Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-03


We have seen only n synopsis Of the
Report Of the Special Committee on
navigation, but what we do
gather from that, we very much doubt
whether the relief will come just where
it il most needed. The drawback on
the raw materia. entering into the con-
struction Of vessels 10 well enough, but
when 1t il proposed to offer bounty on
steamers running into the British North
American provinces Of o., 80 per ton it
IL aiding a class Of vessels, that do not
need it. The International steamship
lines we have heard il stated, are declar-
ing an annual dividend of IS per cent
now. This is well enough, for but little
shipping pays on the investment SO
much. The thirty cents ton on vessels
Is collected alike on the good and bad :.
Can not the Committee study out some
plan to graduate the tax. placing it ac-
cording to the age of the vessels or the
business TO be engaged in. A first class
ship is kept in business all the time IL
she can find business. and has the world
Tor field Of operations, while three
fourths of the vessels on the coast OF
Maine are laid up through the winter
season. These vessels are not fit for the
general freighting business, and TO sail
on this coast during the winter months.
They are too old, their ground tackle
and sails are not sufficient and conse-
quently they earn their owners nothing
half the year. aud yet the tax on this
class of vessels is Just as high as on first
class ship. What our people want is n
release from this tax TO some extent
There is no equality in it as at presen,
levied. No vessel over ten wears of age
should pay tax. and up TO this age il
should be graduated growing less and
less each year.
Ii seems to us that this bounty system
is all wrong. 1t will help those who dc
not need it, while the class of vessels il
Maine which is most deserving of relic
will not get any. New vessels will rea,
an advantage by the draw back, bat tn,
large class now in service will not il
the least be benefited.
Will the Portland papers give Us some
information as to the profitableness u
the steamers running to St. John from
that port?
We append the conclusion of the Re
port:
THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE OFFERED.
The testimony taken by the commit
tee Is nearly unanimous that bv offering
10 our citizens the same encouragement
aud protection as is afforded by other
commercial nations TO tn. ir citizens. our
shipping can be built, and lines of ocean
steamers established As fast as the re-
quirements OF business demand and
thai there would be present demand
for ships if they could be cheaplv sup
piled. That although the cost of iron
aud some other materials would be
higher by the amount paid in freight.
and the wages of labor are also higher
with Us than in Europe. yet we should
have an advantage in the cost Of tim
Der, large amount of which is used
even in the construction of iron vessel.
and that the highest rates paid for
American labor would be more than
counterbalanced bv its greater efficiency
and skill. Your committee, after the
most careful deliberation, impressed
with the great importance of restoring
our commercial marine. not only as a
me ans of increasing the national wealth
in time of peace. but also as one Of tn,
most efficient agencies for national de.
fence in time of war, respectfully rec
ommend the following measures as cal
culated TO promote the desired object =
Fira-The remission of the dutic.
imposed upon the raw material enter
ing into the construction of vessels and
steamers, limiting the amount to the
minimum of duties per ton collected on
the material required for certain classe.
of vessels, and where American iron i.
used in the construction OF iron vessels
an amount per ton. equivalent to the
duties like amount imported raw
materials limiting the amount TO be
paid.
Second-That all stores TO be used BY
vessels sailing TO foreign port NAV be
taken in bond free Of DUTY.
And third-Farther to encourage in
vestment in shipping, and to extend the
aid 10 ships already built, aud which
have been sailed during and since the
rebellion at great disadvantage. allow.
ing TO all sailing vessels and to all steam
ers running TO the British North Amer.
lean provinces one dollar and halt
per ton, on steamers to European port.
four dollars per ton, and on all other
steamers running TO foreign ports three
dollars per ton.
In view of the fact that the tax upon
tonnage cannot be removed without re.
lieving the vessels of all foreign nations
of the same, while no such exemption
is extended TO American vessels in for
eign ports, and in view of the further
fact that the shipping interest of the
country is to receive some relief by the
passage OF the proposed measures, the
committee recommend only the removal
OF all tonnage, harbor, pilotage and
other like taxes imposed upon shipping
by State and municipal authority (Which
taxes have been declared by the SUI
preme Court unconsfiiurionaD, and the
reimbursement of the present tax upon
tonnage, 50 that il will fall more
equitably upon the different classes OF
vessels affected thereby. The amount
which will he received from this source
is estimated by the committee to BE-
more than S3,0O0.O00 per annum. and
will to that extent contribute to the re-
lief which is proposed to be granted in
aid Of the shipping interest OF the Unit
ed States.