Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
COMMISSION FAVORED
PROPOSED CONFEDERATION OF
THE sHIP SUBSIDY QUESTION.
Report of the House Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
The Minority View.

In his report to the House, filed yesterday,
in favor of tine bill authorizing commits
sion to consider the question of ship SUD-
sidy, Representative Grosvenor, chairman
of the committee on merchant marine anu
fisheries, says: There is no legitimate ex-
penditure possible within the wide scope oi
national Jurisdiction that the American
people do not rush lavishly into, even 10 the
extent of promoting experiments in arelal
navigation We fatter ourselves
Justly that we are leading nation In all
that makes a nation greet, and yet we are
a subservient nation and helpless nation
in one of the great factors of national
wealth and national independence other
nations carry our products to the markets
of the world.
Cen. Grosvenor states that of almost
billion dollars worth of exports to Europe
during the fiscal year 1907, but Ia per GEM
was carried in American vessels, the pai-
ance being carried in ships or foreign couL 1
tries OF nearly five hundred million dol
lars of imports during that year, american
ships carried but thirty millions "or. WORTH
Had it not been for the American line, SUI
sidized by postal subsidy, the total Oh oui
trade with Europe carried under the Amerl-
can flag would not have exceeded one-siAtH
For the carrying of that trade, says Gen.
Grosyenor we paid $2O0GOo,OOO, winch
amount he maintains, should have gone
into the pockets of Americans
The Minority View.
The minority members of the committee
have designated Representative Lucking of
Michigan to present their views on the sub
iect. These will contain the following rea-
sons why the bill should not pass:
1--WE are opposed to Congress abdicating
it's functions in favor of any, commission
whatever.
THE history of such commissions shows
that almost invariably their work has been
useless and expensive and mas come 10
raught.
I'VE are utterly opposed to ship bounties,
and have reason to believe that the adapta-
ton of such policy is the real aim Oh the
bill.
I'VE are in favor Of the rehabilitation of
our merchant marine by effective measures
to be enacted at the present session OF Con-
gress.
I'VE favor immediate action by this COM
mittee in the way of investigation and
hearings; and then the bringing in by TINS
committee of a bill putting in force SUD-
stantially the system of discriminating ton
mage and import duties, which was enacted
by the early congresses of the United States,
and which resulted in the immediate and
permanent upbuilding of our merchant ma
rine.
Some details may have to be changed,
but in the main this system should be
adopted. with whatever legislation and no
tees are necessary to abrogate any existing
conventions standing in the way. This sys-
tenn has the prestige of successful expe-
rience. which cannot be said for any other.
while the subsidy plan has been substan-
TALLY failure both at home and abroad.
The policy of discriminating duties was
inaugurated by Jefferson and Madison and
Monroe. and it received the Endorsement of
the republican national convention of 1896,
of William Mckinley and of William P.
Frye. now President of the Senate, and
may therefore be justly denominated nom
partisan and strictly American.