
policies.
Present Indications are that the Increased
tonnage tax and lighthouse dues will form
the important recommendation of the COM
mission: 1t is argued that, while treaty
stlpulations would compel the imposition
of the increased charges on American as
well as foreign vessels, the burden of the
increase would fall on foreign shipping,
ana, were the government to utilize the
additional revenue from this source to pro-
mote the American merchant marine,
foreign countries could hardly object
Next Fridays hearing will be the last, and
the commission will then devote itself to
the completion of its report and the prepa-
ration of bill embodying its recommenda-
lions.