The Washington herald., 1914-04-13

| Ihe repeal OF the law cannot be con-
strued to be a construction OF the treaty.
II Is simply refusal on the part OF the
United States to raise that question in
that way.
SIn the controversy over the We'll
land Canal. Canada withdrew q dis
crimination which she had made In
favor OF Canadian ships, I'm order that
no cause for friction with the United
States authorities In regard to the
/ matter should exist why cannot the
/ United states withdraw a discrimina-
| tion for the same reasonf
When the treaty involved was before
the Senate for ratification. an attempt
was made so to amend IL as to permit
a discrimination in favor Of coastwise
vessels. but IL was voted down by a de-
cided majority. With this record to sup
port them, is II strange that foreign ma
tions question our right TO make an
Charge Always Made.
Before passing from this branch of
the subject IL Is worth while TO remem-
Der that this is not the first time Demo-
cratic legislation in behalf of the people
has been denounced as a surrender TO
England Every time our party has at
tempted to reduce the tariff we have been
confronted with the charge that the low
land and that. we were surrendering our
markets to foreign manufacturers.
AThe surrender to England argu-
ment n being used now, just as ID has
been used I'm the past, and for the ben
EFT of the same selfish interests, but
now that the people have secured tartn
reduction they can no longer be fright
ened by this subterfuEe.
when we come to consider the repeal
ifl I'm
two questions to be decided
First, is II desirable for the Demo-
cratic party to abandon its historic posi-
tion and become the advocate of sub
sides and bounties? And. second, IL IL
Is desirable, what Is the Democratic
party willing to sacrifice in international
prestige and in world influence in order
TO secure the advantage which these
subsidies promise to a few people?
No party can afford to adopt a prin-
ciple without considering how far the
principle extends, or what its adoption
involves In the past the Democratic
party has been able to consistently op-
pose every form of governmental favor
because il has stood for equal rights TO
all and special privileges to none. II
has not only opposed the bounty when
given directly. but il has with equal
earnestness opposed the bounty given in
directly through a protective tariff
cit has denounced rs unconstitution-
nj the voting of the peoples money
Into the pockets of the few who can
secure the ear of the Legislator.
Having grounded itself upon a princi-
pie. II could follow that principle where
ever IL applied and by its steadfastness
to that principle, it has converted a ma
ton.
Controlled by Monopoly.
1T must be remembered, too. that our
coastwise vessels are largely controlled
by a monopoly. The Alexander report on |
this subject. published this year. says:
With the exception Of the Pacific
Coast trade proper. il was shown
that the line traffic is handled by
comparatively few companies and that
these are largely controlled by rail-
roads and shipping consultations
Thus. in the entire Atlantic and Gulf
coastwise trade exclusive OF all in |
land waterway and purely local car
riers), twenty-eight lines. representing
235 steamers OF 549,S2l gross tons, fur
nish the line service. or this number
OF lines, ten are railroad-owned and
represent l2S steamers OF S40.Os4 gross
tons, or 5L5 per cent of the total num-
ber of steamers in the trade and 6l.9
per cent OF the tonnage. Seven lines,
operating seventy-one steamers of
1881 gross tons in the coastwise
trade, belong to the Eastern Steam
ship Corporation and the Atlantic, /
Gulf and West Indies Steamship
Lines. and represent in the aggregate
nearly 30 per cent OF the total num-
her OF steamers and y per cent Of
the tonnage. Combining the two in
terests. it appears that the railroads
and two Atlantic Coast shipping con-
rr,~
of the steamers and nearly % per
cent of the gross tonnage engaged in
the entire Atlantic and Gulf coast
wise trade. Attention may be called
again to the fact that very few OF
the routes between any two ports on
the entire Atlantic and Gulf coasts
are served by more than one line
Cpp. 3s9-37O. 3S2. 3S3D.'
The advocates Of free tolls argue that
he subsidies voted to ships in the coast
wise trade will come back to the pub
ic through decreased freight rates on the
lines. This is the! same
Id protectionist argument This reduc-
ion is improbable because the water rate
5 so much below the freight rate that
he reduction OF SIS a ton subtracted
rom the water rate will not compel
eduction as a matter Of fact In the
rates. But even IL II
ould be shown that free tolls would re-
uce transcontinentai rates. it should be
emembered that these rates. II excess 4
i've. can be reduced by the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Why should we
isturb our foreign relations in order to
o at the Isthmus what We can do di-
ectly by regulation?
The Presidents Appeal.
The Chief Executive speaks for the
alton in international affairs, and it is
My fair to assume that he speaks ad-
isedly when he declares that intercourse
nth other nations is seriously embar-
assed by the free tohs law which he
,eks to repeal The Democrats and Re
ubIicans who respond to his appeal will
nd it easy to defend their course-the
urden of proof will be on those Of either
arty who rejected his advice.
Even if the Democratic party were III
illinE to be guilty of apostacy to its
even II it were convinced that
le Republicans had been right in favor
lg subsidies and the Democratic party iii