The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-22
The Congregational Committee in Port.
land.

The special Congressional Committee upon
American Navigation Interests met at the
Custom House in this city, yesterday morn
ing at 10 O'Clock, Hon. John Lynch in the
CHAIR. The other members of the Commit
tee present were Messrs. Burlington of Mass,
Morrell of Penn, Wells of Missouri, Calkins
of New York. There was large attendance
OF the shipowners and shipbuilders of the
city and vicinity, besides several other gentle
men who are deeply interested in the COM
mercial interests of the State.
The Chairman first called upon Capt.
Washington Ryan, of the firm of Ryan &
Davis. Capt. Ryan said he had been much
interested in reading the reports of the testi-
mony given before the committee in other
cities and that he could agree with most of it.
He thought there was one point that had not
been dwelt upon. 1t was the deterioration of
the men who sail our ships. That the
officers and crews had been on a
down-hill road for several years. One
reason Of this had been owing to the
apathy of ship-owners who had not endeav-
Ored to improve the men who sailed their
ships. There was no association of the ship
owners but their motto had been "every one
for himself, and the dell take the hindmost."
There had never been meeting of the ship
owners OF the State since twenty years ago
When you appeal to them in regard to the
improvement Of the men there was no favor
able response. We suffered from the want of
Mercantile Marine Law. At present the off
GERS were like SO many Topseys, because there
was no regular examination to see if they
were properly qualified for their duties. He
then went on to explain the evils of the Ship
masters Association in New York. They
sent out printed forms to be filled up, and
required certificate from two acquaintance
OF the man desiring Captains berth stating
that he was capable, but there was ne examina-
ton. The harm OF such an arrangement there
fore consists in the supposition that proper
qualifying board exists where it dees not.
The certificate is simply matter of fees On
the strength of these certificates one-half
per cent. better risk could be obtained from
the Insurance companies. He recommended
the complete revision of the Marine Law by
practical men, and an adoption of such bill
as had been proposed by Senator Fish of
New York, some time ago. By the adoption
OF similar bill no man could be an officer
who had not passed proper examination.
Then again the question of discipline was an
troubles at sea were settled by courts of
law on land. This was wrong. No army
or navy officer would submit to such
thing. would have government COM
mission appointed for the whole Marine
of the country, consisting of three men
at least, two of whom should be practical sal
lors. The rates of insurance had increased
30 or 40 per cent. in the last fifty years, while
the dangers had been materially Iessened-
The system of carrying lights had been of
great use in avoiding collisions, although they
were of no avail in great storm. Respecta-
BILE young men in this country won't 90 to
sea now. They make voyage and are so
disguised with the system they give it up. In
foreign countries, however, the practice had
been, and is, to keep the best men at home
is our vessels are manned by the refuse sea-
men of other countries. What he desired
was government shipping office, where eve
nv seaman would be obliged to obtain Ger
tificate of character and ability, and where he
would be registered-an Inspector to be placed
on board each vessel before it proceeded 70
sea, to make examination of the men, and al
so a surgeon to see if they were in good
health, Ia most important matter since our
vessels were manned by so few hands, and be
would have them paid their wages at the gov
eminent office on their return. He thought
1t would induce respectable young men to
ship if they could have an interest in the
profits of the voyage, and also the captain,
and not to endeavor to make the captain a
mere navigator with no interest in the sue
cess Oh the vessel. He was not in favor of re-
pealing the navigation laws, but he was in
favor of drawback on materials Tn regard
to allowing foreign vessels TO nartic;ro+o in
our coastwise trade, he was opposed 70 tho
measure.
He thought that if Government allowed .
drawback on materials that, when the linz =,
railroad connecting Portland with the We,
was built, the commerce of the city would he
able to support line of steamers once montt
to Europe if properly subsidized He consd
cred that while our merchant marine had heel
deteriorating, that, by the laws relating to tn
service in England and other commercial coun
tries, theirs had been improving. He, himself
had been sailor twenty-eight years and
shipowner fifteen years.
Capt Joseph W. Dyer, who has been ship
builder of this city for many years, was tn
next speaker. He had no doubt the remission
of duties on material used in the construction
OF vessels would revive shipbuilding, an,
would enable the builders here to Compel
with foreign ones. He then spoke of the pa
ship carpenters received. From 1852 to 1856
their wages were $1,50 to So per day Nov
they received So per day. He didn't thin
there was any difference in the cost of labo