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SHIP SUBSIDIES. The Great German Lines Built Up In Free Ports—The Tariff Wall. To the Editor of The New York Times: Mr. Root is a skillful advocate. No body could put the argument for sub sidies better than he does, but it seems to me he begins at the wrong end. We all agree that it would be well to increase our trade with South America. But how can we expect to increase that trade so long as we set up a high tariff wall to exclude as many as possible of the products of South America from our market? Trade, like everything else, follows the line of least resistance. The foreign commerce of England is the greatest in the world, because she admits the products of all countries, with one or two trifling exceptions, free of duty. Mr. Root is mistaken when he says that Germany has given up the policy of free ships. On the contrary, the • Germans adhere to this policy. Some of the best ships in their great lines were built in England and taken by German shipbuilders as a model. This freedom develops skill and promotes Industry, as freedom always does. The two great German steamship lines, the Hamburg and the North German Lloyd, had their origin in the two free cities of Hamburg and Bremen. Even when these cities came into the Ger man Empire, and became subject to the German tariff, they reserved a free zone around their harbors, in which their ships lie and where all that is needed for their ships comes in free of tax. The Hamburg Line is the greatest steamship company in the world. It has never received a dollar of subsi dy from the German government. When it carries mails it is paid for that, as it would be for any like cargo. But no such thing as a bonus has ever gone into the treasury of that great company. When we are seeking to increase our foreign commerce we ought to study the experience of our successful com petitors. Indeed, we ought to study our own. This country has a history "before the war.” Compared with our present monstrous tariff, the tariff of those days may well be called "free trade.” Carl Schurz, in the "Life of Henry Clay,” which President Eliot eulogiz ed so highly the other night, tells us that the highest duty under the tariff advocated by Henry Clay in 1816 was 35 per cent.; that on cotton and wool en goods and iron was only 20 per cent. Many of these articles under the existing tariff are taxed 100 per cent., and some even more. Give us reciprocity with South America, and we shall have an increase of trade. Never till then. But for an illustration of the benefit of free trade we need only refer to our present condition. Our Internal commerce on the great lakes has in creased with wonderful rapidity. No tax is laid in Buffalo upon the ship ments from Duluth. Why should there be a tax in New York on shipments from Rio? If we want to bring about the real cordial feeling that Mr. Root advocates, let us follow the policy which McKinley recommended in his last speech, and which Roosevelt in dorsed when he became president, the policy of reciprocity. And since we cannot have a two-thirds vote in its favor from a Republican senate, let us have a statute which requires only a majority vote, which will give to the people of South America and the United States the benefits of the treat ies that a Republican senate refused to ratify. As John Sherman said in the senate in 1868: "Every advance to ward a free exchange of commodities is an advance of civilization.” Mr. Root says that England pays subsidies to steamship lines. On this point he is evidently misinformed. England pays steamships for carry ing mails. She makes a certain pay ment for the expense of equipping fast steamers to become part of a naval reserve. These payments are not sub sidies. They are simply paying for what the lines furnish to the govern ment. To such payments as these nobody objects. It is to the bonus be yond these that we do object. That is the bonus which is proposed by the subsidy bill now before congress. There is one branch of foreign com merce to which Mr. Root does not re fer, and concerning which perhaps he is not informed. Our laws prohibit American citizens from buying foreign built ships and sailing them under the American flag. But they do not pro hibit Americans from chartering for eign ships. A great amount of Amer ican capital is invested in foreign trade done in chartered ships, large ly under the Norwegian flag. This is profitable to our citizens and prof itable to the Norwegians. Why not leave trade to its natural channels and let our Norwegian friends share the profit of it with our own people? Why should the richest and most powerful country in the globe take the money of the taxpayers to pay bonuses to make business profitable which nat urally is unprofitable, and in this way drive the ships of a friendly nation out of business? What is the differ ence in principle between a great rail road company paying a rebate to a shipper and a great nation paying a bonus to a shipbuilder? The object of each is to interfere with natural competition and fair conditions of trade. A FREEMAN. New York, Nov. 26, 1906. M H H It’s a fortunate thing for some of fice-holders that killing time isn’t pun ishable by hanging. * h n When a married woman throws a hint, it is reasonably sure to strike her husband’s pocket book. —The Young American. JUST FOR FUN. Bricks are hard pressed for money. The only free man is the healthy man. Fools make feasts and wise men eat then*. •6 Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. * At what age should a man marry? At the parson-age. If you do what you should not, you must hear what you should not. People who move in the same cir cle—Merry-go-round riders. Why is a coachman like the clouds? Because he holds the reins. W Why is a committee of inquiry like a cannon? It makes a report. * A countryman between two law yers is like a fish between two cats. •t Better slip with foot than tongue. Keep your mouth shut, and feet, dry. R If all men were as wise as they claim, all women would seem sensi ble to them. n A fellow in Durand’s Case the other day, said: "Waiter, do you serve lobsters?” Waiter—" Yes, sir, what will you have.” —The Young American. THE WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN. OUR LINE Mantels, Tile and Grates Tarred and Felt Roofing Venetian Blinds Building Papers Sliding Blinds Asbestos Building Papers Folding Blinds Builders’ Hardware Door and Window Screens Hardwood Flooring Hot air Furnaces Iron Fencing Weather Strip Gin Saw Fillers Acetylene Gas Plants Paints, Oil, Etc. Lime, Cement, Etc. Fire Clay Pipe Patent Wall Plaster Window Jacks Corrugated Iron Roofing Store Ladders V Crimp Iron Roofing Dumb Walters THE BUILDERS SUPPLY CO. I Ellis Street, 2d Door Above Mclntosh, Augusta, Ga. DR. W. M. PITTS’ ANTISEPTIC INVIGORATOR The Greatest Family Medicine Dr. W. M. Pitts, who, as the originator of Pitts’ Carminative, has been a benefactor to tired mothers and suffering babes, after a suc cessful practice of Fifty Years, now offers to the public his Greatest Combination of Medicines In PITTS’ ANTISEPTIC INVIGORATOR. It is a great scientific medicine. Although new to the people, it is a great com bination of health-giving medicines, and cures when all else fails. It puri fies the blood, stimulates the action of the liver, bowels, and kidneys, there by removing poisonous bacteria (or germ) matter from the whole system, to aid nature in her work of restoring perfect health. It tones up the stomach and gives appetite. It is unfailing in the cure of all stomach, bowel, and kidney troubles. The nervous system is restored to its normal condition, and many of the most serious ailments —such as sleeplessness, heart trouble and the like —yield to the healing virtues of the Invigorator. In fact, it acts on every organ of the body, thereby curing nearly all the different diseases of this age. Every drop of blood is affected and puri fied by its use. The blood is the life, therefore if you get the blood pure, all parts of the entire system will be brought under its powerful heal ing influences. Antiseptic Invigorator is rightly named, and it is one of the greatest germ killers and invigorating tonics now on the market For sale and GUARANTEED By all Druggists. Price 50c and >I.OO per bottle. If your Druggist don’t keep it and will not get it for you we will send it, express prepaid, on receipt of price. Pitts’Antiseptic Invigorator Co. Thomson, Georgia. Change of Name Having purchased the interest of the Estate of SAMUEL TANNAHILL and disposed of the stock of general hard ware to the Augusta Hardware Co., I will resume my old business of CARRIAGES, HARNESS, SADDLERY, CAR RIAGE and WAGON MATERIAL, LEATHER, SHOE FINDINGS, GUM BELTING, GANDY AND LEATHER (BELTING. THE LARGEST STOCK of DOUBLE and SINGLE LEATHER BELTING in the city. LACING, RIVETS, etc. AGENTS for STUDEBAKER WAGONS and MOYER j BUGGIES; the best in the world, and moderate in price. The liberal patronage extended the old firm will be appre ciated by the undersigned. Joseph H. Day 729 BROAD STREET. AUGUSTA, GA. 15