Evening journal., 1916-01-07
FRIDAY JAN. 7. 1916
rANnRs MELL.GrARnEn snIp SUBSIDIES.

FANORN NELL-IlAhDED Nuli NbbNlDlhHs
WE have received from the Boston Chamber Of Com
w merco a summary of the report Of its Special
Committee on Merchant Marine. That committee re-
ects the Wilson-McAdoo plan for government owner
ship and operation OF merchant vessels. II says that
carefully guarded subsidies large enough to offset the
difference in cost of operation between American and for
egn vessels increased mail pay TO fast ships on
regular services and revision Of the navigation laws
and regulations. so far they unnecessarily burden
American ships would be infinitely preferable TO the
Ship Purchase scheme OF the Wilson administration
and play an important part in the upbuilding of the
American merchant marine.
The fundamental ideas running through the report
OF the special committee Of the Boston Chamber of
Commerce are strikingly i'm accord with those ad-
vancod by Colonel Henry A. DUPONT senior United
States Senator from Delaware, in the speech he de-
livered the Senate in the last session in opposition
to the Wilson NcAdoo Ship Purchase bill. The sum
mary of the report therefore peculiar inter-
est to Deawareans. They should read It carefully
and undersandngy and to full realization Of
the menace American shipping and allied industries
that is contained the Wilson McAdoo ship Purchase
proposition.
The Boston Chamber OF Commerce that its
purpose Ia issuing the report to furnish in concise
form tho essential facts about merchant marine de.
vcopmont I'm the United States with view TO edu-
eating public opinion this great business question
The merchant marnc is a live issue Everybody Is
inland states as we'll When American business men
understand definitely just what merchant marine
means what has been it's history what underlying
principle everywhere and always has brought success,
they win demand sound business legislation ON this
question and Congress win heed that demand
Ia the report is concise account OF the rise
and decline Of our shipping from 1889 to 1914
Tho report notes the of the American coast
wise tonnage from 6S607 in 1888 TO GS52563 at the
present time This the report states. lis ncomparaby
the greatest coastwso shipping in the world. greater
than the entire coastwse and tonnage of the
German Empire. equivalent to threefold the entire
tonnage Of France Norway and ourfod the tonnage
OF Japan American coastwse navigation is we'll
developed and reasonably prosperous business
trade OF vigorous competition. dominated by no trust
or monopoly and steadily and swiftly growing It
needs no more national announcement and II asks
none'
But the report points out that with the shipping
registered for h is Ginerent-that
ihs has srrunk to such relative insignifcance that
June 30 914 the shipping registered for foreign COM
merco amouBtcd only 1O662SS tons less than one
sixth Of our home trade shipping and carrying only
S.6spor cent. Of imports and exports.
Tho report recalls that the end Of tho Revolution
most Of the overseas carrying trade in the hands
Of British shipowners and that the entire registered
merchant feet amounted to only 1883 tons in 1888
and only 1916 per cent OF trade was conveyed in
American vessels a condition not very unlike that OF
the present day To relieve this situation Washington
jefferson and their colleagues. the report outlines
provided discount Of 10 per cent OF the tariff duties
ON an goods imported in American vessels, gave fur
ther and special preference the East India trade and
allowed American vessels marked preference in ton
mage duties American tonnage registered for over
seas commerce increased from 1888 in l7Ss
10 S4s254 in 1890 and to 411,43S in 1892 1T was al
this time and this policy" the report adds tha
Boston and salem laid the foundations of their great
East Indian commerce" By 1895 no less than 80 pei
cent OF our imports and exports were conveyed in
American vessels In 1900 there we're 6671o7 tons o.
American shipping registered for overseas voyages
and in 1910 9S1 019 TONS
After the War OF lS12-l5. the preferential shipping
policy. the report says was gradually relaxed though
NOT completely abandoned until 1850 before lS4
the British Government began to steamship sub
sidies first to the Cunard line in transatlantic trad,
afterwards to lines to South America and the Eas
Indies In few years British subsidies totalled So
100000 or s40O0O00 annually. On this point the re
port states that "The United States had been out
witted by British diplomacy and craftsmanship Firs
the preferential policy Of Washington and his co
leagues had made American shipping the most prosper
ous in existence But we we're adroitly persuaded
Law aside the weapons that had served so weA an
when we had bound ourselves by solemn treaty n
longer to employ them the British Government intr'
duced the and potent expedient Of subsidy Whic
the treaties and agreements did not forbid"
For time the report continues, the America
Government resolutely met subsidy by subsidy. II
initiative being taken by Southern who we're Den
ocrats in national politics President Polk advocate
subsidy legislation in a TO Congress, and
Democratic Congress passed mail subsidy laws In lSi