The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-17

which respect the United States were behind all
all other nations in the policy OF refusing American
registers to f0reign-but vessels. The French
steamers were bought in England; 30 were the Aus
tran vessels; so were the steamers Of the Hamburg
and Bremen lines. But the navigation laws OF the
United States. founded on the Chinese policy OF ex-
clusion stood at the threshold OF American harbors
and shut out foregn-built vessels from entering
Mr.. Lynch inquired whether the commercial ma
rne OF England and Of the United States had not at
tanned their highest point OF prosperity under the
very laws the gentleman was now condemnng?
Mr.. Wood replied in the negative, aud said that
the qentemans own report answered his question.
The fifth cause Of the decay OF American tonnage
the transfer OF Americ vessels to foreiga own
ers during the late war That transfer amounted TO
s33, 1903 TONS nearly onefourth OF the aggregate ton
mage OF the United States.
the sixth cause was the depredations OF priva-
teeIs during che war. The loss by that MEANS how
ever, did not exceed one hundred thousand TONS
While he would hold England TO just responsibility
in that NATTER he would not overestimate or mag
Nifty the actual loss OF tonnage. He hoped TO live TO
see the day when England woud be compelled not
only TO make reparation, but restitution for the
wrong.
The seventh cause was the appreciation of the
cost Of labor and material in consequence OF de-
preciated currency and heavy taxation, causing
large difference in the cost of the bnlding and sail
ing OF ships. The bill as reported did not reach the
causes IL was only little soothing syrup TO ship
builders.
The first section was TO allow drawback or rebate
OF duties on shipbuilding materials. But why did
not the authors OF the bill put those materials
the free list? The second section, which allowed
ships stores TO be shipped free OF duty he had no
objection to. The third section which proposed to
pay premiums on all vessels engaged Ia the foreign
trade, would take from the public treasury ten mil
lions a year.
There portions of the bill which he could not
vote for, and there were portions Of 1t which he
could support. But il the bill passed to-day it
could not possibly add anything to the revival OF the
American shipbuildlng interests or this country.
The disease was greater and deeper than the minds
Of the committee appeared to be able to compre-
hend and fathom The specific proposed was but
nostrum. 1t might palliate or temporarily stimu-
late, but that was ALL
In his opinion the true remedies were TO be found,
first, very general revival Of trade founded
sound basis with a specie payment currency, the
abolition of the internal taxes, and greater public
and private economy; second in new avenues Of
foreign commerce; third, in tie readmission to
American registry OF the American vessels which
Sought the protection of foreign flag during the
fourth, in the modification of the navigation laws,
registry either free OF duty or on payment OF a
moderate duty on tonnage; fifth in the allowance
Of drawback OF duty on ship-building materials;
sixth, in allowing ship stores to be taken out Of
bond for foreign voyages. seventh, In ex-
empting tonnage from all taxes other
than by the Federal Government; eighth
in the granting of moderate compensation
by way OF postage on mails: and ninth, in favOring
American bottoms in the imposition OF tariff duties,
as to discriminate in their favor on all foreign
merchandise imported.
Mr.. Washburn (Ws.) favored generally the bill as
reported by the committee, and ascrbed the decay OF
American shipping principally to the unfriendly
of Great Britain in the matter of Rebel prva-
teers, and gave notice to the lobby that scheme
Of subsidies would pass this Congress.