The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-15
spIRIT or rRn PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
DAY for the Evening Telegraph.
OUR SHIPPING AND FOREIGN COM
MERCE-HOM TO REVIVE II

Congress seems to be waking up to the ne
cessity Of doing something to restore our ship
ping interests and the former maritime pres
tige of the country. During the last session
several bills were introduced for this object,
but nothing was Accomplishing not even
when the President called upon that body at
the last hours of the session to remain over
short time for the purpose of seizing the OPP
portunity afforded by the European war to
increase our shipping. 1t may be, however,
hopeful sign that Congress has begun thus
early in the present session to work upon this
subject. On Monday Mr. Mcdonald, of Ar
kansas, introduced bill in the Senate to aid
the Mediterranean and Oriental Steam Navi-
cation Co.: Mr. Ramsey, of Mimi, to supply
ocean steamship lines for the transportation
of the mails between the United States and
Europe and Mr.. Schenc6, in the House, the
same OF a similar measure to that of Mr.
Ramsey Without going into the merits of
these propositions at the present time, we do
not hesitate to say that the time has come
when something should be done to restore
the maritime interests of the country, and
that while Congress should not favor any Jobs
i! ought to strain point on the side of libe-
rality where our shipping can be increased
and the public service promoted.
The subject of our foreign commerce is
now before three committees OF the House
of Representatives. The Committee of Ways
and Means got control of it through the
reference of the Presidents special message
to Congress in the expiring hours of the last
session The Committee on Commerce has
got control of it through the reference of
that portion of the Presidents last annual
message which relates to the decay of Ameri-
can shipping; and the select committee on
the subject, which was appointed at the first
session of the present Congress- on the 22d
of March, 1863, has special control of it.
These three committees are expected to hold
a conference together and agree to some
definite plan for the revival of our foreign
shipping interests.
It will be recollected that the bill reported
at the last session from the select committee
proposed to remedy She evil by the remission
of duties on all materials entering into the
construction of ships, and also by system
of subsidies under which American vessels en-
gagged in the foreign carrying trade for more
than six months in the year should be paid
out of the Federal treasury at the rate of from
dollar and half per registered ton for sail
vessels up to four dollars per registered tor
for steamers, besides being allowed ships
stores and coal free of duty. That bill was
discussed at pretty considerable length, but
failed to receive the support of a majority of
members. The bill reported from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means in the last hour of
the session contained the principle of allow
ing drawback on the material used in ship
building, coupled, however, with the more
important principle of allowing foreign-built
ships to be owned and registered by Ameri-
can citzens. This bill failed for want of time
"A few dilatory motions being all that was
necessary to prevent the House voting upon
it before the hour fixed for the final adiour-
ment
1t will be seen that the bill, as reported
from the select committee, was one which
Cd at 1i,yi,,
through the che8pening of American built
vessels and thus giving a stimulus at the
same time to the ship-building interest of
the United States, while the bill coming from
the Ways and Means aimed at more imme-
date results through the purchase and regis
try of foreign-built ships.
The two propositions, it will be seen, al
though made composite by the Committee of
Ways and Means, are diametrically opposed
to each other, If our shipping merchants
be permitted to purchase ships built on the
Clyde and Thames, there will not be much
ship-buildiDe done on the Kennebec or the
Hudson; and while our foreign commerce
may revive til ere will be no corresponding
advantage to our ship-builders. This pre-
sents the great difficulty which yet awaits its
solution. The ship-builders claim that the
impetus must come from them. The ship
owners claim that nothing but free trade in
the prestige which it once held in the carry
ing trade of the world.
In the meantime all the great shipping
yards Of the country are closed up. The
Webbs and the Westervelts and the McKays
once so famous for the unriValled ships
launched from their yards-have ceased to
put new vessels on the stocks; and nothing
absolutely is being done in that line except
in the way of building and repairing for the
coastwise trade. 1t would appear, therefore,
that any opposition from the ship-building in
terest to the policy of free trade in ships
would be a sort of dog in e-manger policy.
The ships that now command the commerce
of the ocean are of class that have never
been built in this country, and in which,
even with all the materials free of duty ouI
ship-builders cannot compete with those OF
England.
The era of wooden vessels has passed as
completely as that of sail vessels. The iron
screw propeller has taken their place. The
ship-yards of Maine and New Brunswick may
still find work in supplying coasting and fish
ing vessels; but the vessels for long voyages
will be built elsewhere, and of iron, not wood
Our merchants have realized the fact, ant
are therefore convinced that their chance 70
regaining the foreign carrying trade whicl
they have lost lies, not in the fostering of tn
ship-building interest at home but in tn
procuring abroad of the ships which the
need
The facts presented in the report of tn
select committee show the urgency for adopt
ing policy that will be speedy and availabl
in its effects.
In 1861 the value of American shippin
engaged in foreign commerce was estimate
at sos, 10000 and the gross earning
therefrom $50, 100000 In 1869 its valu
Ann L