Year: 1871

| Our Shippius Intercsts Before Congress.
The members Of Congress who are most ac-
tive In the matter OF providing some remedy
| for the depressed ana declining shipping inter-
| ests of the country begin at the wrong end.
Instead Of giving the utmost freedom to our
capitalists and merchants to buy ships wherever
they can get them best and cheapest, and thus
add to the tonnage Of the United States, as


well as giving the profits OF the shipping busi-


ness to this country they arc intent on pro-
noting some little interest OF few individuals
or Of some small section Of the republic. The
bill which Mr.. Lynch, of Maine, has just sub


mitted to Congress, and which has been re-


ferred to the Committee on Commerce, bears
this character. The State of Maine, or por-


ton Of it, is interested in shipbuilding, and,
therefore, Mr.. Lynch, who is Repre-


sentative In Congress from that State,
proposes to tax every ton Of foreign shipping


that enters our ports, and to pay four dollars
| ton per year upon all American vessels


engaged in foreign trade. A tonnage tax Of
thirty cents ton on foreign vessels, as pro-
posed by Mr.. Lynch, would not amount to
vast sum in the aggregate--to not more, prob
| ably, than . million and half dollars
year; but IL would bear heavily on certain
I class of vessels A. four thousa nd ton steam


ship, for example, would have to pay tax or


duty Of twelve hundred dollars every time she


entered New York or any other United States


port All this would tend to restrict COM


merce; and, after all, the American con-


sumers Of goods brought In these foreign


vessels, and American passengers and emf


grants carried in them, would have to pay the


tax. Besides, it Is doubtful If this would have


any perceptible effect Ia stimulating ship


building. The principle is wrong, contrary to


the spirit Of the age, and opposed to the inter-


ests Of this country generally. So, TOD. Is that


other proposition In Mr. Lynch's bill to give


bonus Of four dollars ton from the Treasury


on all American vessels engaged in foreign


trade. This, in round numbers would amount
| to about five millions Of dollars year, and,


therefore, would be positive burden upon


the taxpayers and the Treasury of about three


millions and half year over and above the


receipts from the tax on foreign tonnage.
| This is all wrong. 1t is peddling way Of


meeting the shipping difficulty. And if the
people are to be taxed to pay gratuity to
few hundred shipowners aud shipbuilders why
| not for other kinds of business? Why should


not the farmer, the planter, the shoemaker,
the tailor and others be favored in the same


way2


While this scheme of Mr. Lynch would put
money into the pockets of u few and tend to
restrict commerce it would not have the effect


needed. 1t would do little or nothing in the


way Of increasing the tonnage Of the country.
The only way is to abolish or amend the reg
istry law 30 as to permit our citizens to buy


vessels everywhere and to place them under
the American flag. AT least the present reg


istry law might be suspended for
few years until the result could be
seen. We have no doubt that if this


law were abolished or suspended the tonnage
Of the United States would In the course of
ten years rival that Of the irst maritime nation
in the world, and place this country in the
| same relative position II occupied just before
the war in shipping interests. The yearly
profits on such increased tonnage, and the
other advantages to the country, would be
worth far moro than all the shipyards In


Maine. Our peddling Congressman are look
ing to small thiugs-to petty local interests


instead Of 10 those that are large and national
Shipbuilding will be restored in this country


in due time, as taxation becomes reduced,


living cheaper, labor more equalized, mate


rials produced with greater facility and at less


cost, and as population and commerce in
crease. That must be q growth. Our tom
| mage, however, we can restore and increase
by simply acting upon the principle Of buying
| in the best market. Most of the great ocean


steamships coming here under the German,


French or other national flags, and carrying
| the profits Of their business home were built


In Great Britain. Here is an example for us.


Nothing but broad, liberal and comprehen-


sve policy, and change in the registry law,


will restore our tonnage and give this country


that maritime position which it ought to hold
| among the nations.