The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04

that the government is not in a posi-
ton to stand the drain upon the treas
ury that it would cause. If the bill
should be passed as reported by the
merchant marine commission, which
contains the tonnage tax feature, there
will not for the first year be any de-
mand upon the treasury. In fact, if
you take the general subvention feature
as distinguished from the mail subven-
tion, there will be practically no de-
mand upon the treasury during the en-
tire period Of ten years for which this
subvention was to be paid as provided
in the merchant marine commission bill.
In other words, the increased revenue
would pay the general subventions.
Undoubtedly this tonnage tax pro-
vision will be placed in the bill by the
house. It was stricken out in the SEN
ate, not because it was Objectionable in
principle, but because it was legisla-
tion intended to raise revenue, and for
that reason must originate in the house.
None but a free trader can object to
this tonnage tax provision, for about
SO per cent Of the tonnage affected will
be foreign tonnage, therefore, about 90
per cent of the tax would be, paid by
the foreigner. To tax the foreigner to
raise revenue to run the government is
a primal element Of republican faith,
and any republican will find himself at
war with all the traditions Of his party
If he opposes it. Then this provision
further provides, profting by the ex-
ample and wisdom Of England, that if
any American vessel shall carry GER
tain number of American boys and
train them in seamanship, it may have
the increase Of it's tonnage tax related
for this service, so, if our ships perform
this patriotic duty for which they are
paid they will bear no increased bur-
den. Then the foreigner will pay all
the tonnage tax and this tonnage tax
will pay all general subventions. Ger
tainly this provision should bring Joy
to the soul Of the 'pattest' Of stand
| patters.' ~
Subvention for Limited Period.
| "In my Judgment the bill will and
should be amended in another particu.
lar; that is, the payment to cargo
carrier should be only for limited
number of years more than ten.
I do not believe upon this proposition
of a tonnage tax subvention we should
commit ourselves to perpetual plan of
expenditure. If, under the assistance
| given by this bill, the cheaply con-
structed cargo vessels, after ten years,
have not built up sufficient trade, and
have not so well learned the business
as to be self supporting, then this feat
ure Of the bill is failure, and the
opinions entertained by the merchant
| marine commission are erroneous. do
not believe in assisting forever any in
dustry. I am opposed to the plan Of
perpetual subventions. AS to the
higher class, the faster and more. costly
vessels, there is much force in the argu.
ments that the period should be fol
more than ten years, but as most OF the
vessels Of this class will be under the
mail subventions, and as their contracts
are renewed from time to time, this
question of mail vessels can be met
and dealt with as the occasion arises.
"Another important amendment that
/ believe the house will make will be to
cut a large portion, if not all, Of the
proposed mail routes running from
southern ports. business and deceney
/ demand that this be done The exam