Question: Resolved, "That the foreign built ships ought to be admitted to an American registry."

Brief for the Affirmative:

L. JENKS and M. T. MOTTE.

Best general references: Kelley, The Question of Ships: D. A. Wells, Decay of our Ocean Merchant Marine - Its cause and cure; Fossils in re, Free ships and Reform of Tariff and Civil Service; John Codman; Shipping subsidies and bounties; Cong. Rec., 1891, p. 1010; Dockery's speech, p. 1044; Fithians speech, p. 3468; Hopkin's speech: North Am. Rev., vol. 47, p. 173.

I. The U. S. need a large merchant marine for their carrying trade, which can only be secured in one of three ways: (1) By springing up of itself; (2) By the policy of subsidies; (3) By "Free ships."

II. Natural growth under present conditions is ineffective. Our merchant marine has died an unnatural death from (1) Harbor duties; (2) Unwise tariffs; (3) Navigation restrictions; (4) Foreign facilities for cheap ships; David A. Wells, Reform Club Series No. 6.

III. The subsidy method is unwise and unbusinesslike: Chandler's speech, Cong. Rec. 1891, p. 3550. - (a) Unsuccessful when tried before; Dockery's speech. - (b) Leads to scandal and corruption. - (c) England's example no criterion; Fithian's speech. (d) An unconstitutional measure; John Codman.

IV. The "Free ship" method is practical and immediate. - (a) Free ships would save us $140,000,000 yearly. - (b) Would stimulate our ship yards. - (c) The example of Norway and Germany a wise one to follow. - (d) The carrying trade employs fifty times more men than the shipbuilding industry; Kelley, p. 31. - (e) With "free ships" we should rival England on the sea; Atlantic Mon., vol. 47, p. 174. - (f) Free ships would stimulate American invention, in building and handling ships.

Brief for the Negative.

ROY JONES and JERE. SMITH, JR.

Best general references: John Roach, Shall Americans build ships? in N. Amer. Review, May 1881; Cong. Record, Feb. 26, 27 and Mar. 12, 1891; David A. Wells, Our Merchant Marine.

I. Free registry would be dangerous to the ship building industry. - (a) It would check the now increasing revival of this branch of industry. - (b) It would injure our navy. - (c) The next step would be to open the coasting trade.

II. Free registry would endanger the safety of the American nation. - (a) The experience of the civil war showed the value of ship-yards. "Ninety-days gun-boats" enabled the North to control the Southern rivers and defeat the "Merrimac." - (b) The weakness of the South was due in a large measure to her lack of being able to build ships. - (c) In case of a war with England we should be helpless.

III. Free registry would be dangerous to American labor. - (a) It would take millions of capital out of the country. - (b) It pays wages to foreigners at the expense of our own laborers.

IV. The decline in American shipping is not due to lack of free registry. - (a) Foreign registry was not permitted at the time that the American merchant marine was the foremost in the land. - (b) Changes from wood to iron; sail to steam; and changes in machinery are the real causes of this decline. - (c) The civil war enabled Gt. Britain to get a long start over the United States at a critical time. - (d) Wages on Am. ships are higher. - (e) Lack of proper mail subsidies granted by our government.

V. No fresh advantages would accrue to the carrying trade through free registry - (a) There are ships enough now. - (b) It would not reduce freights.

VI. The proper remedy instead of free registry would be to make it profitable for us to run ships by. - (a) Granting of proper mail subsidies and, - (b) Change taxation on capital invested in ships to taxation on net profits.