The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-01
Our Shipping Interests.

The special committee with Mr.. Lynch
Mt the head, appointed by the House to
find out and report in regard to the decay
and remedies for that decay Of our ship
ping interest, have reported thereon.
Without doubt their report contains many
valuable suggestions; but the Hon. +. a.
Pike finds some fault with the lOOscneSs
with which their ideas are concentrated.
whcreupon the Portland Press, Mr.. Lynch's
organ, strikes straight out from the shout
der at Mr.. Pike. which blow IS supposed
20 have knocked him beyond the ring. and
in an unembarrassed manner accuses him
of being a candidate for some office! We
have no sympathy with Mr.. Pike; for
what right has he, no longer being MEM
Der of Congress, to put his opinion against
that of the Committee with Mr.. Lynch Mt
its head3 That's what puzzles the con-
stituency OF our honorable representative
from the LIST District. This is the first OPP
portunity our honorable representative
has had in six years TO make report on
anything. and we submit that courtesy
and charitablencss towards Mr.. Lynch in
this first essay. should have kept Mr.. Pike
and the persons engaged in navigation in
this State who seem to agree with him,
still. just as we have kept still in this part
of the political vineyard; for charity COW
crs not only multitude Of sins but also
plumbers.
Now that we have condemned the in
reference of Mr.. Pike, 1t Is no more than
fair that we publish portion of his let
teri
Mr.. Lynch's report from his select committee
is not vet printed but, judging from the ex-
tracts from Il that have seen in the papers,
the committee seem TO have done much intelli-
gent labor and the renewed pfesentment they
have made Of the condition and prospects OF
this fright arm OF our national prosperity"
cannot fail TO have beneficial influence.
But the mode Of relief indicated Is in some
respects serious disappointment to me, and il
Is because deem the proposed laws detrimental
to our Maine interests that call your attention
to them very briefly.
And first rs TO the tonnage tax. During the
war, when the committee Of ways and means
was leyying upon everybody and everything
within the boundaries Of the Republic, shipping
did not escape them. They taxed vessels ON the
stocks, gross receipts for freight, and put a tax
OF ten cents per ton on vessels ahoat. Subse-
quently they released other taxes on condition
that the tonnage tax sSould be increased to 80
cents, where il now stands, and 50 all vessels,
49, Lac. tly ~
cents per ton by the collector Of each port where
they enter or are registered.
The objections TO this law are obvious. II Is
. level tax upon property Of greatly unequal
value, Of course bearing the hardest upon those
least able TO pay. In many Instances u IS full
three per cent OF the actual value and in some
cases even more than that. Two or three years
ago had q letter from well known vessel
owned In BrOoksyille In Hancock county, stating
that there were TWENTY-FIVE vessels owned in bis
harbor aud but two Of them yentured 10 sen In
the winter. The others lay by during boisterous
weather, and carried their freight In the milder
portion Of the year. And still they paid the
same tax rs the steamer Of ten times their value
amounting, no doubt, on the average, to at least
two per cent Of the actual valuation, and this in
addition to large local taxation. Our vessels
run from ten 10 q hundred and fifty dollars in
sime. Ii Il about rs unfair as a tax Of i've dol
lars per house in Maine. irrespective OF sine or
locality. notice In the returns Of property to
Augusta for taxation. thtt several Of the coun-
tics average about thirty dollars per ton. This
would make the tax in such counties enc per
cent Of the full value.
This unequal and in any instances burden
sons tax, the bill proposes 10 retain. Upon
Nhat ground this is done am not aware. Pos
sihly Il may be because foreign vessels pay the
same tax. But this can hardly be deemed con-
elusive BY those holding ha' species Of property.
No doubt they would like to $50 foreigners taxed,
bnt isn't il rather hard TO punish them 50 Sc
ycrcy in order to bring about that desirable re-
sull Besides, there Is another way Of getting
at the same thing. Suppose the law should pro-
vide that no vessels should pay the tonnage tax
except those entering from a foreign Portl In
that case the old coasters would go clear and the
more expensive vessels engaged IN foreign trade
would share the burden with foreigners.
Wouldn't that make more equal thing Of it!
Certainly, In the aggregate, by such law,
American shipping would pay less and the tax
would be borne by class Of property much
better able To bear il In the most hourishing
part Of our commercial history we had no tom
mage tax at all.
Il may be that the committee had an idea
that by retaining the tonnage tax the two or
three millions thus received could be judiciously
Distributed In bountics and thus promote the
prosperity Of tonnage already atioat as well rs
tho ship-bullding interest. But II 80, the end
hardly justifes the means. IL Is not fair to tax
the cheap tonnage OF my 'Brooksyile CORES
pondent for the advancement Of other peoples
interests. And the attempt todo 50 Is neces-
sarily failure 30 secure equitable results. L
a., 0nft prN
wiling that "upon every steamer running TO and
from the ports Of the North American Provinces
onedollar and 6fy cents for each registered ton
shall be paid annually by Oh, SECRETARY OF the
Treasury 20 such steamers "as shall be engaged
for more than six months In the year. in that
trade. BY this section the International Steam
ship Company" owning some three thousand
tons Of steamers running between Boston, Port
land, PASSPORT and ST. John, would receive an
nually from the Secretary Of the Treasury about
Ave thousand dollars. and that without making
an additional turn of the wheels Of any OF these
valuable boats. Some Of my neighbors have the
good fortune to be stock holders in that company
and they tell me the dividends are exceedingly
satisfactory. They viii be surprised to learn
that Congress proposes to tax our Maine coast
ers for the purpose Of aiding anything TO the
large receipts they are accustomed to get from
that investment. And I doubt IL the Maehias
AMI Mount Deser, line, in It's struggles to live
AMI deyelope the business Of the coast, would
he quite satisfied to be overlooked when its
weaithier neighbor was receiving such generous
donations.
Whether the other bounties proposed in the
bill would In practice work any more equally Is
. matter do not propose 10 discuss. IL Is quite
certain that any business bailt upon a system Of
Congressional bounties has precarious founda-
lions and the moment II becomes prosperous Is
surs TO have its underpinning knocked out
When Maine entered the Union her populs-
49,, -. aea s,2h Tn tha mast ,..r,,rx II has