The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-16

ing up her rank in the council Of nations, her political
Meesrs Golden and Bright yet at the head of the
government OF England
TIE GREAT FREE TRADE MONUMENT.
Merchant Shipping Trade and DiHeren-
In the House Of Commons the slst Of January Mr..
LINDSAY moved for q select committee TO inquire
operation Of the burdens and restrictions especially AZ
fectpg merchant shipping and OF the following statues
The 9Th and 10Th Of Victoria cap 9 act for compen
satrg the families of persons killed by accidents the
Merchant Shipping act, Q854D the Merchant Shipping
act Qs55) the Passenger act Qs5S) and the Chinese
Passenger act, ls66) committee was appointed, he
but owing to the sudden dissolution Of Parliament no re-
suit had followed. The object OF the committee he
moving for was to inquire into the actual condition Of the
British shipping interest, which he sorry 10 say had
for come time past suffered from great depression and
examine generally the GAUGES Of that depression For his
part however, felt that these were 80 ap
parent that Only very limited inquiry would be neces.
ssry. He wanted TO know what the different govern
ments which had been in power since 1850 had done to
obtain that reciprocity which the British shpowner had
right 70 expect. CHEERS from the opposition He feared
tnat the various governments had not exerted them
selves as they might 10 induce foreign nations 10
allow ships TO enter their ports the as
their ships were allowed to enter ports Cheers from
the opposition For many years treaties Of reciprocity
had existed between this country and the United States
and before 1860 their chips admitted to ports
exactly the same terms as our ships admitted to
their ports But after the repeal OF the Navigation laws
ports in India and Australia opened 10 ships of
the United States and in 1854 threw open the whole Of
our coastipg trade The right honorable member for Ok
ford said that he e not only sanguine but perfectly Ger
tain that after the act of 1854 the United States would
throw open their coastng trade TO Six years had
passed and the Americans still retained their coastug
trade and still excluded ships The voyage from New
York TO California quite long and quite as difficult
ships were Obliged 70 pass the shores Of various foreign
nations, and therefore, in its strict technical meaning 1t
was not So asst But the americans , not only
loading at New York with portions Of cargo for Rio Bahia
Valparaiso, and the remainder for California,
were excluded. He could only touch upon
the leading features Of subject conpre-
ton to that Of lights He knew that many Honorable
members held strong opinion that the shpowners
derived the benefit they ought TO maintain the lights
The question had often been discussed, and it
amined very fully by a committee in 1916, which
the late Mr. Hume presided and OF which the noble lord
mtee reported that these charges should betrayed out
Of The consolidated fund.- and that the debt incurred by
the Trinity House should be undertaken by the public
The noble lord now at the head OF the government
voted in favor of that resolution At that time
the s bssn Of Id,
rived much benefit from that protection, but If was
right to recommend the removal OF those burdens them
surely, it much more so now that shipping was
exposed 10 competition. Surely, If invite other
tons to trade freely with ought to them of
the dangers which surrounded our shores without taxing
them for the Knowledge. Other nations far before
in this resrect. The United States Of America had
charged our shipping visiting their ports single
ports had paid less than 1884 coo light dues the
years from 1910 to 1850 If redressed this inequality
we should certainly have better obtaining re-
cprocity from the United States.
Mr. HoRsrAI, in secondiDg the notion said he agreed
with the hon. gentleman by whom it was made, in the
in the views with respect to reciprocity 10 which he had
given expression well as in those which related to the
necessity which existed for the removal OF the burdens
shipping and the operation alto Of Lord Ca%pbes act
spirit Of hostility to the motion before the House, he
afraid its terms not such as to the commit
to set at rect complaints which made from end
Of the Kingdom 10 the other As to the OF those
upon the subject which had taeen place In May last hon
members on both sides the House, the representatives Of
great as well as small maritime constituencies wore unan
in their opinion that cloud heavier than that
which the experience Of any former year re:
vealed then hung over British shipping He quoted
sr.. R o. the general condition " Of TIC shipping
interest," and the great preponderance Of French
Dutch and other foreign ships over British tonnage in the
iope ss Competition American, French and Spas
iresh.s 'n'f The shpowners did not say, :" Ea.
force reciprocity 60 back and avail yourselves Of your
look system Of dierenal duties to which ships
subject In foreign porte, al but excluding from
their trade and y whether something cannot be done 70
far France concerned that the prospect i'm
proving the Emperor was disposed TO hold the hand
Of reformer guided by judicous and intelligent mind.
He hailed this indication that the time far
distant when France would be encouraged follow tho
example ehown in this country, urged BY the remon-
the Foreign Office 10 address TO her, when shipping
would participate in the benedu of prosperous commerce.
and when the golden threads Of friendly interchange
would be into band of amity. At present We
had 10 compete with foreign ships having dferential
duties in their favor. America excluded US from her
coaspg trade, covering voyage Of five thousand miles
10 San Francisco. That could not be called In any
equitable sense Of the term coastipg voyage; SO,
what became Of the voyage from New York
TO Aspinwa--was that TO DO held coast.
ing uadep The ehipowners said In the spirit OF
tree trade, tAt meet fair and equal terms,
will throw open Canadian coating trade; throw
open yours' They did not camor for something evan
escent and paltry when they sought admission TO this
vast field OF profitable employment in the American coast
pg trade. Their exclusion from Il virtually excluded
them from much Of the foreign trade as we'll Hs did
not therefore, ask too much when he asked that the
British fhipowners might 90 before select committee 10
their wrongs and hear from that tribunal whether
their grievances such Providence only could help
but no legislative remedy could heal.
Mr.. CRAWFORD, who had given notice Of his intention
the appointment Of select committee ITO inquire
INTO the condition Of the commercial marine, and the
operations Of any legal enscmen@ And peculiar burdens
affecting the same explained that he had given that
notice the request or large body OF shpOwners who
met In The city Of London In the month Of November last
and expressed his satfacon that the result OF the ballot
by placing the motion Of his honorable friend the
Sunderland nret upon the paper had relieved
from the task which he had undertaken and had placed
the direction Of the committee, II should be appointed
The hands Of that honorable gentleman The honorable
and learned gentleman who moved The amendment hai
advcrted In terms which not In the slightest degree
prise which would be opened 10 If could get footing
the American coastng trade The real state Of the case
vs that the depression Of other trades had driven all the
American ships into that one and had DOW become As
unremunerative any other, being one proof among
many that protection never beneficial 10 any interest
(hear bear Notwithstanding the earnest endeavor Of
NE honorable and learned member for soutnampson Y
lights, local duee passing tolls, timber duties and the