The New York herald., 1870-03-28
DECLINE OF AMERICAN COMMERCE..
It's Causes and the Remedy.

WASHINGTON March 81 1870.
Mr.. John W. Grniths, OF Boston, appeared ON FRI
day before the Committee on the Decline OF American
Commerce and submitted written statement OF his
views on the subject. Prominent among the causes,
In his judgment, Is the indifference OF govern
ment to the shipping interest, while England,
through her Admiralty Board, lends the nations
fostering care by assisting to give character to her
shipping by her Loyds, carefully noting the points
In which shipowners with proper assistance from
the government. would be most likely TO excel ana
always subsidizIng those interests and receiving an
abundant return from other countries which pursue
less enlightened policy, making all COM
mercial nations bend TO her standard OF
character, however discriminating, as set
forth in her Lloyds. He contends that
no shipowner can Ignore these ratings OF char
acter-known as the British and French Loyds-
unless he can build, own. freight and underwrite his
own ships; and whatever Improvements are made
by American shipbuiders must be acceptable and
recognized by the agents Of British ana French
Lioyds, or II cannot be used. In this regard, al
though great commercial nation, we are little bet
ter than colonlsts OF England and France. Mr.. Grir
f1th's statement concludes as foows:--
IL Ia the province duty Congress to remove
the burdens now entailed upon commerce and place
the maritime interests upon an equal basis with
those OF England. IL cannot be regarded with favor
communication TO the exclusion OF all others
great mechanical interests BY subsidzIng any
line OF steamships which, in the light OF experience,
shall NOT nave been shown TO be the best type OF
construction, be they built OF wood iron the
pose type OF mixed construction. II ls the interest
OF this government to give employment TO the
the Industrial art in the commercial development OF
the country into one particular type OF construction
simply because other nations have adopted that type
from necessity. Knowing that to America be.
longed the largest water front In the world re-
nation to carry her products and manufactures to
other lands, II mas been the policy OF England TO
mould our maritime ,n,' aRs Nam, IN conformity with
succeeded, through the sophistry OF her
agents, during the time OF our domestic
troubles in inducing our legislators to exchange one
OF her old laws we had copied for revised edition,
winch, however good for ocean navigation Is un-
suited to the pecessities Of our coast and lake
moulding our laws of admeasurement she now
seeks TO obtain The blessing Of supplying our models
vast country can only be known through the WIS
dom OF Congress in relieving all industrial from
commercial interests at tho footstoo OF British
policy. Within the past four months the fullest
OF spglish artisans with tnat OF American mechan-
les In building ships and he has no hesita-
ton IN giving the result. so far rs he
able to judge, after an experience OF
forty-seven years in the shipyards OF hts
country, by stating that the difference both the
quality and quantity or the work perlormed more
side OF the Atlantic. II Congress shall give Ameri-
can shipbullders fair opportunity to develop their
resources, in providing machinery adapted TO the
service OF manipulating the materials for the con-
structi0n OF ali the different types OF vessels Ameri-
genius In the arts OF peace Will not be less pro-
mlnent than 1t has been shown in the art or war.
Aside from all subsidlzlng influences the full bene-
1rs OF commercial nationality can never be perma-
nenty enjoyed until, by act OF Congress
the same jurisdiction which takes cogni.
Zance OF the hull, machinery and equipment OF
our river steamers shall be extended to our ocean
marine, and after having brought such national
standard TO the highest degree Of American mectap
ical intelligence, compel by treaty reciprocal re-
TO government OF Europe made by one OF our ship
owners to first class line OF steamships between
New York and o principal port In that Kingdom, IL
was proposed that the service should be commenced
with American vessels already built and furnished
In every respect with all the requirements called for
In the United States Lloyds The government would
not acceDt the rating OF the American Loyds and in
consulting the British and French Loyds IL was
found shat the rating or American steamers was not
embraced in those works.