Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — ARE GAINING FAVOR. [ARTICLE]

ARE GAINING FAVOR.

MANY OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES OF DISCRIMINATING DUTIES. ) . The Element of Permanence Vitally Important in Any Plan Devised for the Restoration of the American Merchant Marine. There is abundant reason to believe that among practical and far-sighted men the policy of protection to American shipping, by means of discriminating duties upon imports iu foreign vessels, is rapidly growing in favor. Shipbuilders who have hitherto expressed doubts as to the wisdom of adopting this policy, and have leaned toward some form of subsidy or subvention, now express the conviction that the policy of, discriminating duties is the only one likely to lie effective add of permanent benefit. They recognize the fact that subsidies are difficult to obtain from Congress; that they are unequal in their operation, favoring a few and affording little or no protection to the many; that the subsidy measures heretofore passed by Congress have originally been so imperfect as to require radical amendments; that the arguments in favor of subsidies are easily controverted, and that this form of protection would not accomplish the desired end—the restoration of the shipbuilding industry and the creation of shipownlng organizations. Subsidies might prove beneficial to Shipbuilding plants fully equipped for the construction of passenger steamers, either large or small, for subsidies would tend to encourage the building of such ships. But the demand for passenger vessels is comparatively limited, and it is not likely to increase greatly, owing to the competition of foreign ships either already on the

lines or which could easily be diverted to such service from other routes. What is imperatively needed is such a system of protection as will enable shipbuilders to devote their attention to the manufacture of vessels suitable for cargo carrying. Plants equipped for the construction of such ships need encouragement to enlarge their facilities without materially augmenting the cost of their permanent force employed in drafting, molding and other operations incident to ship construction. It is essential to economical shipbuilding that two or more vessels of precisely equal dimensions and form shall be under conract at the same time, so that multiples of every part can be preparer! with only the additional cost of the material. Vessels so built would be uniform in every respect, perfection in model and workmanship and material would be attained, the reputation of the builder would be established, and this economalic plan of construction would enable him successfully to compete with foreign builders and thereby secure profitable contracts. It is said that there is not now a duplicating plant in this country which is equipped for the economical construction of cargo steamers in the manner aliove indicated. And yet there Is scarcely a yard, at least on the Atlantic seaboard, which cannot build a steamship as cheaply as it can be constructed abroad, the lower cost of material and the use of labor-saving machinery and appliances nearly if not quite counterbalancing the enhanced cost of labor. The English shipbuilders are devoting their attention and energies to the construction of steamers instead of sailing vessels. They are, by manufacturing two or more ships of the same size and pattern at the same yard, reducing the cost of construction to the minimum, and they are striving to the utmost to retain their advantage of economical production. Clearly, therefore, this Is our opportunity. No time should be lost in providing such a system of protection as will enable our shipbuilding industries to retain the advantage they now enjoy ami to acquire further advantages by the enlargiitout of their plants for the st»l greater economy of ship construction by what may be termed the wholesale manufacture of vessels, as Is done in the English and Scotch yards. The adoption of the policy of discriminating duties upon imports in foreign vessels would create such a demand for American cargo carrying ships as to stimulate the enlargement of our shipbuilding plants to the capacity required for the manufacture of large numbers of vessels of the same sizes at the same time, and it would also encourage the establishment of additional yards and restore the shipbuilding Industry to its pristine vigor. Alike as to the building .and operating of American merchant ships, the

policy of permanent protection indorsed in the Republican national platform of 1896 seems to be the policy best adapted to the placing of our commercial marine Industry upon an even keel with foreign competition. Gold Redemption and the Message. Xo feature of the President’s message invites closer study than the passages regarding our money system. The tefm “currency reform” fits the subjects of his remarks fairly well. Yet it is misleading, inasmuch as it has been appropriated and almost monopolized iu recent times by the advocates of a monetary policy which Is totally distinct from the President’s. The policy of the so-called currency reformers has for Its central idea the abolition of greenbacks and all other United States notes, and the substitution for them of national bank bills based on the assets of the banks. The President does not favor any such radical project. He does not propose any change in our national batik circulation, nor any reduction in the quantity of our legal tender notes. The United States has no currency problem. It can hardly be said to have a monetary problem, so simple is the remedy, but, to the extent that this Government has a problem, the question is one of coin, rather than paper. The President has a clear conception of this distinction. It would be well if some of those persons who occasionally preteud to refleet his views had equally clear idea? on this subject.—Chicago Inter Ocean. Neglect Too Long Continued. That we have stood alone among th<» commercial and naval nations in the neglect of our shipping interests it would be folly to deny. But the outlook for shipping facilities equal to the Increased and constantly Increasing volume of American trade was never better than it is now. The Government of the United States, looking forward to a

rivalry in foreign trade with England and Germany, must improve our shipping laws or be forced to acknowledge defeat before entering the race. The Republicans stand squarely for the projected improvements. The Democrats 'have always been antagonistic to our shipping, and like the dog in the manger, they seek to throw cold water on a Republican policy that is bound to produce beneficial results if carried Into effect.—New Orleans Daily Item. Germany's Cheap Labor. Lower the tariff according to Democratic ideas and American workingmen will soon find the country flooded with the productions of Germany's cheap labor. Germany, notwithstanding the Dingley tariff, is actually forcing some of her productions into this country because of the cheapness of labor. Our tariff has not even stopped the sale of German sugar to America. It comes In spite of all competition. For the year ending June 30, 1897, the sugar exported from the Breslau district amounted to $298,900. The price was then 1.923 cents a pound. It is now sold at 1.869 cents for raw, in addition to which the manufacturer gets an export bounty. This is a matter that should be considered Immediately by the workingmen of tills country.—Buffalo News. Gen. Grunt nn Expansioniwt. Gen. Grant was an expansionist. Somehow the language of his message advocating the acquisition of San Domingo by the United States sounds like a rebuke of the small faith of Dr. Abbott. Dr. Parkhurst and other timid theorists. lie said: I do not share in the apprehension lu-hl by many as to the danger of governments becoming weakened and destroyed by reason of their extension of territory. Commerce, education and rijpid transit of thought and matter by telegraph and steam have changed all thia. Rather, I believe that our Great Maker is preparing the world, iu his own good way, to become one nation, Speaking one language, and when armies and navies will no longer be required. Our Duty to the Orient. It is now thirty-seven years since William 11. Seward, as Secretary of State, gave these Instructions to our Minister to Japan; "You will, by an equal, Just and honorable conduct of your mission, make the people of Japan respect not only tin l Institutions of your own country but the Institutions of Christianity and Western civilization.’’ Our new duty to tlx* Orient could not be better expressed In one sentence than in the words of the great statesman who during the most critical period of our history filled the office now held by John Hay. An End of Jeering. The Dingley law lias vindicated Itself and the, wisdom of Its authors, and there will have to Is* an end to the Democratic jeers at Dlngleyism.—Troy (N. Y.) Record.