The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-14

A bill which has just been intro
tduced into congress. ana with which
every merchant, farmer, manufactur-
{ er and banker ought to be familiar, is
Che bill reported by President RoOse-
velts Merchant Marine Commission
ito promote the national defense, to
create a force of naval volunteers, to
establish American ocean mail lines
T. foreign markets, and to provide
revenue from tonnage"
This bill has been promptly and IA
vorably reported from the committee
on commerce to the Senate, and
comes up for immediate considera-
ton. The president has called atten-
ton to II in his message, saying:
TO the spread of our trade in
peace and the defense of our flag in
war a great ana prosperous merchant
marine is indispensable. We should
have ships of our own and seamen of
our own to convey our goods to neu-
tral markets. and in case of need to
reinforce our battle line. 1t cannot
but be a source of regret and uneasi-
ness TO us that the lines of cOmmuni-
cation with our sister republics of
South America should be chiefly I'M
der foreign control. 1t is not a good
thing that American merchants and
manufacturers should have to send
their goods and letters to South
America, via Europe if they wish Sc
curlty and dispatch. Even on the Pa
cific, where our ships have held their
own better than on the Atlantic. our
merchant flag is now threatened
through the aid bestowed by other
governments on their own steam
lines. ask your earnest cOnsidera-
ton Of the report with which the
Merchant Marine Commission has fol-
lowed its long and careful inquiry"
This new shipping bill is radically
different from other propositions
which have been before Congress of
recent years. The bill as framed is
essentially fair to every portion of the
country in its consideration of cargo
liners and ''tramps" needed to extent
our western trade and take the
product Of our farms and factories to
foreign markets.
One western man VINO voted
against the subsidy bill of several
years ago was Senator. Allison of
Iowa. He voted against it not be
cause he did not believe in national
aid TO American ships but because he
regarded that particular bill as not
the best possible measure In a
speech at Clinton, Iowa, October 10.
1903, Senator Allison thus indicated
the western idea in merchant ship
ping legislation.
Our efforts should be turned 10
those countries lying near US as well
as 10 South America and Asia. The
latter field is likely to be of inesti-
mable value in the near future, stimu-
lated as it has been by the presence.
OF our flag in those distant seas.
where three-ifths of the population of
the globe is to be supplied in the fu-
ture with the products of the more
civilized nations.
In this struggle we have the &C.
tive and close competition of Europe
We have advantage in distance. and
viii soon have, if We have not now.
the advantage in facilities. Ameri-
can ships must float there, and the,
American flag must be seen there and
dwell there, and our government can
well AFFORD to provide special aid to
our merchant marine to extend our
trade there. and in South Africa and
South America as we'll"
There are ten new lines of mail
contract steamers provided by the
new shipping billiard every one of
them runs to South Africa, South
America and the Orient except one
line from a Gulf port to Cuba and
one TO Mexico. The provisions of
this bill, therefore. fall in perfectly
with Senator AllisOn's statement Of
the kind of shipping legislation
which the western people want.
Moreover, our western sentiment
always has insisted on the value of
the tramp" vessel or cargo carrier.
pure and simple. easy and cheap to
build and operate and seeking
freights wherever they may be found
"a rough, everyday, Woodworking
kind of ship, but one we'll adapted
to win new markets for wheat. corn
cattle, provisions and other merchan-
disc.
This new shipping bill offers a gen.
eral Subventon at the rate of S.
Per gross ton per year to all vessels,
steam or sail. that engage in this
free-fOr-all hunt for new markets for
the products Of American industry
and $3.50 per ton if they carry Ameri-
can products to the philippines or