The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-22
OUR DECAYED SHIPPING.
Report OF tho Special Congressional
Committee on Navigation Interests
Cause OF Its Decline-Irnportant Rene
dies Suggested.

dies Suggested.
The report Of the Special Committee on Nav
Igation Interests, submitted In the House Of
Representatives at Washington last week, is q
yoluminous document. The committee. In
prosecuting Its inquiries, have held sessions In
the Cities OF New York, Philadelphia, Boston
and Portland, receiving the statements OF mer-
chants, shipbullders, shipowners and insu-
rance agents, gentlemen having practical
knowledge and experience relating to the
matter under investigation. Circular letters
have been addressed to gentlemen engaged In
the various branches Of business connected
with the shipping interests, requesting state
ment of their views on the subject under In
ouiry, and also to American consuls at the
principal ports Of foreign countries, asking
them to furnish information In regard to the
condition OF the mercantile marine Of those
countries.
The committee argue to show that tho rebel.
lion was the special cause of the decline OF
American commerce. The various PROPOSE.
tions for its revival put forward by those heard
at their meetings are discussed at length. Tne
committee Is OF the opinion that the readms-
sion of the vessels that sought protection un-
der foreign flag during the rebellion isagainst
sound public policy; that to allow citizens to
avail themselves Of oil tho advantages con.
ferred by our government during peace, and
to escape all the risks Of supporting IT during
war, bV placing their property at sacn umes
under the protection OF foreign government,
would be dangerous precedent to estaDllsn.
Neither can they recommend the policy OF ad-
hitting foreign-built ships to American registry
on payment Of duty, for whatever duty might
be 90 Imposed would operate only to the ad-
vantage of the foreign shlpowner, with whom
the American purchaser and owner OF
such foreign built ships would have TO COM
pete. If we were to admit foreign built SHIPS
to American registry at all, 1t would be Win
the view of enabling our shipowners 10 supply
themselves with vessels at rate as low as tnat
paid by foreign competitors. An American
shipowner must in such case be able TO pur-
chase as cheap rs the foreigner, or ne must OBJ
tain better ships; otherwise he ls deprived OF
that quality of ability to compete, which is an
essential condition of tho success desired by
those who wish to engage In the carrying traue
of the world. The committee at length, AFTER
most careful dellDeratlon, impressed with the
great Importance of restoring our commercial
marine, not only as means OF increasing the
national wealth In time Of peace, but also as
one Of the most efficient agencies for national
defence in time Of war, recommend the follow
ing measures as calculated 10 promote the de-
sired object:
First. The remission OF the duties imposed upon
the raw material entering Into the construction
Of vessels und steamers, limiting the amount 10
the minimum OF duties per ton collected on tue
material required for certain Classes Of Vessels,
and where American Iron Is used In the constfhc.
tion OF iron vessels, an amount per ton equivalent
to tile duties OIL q like amount OF Imported raw
materials, limiting the amount to be pail.
Second. That all stores to Dc USED ny vessels
sailing to foreign ports may be taken III bona,
free OF duty.
Third. Further TO encourage investment in
shipping, and to extend the aid to ships already
built, aud which have been sailed during and
since the rebellion 1t great disadvantage, allow
lug 10 all suil vessels lud 10 all steamers running
to The British North American Provinces, 81 50
per ton; on steamers to European ports, - per
ton; and ON all other steamers running " Ioreign
ports, S3 per ton.
In view of the fact that the tax upon ton
mage cannot be removed without relieving the
vessels ofall foreign nations OF the same, wnlle
no such exemption Is extended to American
vessels In foreign ports, and In, view or the
further fact that the shipping interest OF the
country Is 10 receive some relief by the pas
sage OF the proposed measures, the committee
recommend only the removal OF all tonnage,
harbor, pilotage, and other like taxes Imposed
upon shipping by Slate aud municipal author
lty, (which taxes have been declared Dy tile
Supreme Court unconstitutionnl) and the re-
adjustment OF the present tax upon tonnage,
so that 1t will fall more eqllltably upon the dif-
farent classes Of vessels affected thereby. Inc
amount which will be received from this source
is estimated by the committee to DO more than
So, ,OO0, 900 per annum, and Will to that extent
contribute to the relief which Is proposed to
be granted in aid or the shipping Interest OF
the United States.
On the question Of subsidies the committee
say 1t would be u matter of economy II our
government should build vessels adapted to
the uses of commerce In time of peace, and
readily convertible into fighting ships In time
OF war, giving the free use OF ench ships IN
time of peace TO merchants who would take
care OF and use them until required for the no
tional defence Under such circumstances the
government would be relieved Of the cost OF
taking care of the ships when not required for
the public service, and tho national wealth
would be increased by their use for mercantile
purposes. AS the government can nave tue
control OF such vessels when needed, by pay
ing only small percentage of their cost, Is lt
not clearly matter OF economy and sound
public policy TO leslslate with o View to such
results?
The committee thus concluded: BY the
adopliOu of Il wise and liberal commercial
policy, we Gun control the trade OF Eastern
Asia and the commerce OF the Pacific, anu
pour their wealth directly Into the Valley OF
the Mississippi, which Is to be the centre OF
incubation in the future of our country. Chica-
70, st. Louis and other cities OF the West are,
US we have said, to become ports Of entry and
distributors Of the products OF Asia as well as
of Europe. Thus the great West has the same
interest In rcviving and maintaining the ocean
commerce of our country under the American
flar that the Atlantic States have In opening up
Internal lines OF commerce, whether by the
building of great lines OF railway or by the I'M
provenIent Of lake or river naVigation-'