The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-25
OUR SHIPPING INTEREST.

{ OUR SHIPPING INTEREST.
| Congress, at its last session, appointed
d Committee to inquire into the cause
IF the decline Of American shipping in
Serests. The Committee, in the per
tormance Of their duty, lately held
4ession in Philadelphia, and had before
ihem the representatives of that inter
Asst, to give their views as to the cause
IF the decline. AS we think the views
# thesemen would be Of interest to our
leaders, we condense, from the papers
IF that city, the following -
! Mr.. F. r. Cope, on behalf of commit
lee of the Commercial Exchange, said that
The reason that the Americans could not
eompete successfully with the foreign YES
sells was either from the first cost of con-
struction and equipment or the expenses of
sailing. English iron vessels can be made
cheaper than American, and all vessels after
;being equipped, and on the seas, will re-
iceive the same rates from foreign ports to
iAmerica as an American vessel The main
however, appeared to be in the
samount of wages paid the crews. Some ten
FOR fifteen years ago American seamen re-
lceived SIS per month, and British sailors
f2 los, very nearly the same, now the for
mer receives $50 per month, and the latter
but e. Is. The great difficulty appeared
to be the high tariff which made the wages
high for every one. The lowering Of the
high tariff would remedy the evil, or a re-
turn to specie payments might lessen it, as
the high wages depend in a measure upon
the fuctuating value Of our currency. The
lessening of the duty on iron would not rem
edy the evil, as it would not affect the
wages.
Mr.. H. r. Edmunds, chairman of the
committee from the Vessel Owners and Cap
tains' Association, said that the association
was most Immediately interested in the coast
ing trade. The tax upon vessel began
when her construction was commenced, and
every single article that went into
her except wood was taxed. The tax upon
au iron vessel of 1000 tons is $40, 900. In
England, the tax is RENTED to the owner
and the builder, and if this plan was follow
ed in this country, thong h vessel could not
be built so cheaply here, yet the shippers
would rather build here.
Mr.. F. r. Cope stated that they had
vessel repaired in Liverpool at a cost consi-
derably more than one third less than it
could have been done here, Notwithstanding
that the wood and timber had to be taken
from this country for these repairs. This
was owing to the rates Of wages paid.
Mr.. Henry Winsor, of the Board of
Trade, attributed the decliue Of American
shipping to the introduction o. steam vessels.
Formerly we had superior models and great
er speed, and the officers and men more ef-
ficient, but since the introduction Of steam
these advantages had been, in some degree,
lost by the adoption of better models for
steam vessels by other countries, and the
improved character Of the officers AMI men.
To recover our position and obtain the car
rying trade, it is necessary for US to put
steam vessels on the ocean, but how this is
to be done is question for Congress. Dur
ing the war the English got possession of our
carrying trade, and it is very difficult to
Dust parties who have possession. He
thought that zoe tOere not tDillins to carry
off the carrying trade for the profits that
the merchants of other nations are sGtisf- |
ed sDith The rate Of interest is higher /
here, and there being so many profitable |
Investments open that during the lcar
many of our shipping merchants turned
their attention to other things.
Mr.. Crump said the introduction of steam
and iron vessels into the mercantile marine |
has been one of the causes of the decline of
the American shipping, and these vessels
are superior in almost every particular to
wooden vessels. The introduction of poll |
ties into the navy yard he regarded as
most crying evil-the meanest man through |
it often has more authority than the commo-
dore. At every change Of administration
men would leave him to work in the navy
yard, and it had demoralizing effect upon
the workmen in the business The Eight
Hour Law, he thought, had not benefited
the workmen in the slightest particular.
He thought that we could build vessels as
cheaply as they do in England and on the
Clyde, if all the taxes we're removed, the
difference in wages being equalized by the
of the American workman.
Even if drawbacks were allowed on foreign
materials, it would be preferable to build Of
our own material, as the form Of every plate
used should be found before being ordered,
and if ordered in other countries, greater
time would elapse before they could be re-
ceive1. If such drawbacks were allowed,
it would necessitate the using of foreign ma
terial, while American iron was far prefera-
bic for the purpose.
We have given the statements of
these men careful consideration, and
believe that portion of Mr.. WinsOr's
statement which we have italicized to
be the true cause Of the decline. Those
who were formerly ship-owners have