The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-15

Lot y, Giles map. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 70
Lots 81 S. S. map a lots, West New York SIS
AMERICAN INTERESTS ON THE SEAS.
The Congressional Investigation Into the
Condition and Requirements Of Our Mcr-
chant Marine.
The Congressional Committee on American Navi-
cation Interests, appointed by resolution OF March
~ to inquire into and report the Of the great
reduction In American tonnage engaged In foreign
trade and the great depression Of the navigation
interests Of the country, met according to adjourn
ment in the Custom House, this morning at eleven
O'Clock.
There were present Of the committee-Chairman.
John Lynch, Maine; James Burlington, Massa-
chusetts @. @. Washbum. Wisconsin; Mr.. MOrreil
Pennsylvania; N. B. Judd, Illinois; w. 8. Holman
Indiana; Erasus Wells, Missouri, and G. W. H0tch-
kiss, New York. There was also present q COM
mittee representing the shpowners' and Captains
Cooperative Association or New YOrk-namely, A.
A. Snow, +. HmcKen, G. A. Brett, J. w. Elwell and
william Nelson.
The Maine interests were also represented by a
delegation, the chairman Of which was Mr.. HIGH
born.
Mr.. A. A. SNOW, on behalf of the shipowners OF
New York, requested the committee to recommend
free trade in ships and the material for them, as
brought from foreign Shores SO that we could come
IN competition with European handwork. II our
shpowners could buy or make their ships as cheap
as foreigners we could run them as cheap; but the
fact otherwise since the war, on account OF the
duties imposed by Congress on the Importation Of
material. law should be passed by Congress
allowing us to buy ships free in England or any
where. Though 1t costs 10 sail ships, STILL
with that advantage the superiority OF masters
and men will carry us through difficulty. We ask
the privilege OF buying our ships where we can get
them. We here cannot compete with the skilled
labor of the old country. We are not allowed to
take goods out OF bond as foreigners are, and we
are Mt great disadvantage IN al lines except in the
regular line between here and England.
Mr.. HAYDEN OF the delegation representing
ship interests OF Maine said we need TO place our
insure place with other nations. When it ID known
that we can construct fleet rapidly we are safe.
government should oHer bounty to American ship
builders and foster American Interests IL the dis.
ablties imposed by Congress are removed we can
go on; otherwise We sink.
Mr. READ. q gold broker from Broad street, said
that the entire trouble was IN the currency. We
cannot compete With other Powers in any thing with
our currency worth thiry cents less on the dollar
| than theirs.
Mr.. HAYDEN took the noor again. He said that be-
fore the war ships could be built In the United States
| as cheap as they were Ia Europe; yet the price OF
adopt liberal registration OF foreign vessels, small
duties or none and the drawback taken away from
PROSPER NJ. wErMoRE said that II Congress had
granted letters of marque IN the late war Us they
1id IN 1917, we would nave driven me marine 20, OF
cannot to-day sail for Europe or send letter there
without the aid of steamer bearing foreign nag.
However, II Congress would grant subsidies 10
| ocean steamers things would be different
Mr.. HIcHBosN. President Of the Maine shipowners'
Association, stated the ulliculte3 under which the
shipowners OF Name were iaporlng IRON the opera
ton OF the tariff upon the various materials enter
Maiue which before the war built vessels for every
nation, Is now dependent On small AID precarious
orders from lew ports Mt home. Twciiflhs OF her
yards are idle and IN those that are working the
business of shpbuildng has dwnd!ed to very small
pfopoitohs. iakih9 u NATIONAL view OF Tue cues
latlve wisdom could devise should he taken to
| restore the American flag to IFS pristine pre-
| the tonnage Of this country reached higher
| figure than that of Great Britain. Ships were built
and sent In ballast to Liverpool TO be sold. trade
| In ships was established. TINS country would have
| gone along supplying the carrying demands OF Its
own and selling its superior aud cheaper
workmanship to The nations of the world. But
very great reverse has occurred In these short years.
| New York day before yesterday forty-three were
foreign bottoms This indeed is startling evidence
| Of the inroad made upon the mercantile marine
OF America. IL Is Illuminating enough that we
| have to employ foreign vessels to carry
the produce OF the country abroad, but
country that all the money PAID ID freights to
owners OF foreign vessels SHOULD go from without
exchange would not be thus heavily against us but
as long as those laws commune which practically
hbit our competing with foreign shlpbulders,
long viii the American marine continue to decline.
Maine is shipbuIiing state par ercetence. IL has
the resources IN timber, in yards ready and ample
enough for any emergency In skilled mechanics aud
hardy, trained sailors lie did not ask the COM
mittee TO help them by interfering with
| could easily perceive how the needed ASSISTANCE
could be rendered; how the letters could be taken
| or them by the recognized policy OF allowing draw.
back these materials that the shpbulidtng bust
| ness require Some think that the time for wooden
| vessels is past. Taat Ia mistake. He saw an
instance in Boston where British built iron vessel
81 slde ana tas former Was Of course, s more lore
freight to Melbourne, Australia. Both started
Tor The same destination together, but toe wooden
I vance OF the other and the merchant who sent his
cargo by her saved all the cost OF the freight by the
and sailing vessels viii never go out OF date. they
| Will always be demanded by the wants OF commerce.
There was another thing which helped to drive
American shipping from competition with foreign,
namely the rates Of insurance. Where ID Clyde butt
vessel VIII only be charged two and half per
| insurance an American wooden ship will have more
than double the rate pay, and shippers charged
In the same proportion, locy which, Of course,
1 chartered. British capital controls the marine
insurance OF the world aud is employed In this way
| to snl furtner cripple American commerce on the
ocean.
MIR. Hichbom earnestly asked the committee to
commerce. twenty-five years ago we built ships
cheaper than any other nation Our difficulties
began with she war. The disabilities imposed at
that time by Congress have broken us down. Now
we ask Congress TO pass laws just granted to
other nations by their Legislatures Our ships cost
seventy-eight dollars ton. Across the line In
Canada they only cost about forty dollars ton And
then the two are brought into competition in New
| York ports II Congress VIII unfetter us and allow
us to import iron, ac we can build as cheap other
| nations. We are more inventive ana have better
mechanics. The advantage OF building here IS, that
| five build IN Europe our seamen and captains
would naturally be foreigners. with no interest IN
| the American flag.
| Mr.. WErMoRE spoke on the advantage OF wooden
| over iron vessels. saying that two-tnirds Of the
| steamers lost at sea were iron.
The Congressional Committee accepted the invita-
ton rendered them 10 visit the docks and shpyards