The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-03
NO SHIP SUBSIDY
or ANTWERP CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.
cogent Reasons Advanced by Men
chants OF Great Port Show Fall
lacy Of Arguments Made
by Republicans.

The chamber of OF the
city OF Antwerp. Belgium, has issued
q report on the subject of ship subsidy.
Antwerp being OF the three great
seaports OF the world, New York,
Hamburg and Liverpool all ranking
below her in the amount of shipping
that use their ports, the opinion Of her
selected merchants and shipowners
on the question Of increasing a ma
tional mercantile marine by subven-
tions from the state is of International
importance. Ii appears that subsi-
died shipping has not been a success
az Antwerp. and a dispatch from Ant.
werpt TO the New York Journal of Com
merce tells the reason why and points
TO the "%splendor OF the English and
German fleets. created solely by pri.
vate enterprise, and the decadence of
The French, Spanish and Italian, whose
governments have multiplied laws in
favor Of the national merchant ma
rine.' Germany. il is observed. has
given subsidies as only a secondary
aid. and only TO two companies run
Fr0 HAE-AANlNRlidi SltlDS. I1tIl ltal- |
Inns dissatisfaction with the working
OF subsidies upon two vessels Of the
Hamburg-American line is cited. And
u Is shown that English ships, with no
subsidy and with no privileges in the
national coasting trade. succeeded In
sweeping from the sea first one and
b another Belgian subsidized sery-
ice, and that the victors at last in.
herited both the trade and the Off cial
favors.
As TO the necessity OF a merchant
shipping industry to a country. the
A~atwerpians declare that had there
been any real necessity. either native
or foreign capitalists would have rem.
edied the deficiency. Not DENYING
that it is grateful to the national pride
To see goods carried under the national
hag. it is found that the vessels coun.
try OF registry has no influence with
the foreign customer for goods. A ne.
tional marine is declared to be as de.
sirable as any other industry. provid.
ing that 1t is a source Of wealth in
itself and makes no demands on the
funds OF those who do not use IL.
Condemning state interference in
the conflict of private rivalries. the
chamber voices its belief that govern.
ment can do something to facilitate :
development Of shipping industry. I
II can remove the shackles from shin. {
and shipowners' arms. pro. !
vide good general laws and educate Z
naylgators and engineers. This forms I
he substance of one resolution passed {
ana another asserts that government
only protect the maritime trade by
'acilitating the movement of goods
OF imports. Mordant comments
ollow on those who would pay TO .
ring foreign produce by means of a
'~hip-subsidy n at the same time
would pay 10 keep out this produce by
means of a customs tariff. There is
throughout the report a running com. !,
nentary on questions as they arise. :.
'hese take the shape Of timely re- =
1inders that the object in business Is /,
0 make money, that II is better to !
NY thar TO manufacture what one "
annot make probably. and that pro- !,
ectionism killed the shipping indus :,
~ of America. :.
A warning is Issued not TO paralyze :,
useful and powerful industries in "
TO maintain the less profitable. =
nd not TO confuse with legitimate -
numerical aspirations exaggerated
Ieas Of glory. of political expansion !,
nd Of fighting navies. Owners. bro. -
manufacturers. exporters aud II
in the Antwerp conclaye have :.
'cided that two courses only are -
zen: either a thorough-going profec. d,
On assuring a monopoly. or liberty. -,
electing for the latter they are
king the experience Of neighbors -
ID are seeking TO avoid the incessant
'mands that they fOresee for more
ID more money to prop up an arti -.
ial industry. England's greatest ~
developments. they say. have
Cured since she threw away her
ltches. And VI. Callaux. French ar,
mister OF finance. is quoted to the ide
ect that bounties and subsidies. like scr
lirts OF morphia. are soothing acc
OF which one must continually 9th
lew and enlarge the dose. What is clio
)ecially feared Is that. once in. Dos
.ghied into a grant q ship-subsidies. wal
may come to imagine the ex. ~
of her merchant feet in somo IS
y allied intimately with the pros. tor
OF he nation. That Illusion
members have endeavored firstly II
combat. swe
n view OF these unanswerable argu. ful'
nts and conclusions Of the mer. alon
mt princes of Belgium OF the fall life.
y OF subsidies md tariffs. II is not enJc
sular why the protectionist faction -
the Republicans in the United 4
ties persists in urging congress to y
Mt a ~ship-subsidy to favored shin. b
lers. Protectionism has so in. Z
'sed the cost Of everything that our Y
chant marine has been made I'm. Y
and our ship-bullders cannot b
pete with foreign yards. so to com. y
G the circle Of protection the peo. U
must be directly taxed to support
Industry that cannot compete ia
business world. Tie experience a
and other count riee uybich .