Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-12-15
OUR OCEAN COMMERCE
Shall Our Profit, Our Employment
and Skill Co Abroads
THE MEASURES NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.

Our readers are doubtless acquainted with the
action taken at the last session of Congress, in
relation to our Shipping Interests. A bill, ma
tured by the Special Committee on Navigation, OF
which Mr.. Lynch, of Maine, was Chairman, was
introduced in the House, discussed, and ably
defended, but failed to pass. 1t contained as
it's essential features:
l. Allowance of drawback, (equal to the
amount of duty,) on all imported ship-building
materials.
2. Allowance of bounty, equal to the duty, on
home-produced materials.
This bill, in the estimation of some of our
leading iron ship-building firms, would have
made them fully able to compete with the
builders Of Great Britain, in the construction OF
sea-going iron steamers, and would therefore,
have supplied vessels to our shipping owners at
prices which would have enabled them to COM
pete for the worlds freights.
ANOTHER BILL THIS SESSION.
As we have already said, the bill failed to pass,
but Mr.. Lynch, on the assembling of the present
session, has promptly re-introduced his bill, di-
tered objection. As now reported, it proposes
to restrict the drawbacks and rebates to vessels
employed in the foreign trade, restricts bounties
offered for building vessels to ships Of 1000 tuns
and more, and provides that il any vessel which
is built under the provisions of this bill is used
for more than three months in the American
coasting trade owners shall refund to the Govern
ment the amount received as drawback and
bounty. The bill is referred to the Committee
on Commerce, with the consent of Mr.. Lynch,
who Is in faver of aconference of the Commerce,
Ways and Means, and Special Committees. What
its success will be remains to be seen.
THE FREE TRADERS OPPOSED.
The Free Traders, however, do not want our
American builders to be made able to furnish the
ships in which to revive American Commerce.
Two Of the members elected by the New York
importers, and foreign shipping agents, Messrs.
repeal our Navigation Laws and allow ships built
in foreign lands to be registered under the
American flag. Mr.. Reeves bill provides
NH. REEVES BILL.
"That from Jan. l, 1871, to Jan. /, 1881, citi-
zens of the United States may purchase and
import into the ports thereof, on certain condi-
tions, iron and composite foreign-built vessels
for the foreign carrying trade, restricting such
vessels to the following classes sailing vessels,
to be wholly Of iron, and to be not less than
1900 tons measurement composite sailing ves-
sells, to be not less than 300 tons steam vessels
to be wholly of iron, and to be not less than
1000 tons composite steam vessels, to be not
will be required to give bond, to be approved
by the Secretary Of the Treasury, with sureties
in double the amount Of sworn cost, that they
shall not engage in the coaBtwise trade between
ports of the United States"
This bill is. as will be seen, made less objec-
tionable than others of the same character. The
free importation of ships is only to continue one
year, and only to apply to large-sized iron ships,
for ocean service. But its principle, which in
tends to throw overheard our own mechanics,
and give to the employers and workmen Of Great
Britain, what ought to be given to those OF
America, is wrong.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
Let Congress pass Mr.. Lynch's bill, and we
can build American iron ships, at such prices as
will insure fair competition for the worlds COM
merce. Our workmen will have the money in
their pockets, isstead of having it sent out OF
the country they will have the increased skill
and experience, in doing such work our chip
yards will be encouraged to expand and develop
their capacity; our employers will enjoy the
profits, instead of foreign capitalists; and we
shall have the proud satisfaction Of seeing oui
American Commerce restored, in American
ships built by American artisans. This will add
to our security against war, by increasing oul
ability to defend ourselves on the sea, and il
will be substantial benefit to ship-builders, as
well as ship-owners. Our national interests, az
well as national pride, cry out against missing
this excellent opportunity of achieving 30 in
portant 0 result.