New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-15
AMERICAN MITIGATION INTERESTS
THE INQUIRY OF THE SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL
CoMMITTEE-vIEWS OF HIP-OWNERS AND

THE INQUIRY OF THE SPECIAL CONGRESSMAN
COMMITTEE-vIEwS OF sHIP-oWNERS AND
sHIP-BUILDERS.
The Select Committee on the Decay of
American Commerce" appointed by resolution Of the
House of Representatives In March last TO inquire into
and report session OF Congress the cause
great reduction in American tunnage engaged In the
eign carrying trade and great depression OF the nayga
ton interests OF the country and also to report what
measures are necessary TO increase our ocean tunnage
revive our navigation interests and regain for our c0u
try the relative position held among nations as
great maritime Power" met yesterday morning
az the Custom House for the purpose OF consult
ing WITH and taking the testimony Of persons Interested
in the carrying trade. The Committee are the Hon. John
Lynch Of Maine, Chairman Messrs James Burlington OF
Massachusetts; G. c. washburn Of Illinois; G. W. Hotch-
kiss of New YORK; b. Judd OF Illinois; IL 8 Holman OF
Indiana; D. j. Morrill, of Pennsylvania; H. C. calkins Of
NewYork and Erastus welles of Missouri There were
present yesterday morning Messrs. Lynch Burlington,
Morrill, welles, Calkins, and Holman The New.Y York
Ship Owners Association were represented by its Pres
There were also present Mr. Htchborn President of the
Maine ship owners Association the Hon John H. Hay.
owner, and Prosper NJ. wetmore Of this city.
Ing was entirely informal and wished full expression
Of their views Mr. Ambrose Snow was the fret speaker
Ne said that the had settled down to the be-
would be free navigation law The passage OF such
law in England had been one OF her principal AIDS IN
the event that Great Britain should refuse us partio
T in her Sn nnsf5 Gh OSn Hs
them up in ports. think the conclusion our Amer
S Tesss PTOpeSy The
ships stores Is good thing. Now SHIP N England
lessons the cost OF them very much We have thought
that such system might be encouraged here with proh
The shpchanders trade IN this country has been almost
spoiled II is really fact that the laws governing
our commerce require modification they require nrs-
class talent TO brought examination Of them IL Is
fha NJ
nations In England few years ago when an American
ship laid ON the OF SGG S S soods n a M
finest OF them. Now an American ship gets nothing but
in the STYLE of ships that they irst-cIass
carrying nat09 From nrstcia's carrying nation We
Mr. Brett a member OF the ship0wner's Association,
gave as his opinion that the ayngn OF ships stores on
than to the shipOwner We lay in all small stores
on the other side, and think If you look at the dis
will ind TINT they are confined TO tho barest
articles of necessity In answer ,S to the
master in foreign ports In provisioning his ships stands
on the same footing IN the purchase III s19Ge ne replied
1t is advantage In national point OF view, TO build
maS better # we could build our ships here Every ar
tce that enters into the running OF the snip cheaper
the other side than IL is here On account OF the
superior ability Of Americans masters OF ships aud
although they much higher wages TO the crews than
cessfully compete with other nations. Foreign aud
American vessels engaged in the same trade between
here and where the former do not get the nd
vantage Of the bonded warehouse system are on pre-
csely the footing There doubt OF our being
able TO sail ships successful competition with those
OF foreigI>nations, II we can buy them as cheap as
they do.
rstclass ship could be built In England for Rli per
tun The same ship built in this country. TO rate for
wooden ship considered be about years but by
repairs they may be made 70 last 20 years The iron ship
Price in &c gold, that they do in England.
Mr. Hayden Of Maine thought that the proper course
10 be pursued by Congress was TO allow drawback on
all iron copper chains, anchors and rigging used ia the
construction OF ship and then our vessels would be
also thought that 1t very important, national
point of view that we have 1t In our power by having
sailors to man them, to successfully cope with any
nation in naval warfare. bodybuilding in Name he said
has been poor as at present am now building
ply TO keep my men supplied with work There are at
where one is granted. BY the Chairman-Do you know
whether the builders Of Government roncad vessels are
as informed, they able do it. In 1850, the
shpbuildng interests IN Maine suddenly Increased Our
greatest years, 1853 aad 1854 They
in Of ships the other sde and they discovered
that SSd s Id b ne b eass aRd @ in
numbers for foreign captalistsi A. No, sr, not con.
~ Saast So 20 he Sold BY ts MASTERY What
the S present oondon q the sRp ss ntcS
sss about Of our capacity at Wors
This year The wages Of shiP6uilders at the present
s. So think maehinists such Would be employed on
iron ships are receiving from 50 30 a per dem O.
How did the average rate Of then compare with
the present A. IL would not IS cents to-day from
the average OF years before the The duty on
ship about ss tun, the hull spars and rigging On
iron ships about 80 t2 per tun q Do think those
amounts would place you an equal with foreign
tiOnsi A. Yes, sir. On iron ships am so well In.
formed On wooden ships IL would do It..
Mr.. Prosper NJ. WetinOre then gave the Committee his
views on snbsidizing American steamer lines carrying
the mails He thought that when the Government gave
reasonable subsidy 10 ocean steamers IL would be
happy day for the Of the country We
to-day he said send letter TO any nation Of Europe
without borrowing the foreign steamer 10 IT, do
NOT think that IL credable the spirit aud enterprise
OF the people this age. He thought IL OF the
estmporance that our bodybuilding Interests should be
cla point of view but that Ia the event OF with any
great power shipbuilders would be In condi'
ton 20 supply US with navy. The Committee then adj
t0urDed until 10 a. to-day.