New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-15

COUNTERF EIIING-JAMES BROOKS AND IRE
CADETSHIPS.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuSEl
WAsHTSGToy Monday, March II. 1870.
delegation OF iron shp-buders and machniss, rep
resentng every firm but two In this country were OeoIe
the Special Committee Navigation Interests tins morn
ing Their object to urge such change IN the DIS
reported by the Committee would give drawback OH
all imported materials used in shpbuiding Franklin
W. Smith OF the Atlantic Iron Works addressed the Com
mittee at length He stated that the bill proposes on Its
face to assist both wooden and iron, and sail
and steam vessels, but as II gives 10
wooden vessels drawback on all the material used anu
to steamships drawback but about half the material
used the steamship builders, in comparison with wooden
shpbullders will be at disadvantage than before
the passage OF the bill The drawback and bounty pro-
posed wooden ships would be equal to onethrd OF
their present cost, while iron sailing ships, IL VIII
not be more than one.fourth the reduction. Wooden
ships needed such aid less, for to-day they
were cheaper on the Kennebeo than on the
Clyde Mr. Smith read series Of resolutions, containing
the figures these statements which had been
adopted at meeting Of the delegation The re-
lief asked by the iron shpbulders the striking out
Of the Limitation OF the amount OF drawback. and allow
ing them all the duties imported material used in such
construction This would make IL was stated drawback
OF about 81 per tun sail vessels, and about
s33 on iron He also stated that beams ana
forg!ngs should be admitted into the list on which draw
limit to the period during which tho drawbacks, &c.
should be allowed, because otherwise capital would
be chary OF embarking in the business. Immedi-
ate action the bills earnestly urged, because,
in order TO begin building the present year. the
contracts, &c. would have to be made
within the co days, otherwise all business Wohld
be thrown back. Everything hanging on the action
OF Congress Thousands Of mechanics wanting EN-
ployment, and the iron works were at comparative
standsii m answer the question Of the Committee,
Mr. smith and others stated that in their OPINION the
passage Of such a drawback they asked would at
once stimulates iron shp-bulding. They Thought
that ls iron ships and steamers, OF SOVO
turs each would be put upon the ocean within lomOhth'
from the passage of the bill The Government AID would
amount to about 81 100000 Gen. Washburne and other
members Of the Committee declared that in their opinion
such result would be well worth the outlay MI John
Roach OF the Morgan Iron Works stated that from the
time England decided TO substitute steam Tor salllhg
vessels she began to increase her maritime power,
and as France, seeing the effect immediately followed
her example SO in order to enable the United states 10
REGAIN her position as a great naval power as well as
commercial nation it would be necessary not only to help
builders OF all kinds of ships to obtain material as cheapy
AZ in England, but also TO take into consldera-
ton the extra cost Of steamers over SAILING
ships and apply the benefits or the OIL
accordingly. Merchants being willing to pay hSh
r-ights for the speedy transportation OF goods by ra
desire last sailing rather lHah SAlH-
sells a 5000 steamship costs two or three times
as much as sailing vessel OF the same tunnage and Is
equal in working capacity TO three such sailing hp5 the
benefits 10 DO conferred by the bill should not be given
in proportion the tunnage, but in proportion to the
capital invested. The Government should do this, be-
cause in case of merchant steam neet would he OF
great importance while fleet OF sailing vessels would
be OF little use Most OF present tunnage being DID,
and requiring rebuilding, Mr. Roach estimated that an
outlay OF Sl5OOOOO0O would be necessary. 1t
VIII require from two TO three years
70 organize and fiud capital to build
one flrst-class European steamship line, ana put II
i'm successful operation, and less than 10 years would not
lay the foundation the permanent revival or snip
bulldog. Mr. Roach stated that within his knowledge
OO within tho last three years, had been lost IN
New.York in steamships alone; that capitalists had be-
come cautious, and that any bill passed by CON
gress would be closely scrutinized, ana would
fail 10 bring capital unless 10 held out Inducements
for permanent and safe investment He therefore urged
the Committee after pains they had taken to ascer
tain the causes OF the decay in shpbudng to meet the
eynectations Of the nation, and offer liberal
inducements to capital to build ships, rather than
pass bill requiring moro to bo done IN
a short time than is possible, and therefore fall
in accomplishing the objects designed MI L. ~ Bo0e
urged as u wooden shpbuder, that the position OF the
iron interests be sustained He gave II "a lis opinion
that the passage OF such bill would result IN an entire
revolution on the lakes substituting iron for wood He
showed advantage they would have IN the passage
of the WeIaud Canal, aud also gave interest
ing facts relating to the efforts OF Canadian
statesmen and capitalists 10 secure the control
Of the Western freight traffic Tho Committee agreed to
renort amendments to the bill. that beams and forg
ING, will be added 10 the iron material. The proyso
limiting amounts Of drawbacks is to be stricken out aud
a rebate drawback of the duties will be allowed Tho
bill Is to expire i'll 10 years from lst OF July 1870 Inc
session was a very interesting one.
In the Senate, to-day Mr. Sumner corroborated the
statement made by Gen. Prm in the Spanish Cortes on
Saturday 10 the effect he and the Senator never had
any negotiations looking to the purchase of Cuba by the
limited States Mr. Sumner stated that the report was
founded on the fact OF the presence in this capital OF an
agent OF SPAIN who had discussed the proprety OF d
posing OF Cuba for monetary considerations MT sumner
brought in a bill which was referred TO the Finance
Committee providing that specie payments shall be re-
smed not later next January, and that the banks
shall at once commence to substitute coin for their re-
serves at the rate OF l per cent month on their LA
huiues Mr. Morton offered resolution in refer
ence 10 the Oneida disaster, and calling for
an EXPRESSION on the part OF our Govern
Inent concerning the conduct OF Capt Eyre put
action was suspended to await the reception OF ohcai
intelligence the subject. The Georgia Dill came up as
the specia ORDER Immediately after the morning hour
The galleries were dersey crowded large proportion
o; the occupants being coored drawn by the announce
,pent that Senator Reves would speak When t was
found that this was not the the galleries thinned
out There IS no doubt however, that the MssIsslppi
Senator will be heard from before the debate Closes III
fact he has ntmated that he will speak on Wednesday
Senator Trumbull as Chairman OF the Judiciary Com
mittee opened the debate to-day He reviewed affairs
in Georgia from the passage or the act OF
lime 1863 down to the present time, ana ad'
vocated the Bingham amendment, the object OF
which he asserted merely 10 prevent the
pre,ent officials p Georgia from continuing III Office two
,enr, beyond the time for which they elected He
was aute severe Gov Bullock whom he charged with
violating the act Of December and said the Legisa
ure had not been legally organized Mr. Stewart also
the Judiciary Committee took issue with
Mr Trunhnll. opposed the Bingham amendment, "held