The New York herald., 1869-12-17
AMERICAN SHIPPING.

Meeting of the Chamber OF Commercial
Memorial the Subject Of the Decline in
American Commerce to BE Submitted 10
Congress.
special meeting Of the Chamber Of Commerce
was held at one ?. NJ yesterday take up the sub
ject of the majority and the minority reports OF the
special committee appointed to consider and report
upon the causes of the decline OF American COM
morce and the remedles.n These reports, as will be
remembered were published In full in the HERALD,
IN connection with the proceedings Of the previous
meeting, at which time they were presented,
Messrs. A. A. Low and Paul n spofford submitting
the majority report and Captain Ambrose Snow the
minority report. There was an unusually large at.
tendance Of members a. yesterdays meeting Mr.
William Z. Dodge presiding.
The PRESIDENT stated briefly the object OF the meet
ing, after which communication heretofore pub.
lshed In the HERALD was read from the New York
Association Tor Improvement Of American Com
merce, and the same ordered ON file.
Mr.. Low spoke at considerable length urg ing the
adoption OF his report ana the resc u,ions submltte
IN connection WIN H. He first read an
eoioiia' Hom an evening paper on the
cent exposure In court OF certain acts oil Senator
Morton, and reierrngto the motives of certain men,
bers Of the Chamber OF Commerce VINO were drec-
tors or steamship companies, and thus desired sub.
sides. lie denied that, so Tar as he was concerned
he actuated by any private interests or expected
10 be beneited by such subsidies. lie cared not
whether subsidies or bountes were granted
the latter OF which were recommended In the
minority repou-but he was opposed to
throwing open our coastwise trade to the
government which had been so bitterly hos
Tile 70 American interests during the late war; lie
insisted subsidies for steam vessels exclusive OF
sailing vessels because the day OF ealing vessels
sbapp SaS pas n, thirty ei ana o I years ago mer a
! themselves singy, but these things were now
| ARRANGED differently. shipments we're ordered by
telegraph, and the cargoes comprising the ORDERS
OF a number Of IpercnanIs were placed on steam
ships as alordln1 the spesdiest transit. He in
| iavor OF buying ships Tree OF duty provided sucn
| vessels did not engage IN the coastwise trade. As
an act oil justice he thought government should
| grant subsidy to the Pacific Mail Steamship COM
pany Tor carrying tie mails between san Francisco
aud China, ldasmuch az that ne had been 30 greatly
| injured by the Pacific Railroad. As the case stood
England was last absorbing The maritime commerce
| oil the world. lie would remedy this by subsidies
not alone to lines TO be built, but to those already In
existence.
Captain Snow replied to Mr.. Low giving the
grounds upon which he urged the adoption Of his
report.
Messrs Ex.Mayor opdyke, Mr.. IIenneken, s. H.
ChltteudeD, X. Is. Buck. Chas H. Marshall and others
followed In speeches and con-, wnen the resolu-
tons embodied IN the majority report were adopted.
| Jhe substance OF the resolutions thus adopted "A
tnat foreign built steamers may be imported free OF
duty and privileged 10 carry the American nag pro
| vided they are American owned and not 10 be en-
ployed In our coastwise trade iron plates aud
such other material for the construction Of vessels
! a. may be deemed advisable be admitted free OF
uuty; That on all ship stores procurabe in bond
1 drawback be returned IA upon goods shipped for
sale to ioregn lands, and that ample subsidies he
granted TO lines OF steamers bullt IN American
| yards-to the end that a compeliton with powerful
| foreign organizations may be successfully inaugu-
rated and sustained.
| ON motion committee OF three was appointed 10
IN memorial, ana submit the Same at m early day
J 10 CoR2ress.