The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-28
Mr.. Underwood's Masterpiece.

MI Underwoed's Masterpiece.
II the Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD
of Alabama had either keen percep-
lions or Q very active sense Of humor
b would scarcely be in that mood Of
sekconeratulat1on which impels him
to ~. a. reported In a Birmingham
despatch to the New York Herald:
z an glad. indeed. 10 know tina the
~ has decided to uphold the Ave per
cent discrimination in favor OF goods
carried In American vesselA think,
II sustained, his will rave a great ef-
feet In favor OF our merchant marine.
4 was 20 encourage this marine tina 7
placed the five per cent discrimination
In the tariff law. understand the
question is to be taken TO the Supreme
Court. and ! hope 10 see the discrlmina-
ton clause sustained all along the line"
The fact seem to be that the Court
or Customs Appeals in "upholding"
the five per cent. discrimination In
favor Of goods imported in American
ships has upheld not Mr.. UNDERWOOD
but his Intellectually agile II some
what wicked adversary the Hon. jim
MANN. ON May :. 1913. in the House
Of Representatives. Mr.. MANN pre-
dicted and explained for Mr.. UNDER.
wOOD's hcn0fi the inevitable effect
Of that gentleman's well meant but
uncommonly stupid effort to build up
n great merchant ma by means
OF n preferential tariff enacted In the
face and teeth of our numerous trade
conventions with other maritime ma
lions providing that the goods i'm.
ported In their bottoms shall pay the
same rate ms goods imported in Ameri.
can bottoms.
On that memorable forensic COCA.
sion Mr.. UNDERWOOD replied rs fol-
lows to the jocose and slightly sar-
castle remarks Of Mr.. MANN:
There are gentlemen who contend
that II Subsection / we're enacted II
would mean, instead OF discriminating
In favor of American shipping. that we
will reduce the duties on all imported
goods coming into this country by for
efgn vessels by reason OF treaty rights.
I have never believed in that conten-
ticn. I do not think il is a fair construc-
lion OF the law. ] do say that
the time has COME when the American
people must turn their thoughts. their
energies and their patriotism 10 the up
building OF a great merchant marine.
Applause on the Democratic side. ]"
And this by means OF a "discrimi-
mating" rebate which must likewise
be granted TO goods brought in the
competing ships OF all the favored
nations' with whom we have trade
conventions insuring equal treatment
mt u custom houses! So appar-
emily the Court Of Customs Appeals
now holds. The sole dissenting opin-
Ion, that Of Judge DE VRIEs. exhibits
the Interesting fact that Mr.. IN
DERw0OD's five per cent. rehate. II
sustained. while benehting fifty Amer
lean ships, confers an equal benefit
on between five and six thousand com
peting foreign ships. Therefore, the
Judge argues. II IL Incredible that
Congress should have contemplated
such a result. But 1t was the busi-
ness Of Congress, the majority of the
court reply, to know the facts material
to the consideration Of the question.
Was there ever n more extraordi-
nary method Of building n great mer-
chant marine? Was craftsmanship
ever denser? Was Applause on the
Democratic side" ever so premature?
We leave the answers to he pronounced
by the new Senator from Alabama
whom the full text Of the courts de.
cislon reaches him ut Birmingham.
together with accurate Information
Of the drpletin" effect Of his pet meas.
ure upon III" Treasury, which it was
his special function to supply with
tax money,
Meanwhile the Hon. JANIS ROBERT
MANN Is entitled IL indulge himself
in any reasonable amount of mlrth.