Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-07-25

Gratis we're in the minority, Represen-l
tative Underwood made a great
speech on the floor Of the House,
strongly opposing subsidies and ar
IDENTIFY advocating return to "the
policies of the fathers" to the policy
adopted by the first Congress under
the present Constitution, a policy
framed and enacted by the men who
had participated in framing and hav-
! ing adopted the Constitution (which
we rejoice to live under-a policy
based upon "the constitutional regu-
lation of commerce" which in recent
years Democratic national platforms
have invoked for the rehabilitation OF
our shipping in foreign carrying. AS
argument in behalf of this early
American policy Of discriminating du-
| ties Democrats were able to point
with pride" to the fact that from 1893
until 1861, a period wholly antedat-
ing Republican participation in Gov
lernmental affairs. American ships
carried an verage-lmark this, an
average-of so per cent. Of the en-
tire imports and exports of the Uni
OF these seventy-two years the early
American policy OF discriminating
duties was in full or partial effect.
II is worth emphasizing that for
nearly three-quarters of a century
four-fifths Of the foreign CARRYING
trade OF the United States was con-
Quoted in American bottoms. ships
built In the United States. wholly
owned by American citizens, com
handed Differed and manned by
American citizens. And this was I'M
der a policy that merely increased the
customs duty on imports in foreign
vessels over the amount Of the duty
imposed on imports in American YES
sells. II took nothing from the ma
tional Treasury. On 1.-THE contrary.
It was a revenue getter, in that to the
extent that imports came to us in
foreign vessels the national revenues
we're increased.
When Senator Underwood was
chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee OF the House of Represen-
tatives be inserted in his tariff bill
with the full approval Of every Dem
ocratic member, a provision reduc-
ing the duty per cent. on all i'm
? pouts lin American vessels. From
! the moment the tariff bill saw the
light Of day the 5 per cent discount
section was bitterly ond consistently
opposed by Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo. who during the past couple
Of years has crossed and recrossed
the American continent lamentine
, upon the decline of an American liner.
chant marine and demanding, for the
nations protection and welfare the
immediate creation Of a naval auxil
4 larry merchant marine Before tn,
4 bill was month old Secretary Nc
n Adoo was writing to the State De
q partment for an opinion as to tn,
J. meaning of this section, and although
n he failed to have It stricken out il
q the House he succeeded in the Sen
= ate, but Mr. Underwood had Il restor
n ed in conference, and II was enacte
Il along with the rest of the bill VIVA
n then? Failing to persuade Mr.. I'm
! derwood TO have an act pessed TO
: pealing the per cent. discount sec
ton, Secretary McAdoo obtained al
O opinion" from our then Attorney
III 1NAANA al WI 44AAANl AAUlurf W lHt I'll
o feet that the section was unenforce
P able. Twice since that time tn
4 courts have declared the section /
r enforceable. but Secretary OF III
n Treasury McAdoo. the man who want
naval auxiliary American merchan
a marine. and who is charged with tn
: duty Of enforcing a law designed {
h. give us an American naval auxiliar
q merchant marine. refuses to en-
/ force II.
d And so Senator Gallinger, Of Ney
t Hampshire, has introduced a bill tina
h would restore the old policy Of dis
e eliminating duties in the right way
n by increasing the duty on imports Il
e foreign vessels, rather than reducin
r. the duty on imports in America
e vessels, applicable to all imports. du
r table or undutiable; bill tina
would increase the national revenu
S165. 600 600 the first year Of its on
Grafton, that would at least PARTIAL
restore protection, and thus prosper
ity. to our country. and, most Of al
! that would create an American meI
= chant marine and maintain it in for
eign carrying.
! ALEXANDER r. SMITH.