The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-09
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.

JUL mEnO0hNx W1hxuGs
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The Shipping MISUNDERSTANDING of the Ship
Owners Observation-Disclosures Facts I'm
Rotation to Shipbuilding-Discus on
the Navigation Laws.
A stated meeting Of the Ship Owners Association
was held yesterday afternoon at the rooms OF the
association No. SO Pine street. In the absence of
the president, Mr.. Gustayus A. Brett was called upon
to preside. small amount OF routine business was
disposed Of after which the special order or bust
ness was taken up. This was the consideration Of
the needed modification aud revision OF the navga-
ton laws, with the purpose OF coming to an under
standing on the feasibility OF memorializng Con-
gress to repeal much OF the law as now prevents
American citizens from purchasing ships wherever
they do to the best advantage, and from sail
ing them under the American nag.
The discussion was opened by Mr.. JAMES w.
ELwBLI. who stated that he came to the meeting
wath the intention only Of being listener and pro-
fitting by what he might hear IN relation to the ques
ti0n. He believed that all interested In shipping
would be united on some course OF action and that
the association should look at the matter seriously,
take broad view Of the question and lay It before
the shipping interest Of the country. He gave 1t
his impression. after mature consideration that the
steam marine Of the nation is lessened year BY year.
States scarcely keeps up with other nations. The
fact could DO judged from this city, once go noted
for It's shipbuding, where now there is not vessel
OF any respectable size being built.
The Chairman tMr. BRErr) read from the report Of
Mr.. McCullOch, as Secretary Of the Treasury. the
opinions expressed by him In relation to the ship
ping interest, in which he recommended the exemp-
ton OF shipbuildin0 material from taxation. and
the Chairman stated that the views expressed by
Mr.. McUulioch were similar to those entertained BY
the association.
ship owners have IN view Is liberty to purchase ships
wherever they Can be best procured and be made
nationsi He thought that urging repeal Of the o6,
the taxauOn on shpDuilding material. In New
Brunswick, he said, ships can be built for about
Maine. He nstanCed those places because there was
but little more than creek dividing them.
M. BRETT said ne knew that ship could be built
ton IN gold; while on the other side OF the river
with the very same materials and BY the same mas
tor builders, the cost would be about fortynve dol
lars
Mr.. WILLIAM NELSON, Jr.. said he thought they
ought to have right to invest their money where
yer they chose, and that the law In regard to ships
and shipping was the only one on the statute book
prohibiting such an investment He instanced the
had an entire new deck put his ship for which In
this city he would be obliged to pay fully $2eoo In
London he SAID afss the Soss OF the ,,s or
ports which were lying ldle and could be bought
very reasonable. The purchase however, could not
be made by an American so that the vessels would
san under the American dag, and some Germans
stepped in, bought the ships and prOfted BY the
TRANSACTION He thought that asking for the passage
OF any drawback laws was not enough The ship
builder was really manufacturer without prOtec.
ton. He then went on to recount the difference in
the cost OF material now and what 1t was some few
years ago. Provisions wages metal, material OF all
sort largely increased In price and yet the snip
owners are expected to compete with those OF other
nattonalites, who run without any OF these dead
weights He thought that to lay the matter before
the shipping interest the association would be
Interest iefI lie IS ssdMWe cannot ask psope to
invest IN business n Which there y nothing
IN government securities and obtain return Of at
least six per cent IN gold, and they cannot be in
duced to Invest In q business which did not bring
7S on the Statue books as block 70 mari
time progress. He said that now the American nag
was flying over not more tnan two-htns OF the mer-
nftbs. He knew OF the case Of citizen Of Texas
who imported the machinery. iron plates and other
lSr new n mao o ns eq IN
denied on the ground that the vessel was English
bulltn
MT. ELwBLL said that an Al CLYDE built ron ship,
with twenty one years. register and with complete
East India outfit could be contracted for at the rate
Of fourteen pounds sterling per ton The outfit In
Guided Is more liberal than the ship filters here are
in the habit OF giving. A similar vessel built OF
wood. with only nine years. register metN bottom,
dollars less per ton in currency.
MI. SANDFoRp Secretary Of the association then
which we Were sSoped by the Board Of Trade Which
convened at Ctnclnnatt last wlnter:-
Rssoved Tina. the Estion. Board Of Trade ctfuy
enactment 81 such Of relief to the foreign and do
mss.e Of t6s Unsd States sh.l enable .
thereby permit the Of merchant marine
Sss nsd 1a
Resolved That this National Hoard o. Trade representing
to Congress the enactment Of such laws a. WIN allow Amer
Of Is. .s the IS
or BY steam, that may be required for commercial
or enrolment American Gag payment Of liked
duty on their co. And DO further recommend that bounty
manufacture entering into the construction OF vessels bu
would have paid upon materials had they been
imported from foreign countries
which American has ons sSored and q the s
os' ns 81 s
least by preferences In carrying the mails and by liberal
compensation for the same.
Mr.. ELwELL then moved that committee Of 1--WE
be appointed by the chair to take the matter into
consideration confer with the committee appointed
by Congress, also with the committee appointed by
the National Board OF Trade and any other Organi-
cation which may be working for the same interests.
Mr.. ELwRLL said in other countries the ship0wner
Is allowed to buy materials free OF duty and taxa
ton. Here we have to pay duty on all materials and
consequently lose probably twO.thirds OF the trade
OF ships which 90 abroad, in consequence Of the
masters OF these vessels purchasing provisions and
having repairs done on the other side. Chains,
copper, provisions rigging, and, In fact all possible
material Is procured abroad.
|, Mr.. BRETT stated that he knew of a vessel which
was cleared for the st. Lawrence river while, IN
fact her destination was Cuba, but she was to 60 to
Canada simply to be coppered.
Mr.. ELwELL knew Of vessel belonging here which
was being rugged at Antwerp.
Mr.. NILSSON said he found 1t much more profitable
to procure al small stores and have repairs gen.
orally done on the other side.
The CHAIR then announced the ComInittee Of Con-
foron hi " Ir r
Elwe, Wilson, Snow and Brett.
Mr.. NELSON then read portions OF an article In re-
lation the fees collected by the Collector Of the
port which the Collector had lately been directed to
cease.
the CHAIR Mr. Brett) stated that the law in regard
TO those ices had really not been altered The asso-
citation had labored to have law passed declaring
all tax on vessels by States penal offence. The
payment OF the fees to the Collector rather TO the
cashier at the Custom House. has been voluntary on
the part OF the shipowners and has been done as
matter OF convenience, as the cashier was acting
only as the agent OF certain state officers.
Mr.. J. g. DALE said that those fees were to be
| paid he thought 1t was much better TO pay them all
at one time to the cashier at the Custom House.
Mr.. ELwELL said that he also thought the ship