The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-21

country, and II the people call upon him to
rule her destines in time of peace, their con-
fdence is only Level with his merit.
Maine Shipbuiiders' Convention.
-.... BATH, Dec. 20, 1867
TO Che Editor Of the Press:
1t may as well be understood in the outset
that the Maine Shipbuilders and Shipowners'
Association is not composed OF trained par
Lamentations. In matters of mere form, the
stout ruddy-f ,ced men who asse bled IN Col
un1biau Hall yesterday were all at sea and Ia
bored heavily. None of the officers of the
Association, except the treasurer, were pres
emit at the meeting yesterday afternoon, and
there was at first considerable difficulty in
finding a temporary chairman. After several
nominations, Mr.. Edwin Reed, steam tug
among the feet of heavy merchantmen, under
took that duty, and Capt G.. Q. Goss, mild
eyed son of Neptune. was chosen secretary
pro tempore.
Atemporary organization being thus effect
ed, gentlemen proceeded at once to discuss or
rather talk over the important interests which
had brought them together. The clearness and
brevity with which the speakers approached
ties were at last swept out of the way, were
admirable. 1t was like the launching of a
ship-infnite bother and confu sion till the
last block was knocked out of the way, and
then a strong. steady, irresistible movement
straight forward, turning neither to port or
starboard. ~ s.a vlf SIS F.al
Hon. d. G. Bailey of Bath suggested several
important topics which ought to engage the
attention of the Association. 1. Whether the
remission of duties and taxes will fully restore
the prosperity of our shipping interest. q
Whether, if the cost of cur vessels should be
reduced to the cost in st. John, for instance,
that is, to one third of the present cost, we
we could employ three times our present ton
mage SO proftably as we now employ the ton
mage we have. 8. Where the tax from which
the shipbuilders want to be relieved, is to be
laid. 4. Why depend on foreign inspectors to
rate American vessels g-s..,...t ...e
Hon. N. G.. Hiohborn of Stockton replied that
the object of the present meeting should be
in his opinion, to support the propositions
now before Congress-. Our shipbuilders labor
under double disadvantage. The British
Provinces allow drawback on imported ship
building materials and collect an export
duty on such materials going abroad. In the
United States, our shipbuilders have to pay
on materials from the Provinces both their ex-
port duty and our own import duty. They
are heavily taxed on materials produced at
home. Then the ship is taxed at valuation
swollen by these previous taxes aud duties;
then comes a tax of 30 cents q ton for the
privilege of using property which has already
nd llu In
should after all secure any income, he is
taxed on that. With all this burden of taxa
ton, our shipping is obliged to compete with
foreign vessels, and TO accept such rates as
they can live by. Other manufacturers charge
their duties and taxes to the consumer,
but shipbuilders from the nature of the case
cannot, and therefore ask for drawback and
release from tonnage dues. Sixty or seventy
per cent. of all outgoing ships sail from this
little State of Maine, with a valuation of only
100 millions. We propose to have these taxes
taken off and saued by the government Zap
prevail We ask no protection but simply
to be unfettered, and while the wool interest
and the whisky interest are represented in
Washington we think it proper that the ship
ping interest should be. We want to be indie
matter of inspection but in construction and
insurance.
Hon. John Hayden of Bath, thought it
would be necessary to show Congress that this
isa matter of national and not merely of local
interest The nation wants peace with all the
world, and to secure peace a powerful navy
and to provide for. an efficient navy a large
mercantile marine in which sailors can be
trained. The nation wants a share in the car
rying trade of the world. The guano islands
have been regarded as so rich a source of reve-
nue. to Peru, that Spain undertook to steal
them; but the guano never paid Peru so much
per ton as it has paid to the ships that carry it.
The guano trade is worth more than the
guano itself. If American shipping is set free,
it will secure a liberal share of the worlds
business, adding to the wealth OF the nation
and contributing proportionally to the pay
ment of our national obligations. The Ameri-
can commercial marine has been reduced one
half 1t is time for Congress to think of its
restoration. Take off these tonnage dues and
substitute for them light dues, such as are col
lected by all other commercial nations.
Mr.. Hichborn resumed, saying we do not ask
flyors but justice of Congress. The West is
interested in this matter. The West is moving
heaven and earth to secure increased facilities
for the transportation her products to the sea-
board, and when they reach the seaboard they
need outside transportation just as much, and
ought to goin American bottoms. The danger
at Washington is not of opposition but of neg
lect. Secretary McCulloch is Maine man and
deeply interested in this movement. Mr.
orf1a Ill 49, e 4 A.. r
the Treasury Department., is Maine man. If
we present the facts to these gentlemen, we
shall encounter no selfish opposition.
Mr.. John I'll. Kimball of Bath read some ex-
tracts from recent article by the Veteran
Observer" regular contributor to the New
York Times. The V. o. argues that because
the whole number of vessels built in the Unit
ed States in 1866 was 1888 and 1925 in 1858,
and in Maine 226 in 1866 and 167 in 1858, Sec
rotary McCulloch must be mistaken in sup
posing that the shipbuilding interest is de-
pressed Mr.. Kimball thought the spirit of
this article represented the general feeling at
the West. They don't believe we are suffer-
ing and don't care anything about foreign
trade. The weak point in the veteran OBJ
servers" argument is his selection of the num-
OSf VI VesseiS lHSCeau OI tne tonnage Dullb IN
the two years chosen for comparison.
Mr.. Hayden remarked that in 1858 we had a
afull supply of tonnage and building was nat
urally dull. In 1866 the supply was short and
every yard ought to have been busy.
Mr.. Hichborn said 1857 was bad year; there
was no money to build with in 1858. In 1853
the market had been glutted with vessels.
AT this stage of the discussion the chair an
nounced that letters had been received from
tne PRESIDENT of the Association, Hon. VIM.
~. oewah of Bath, and from the Secretary Mr..
Charles .. Fobes of Portland. The letter from
Mr.. Sewall was dated in April last, and declin-
ed the office OF president to which he had Just
been elected. The letter from Mr.. Fobes apol-
ogized for his unavoidable absence and ten
dereG his resignation of the Office of secretary
Capt. w. Ryan of Portland and Capt. John
PATTI of Bath were appointed committee to
nominate candidates for the offices thus vacat-
ed. t. r-. ~ .-.......
A committee on resolutions, consisting of
Capt Jarvis Patten, Capt. John Hayden,
Capt. 7. j. Stewart, Hon. N. G.. Hichborn,
Capt. Geo. A. Prebe, and Mr.. Edwin Reed,
was then appointed. The committees were
directed to report at the evening session,
and the meeting adjourned till half past seven.
F.. .-a EVENING SESSION.
The proceedings in the evening were OPEN
ed formally by reading the bylaws of the As
ISOLATION and the proceedings of the last meet