The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-30

NOAAAANASlhA uAhAuCt uLu IGCOluuGuuI
Congress, at its approaching session, t
mature and pass comprehensive act iol
the protection OF merchant steamers, witt
provisions for the establishment Of sea
mems homes, shipping masters and ma
rine boards in every port where there is
owned 5000 tons and upwards of mer,
chant vessels, the main boards to have
supervisory charge, with authority to ex,
anime and certify to the qualifications and
competency oi sea captains, mates and
other officers OF vessels, and to give Ger.
tltcates thereof, or TO reject those incom.
petent; with authority also to apprentice
a certain number Of youths to each vessel
Of merchant and marine, the shipping and
discharging Of seamen, and Of the care oi
their persons and property; to protect
them from systematized plunder prac.
ticed by many OF the sailors of boarding
house keepers or in their houses. 1t is
needlul to commerce to pass an act per-
hitting the withdrawal from bonded
warehouses, free from all duty and tax,
every article which enters into the vi.
tality and preservation ofa ship for the
subsistence and protection OF the crew
while in port or upon voyages; and also
for reduction Of duty or return thereof
as shall be equal to the duties or taxes
collected upon all material used in the
construction OF wooden and iron vessels
and steamers OF all classes. These mea.
sures, II perfected, will restore or recreate
and enlarge our commerce. There are
oppressive local regulations, differing in
the ports of the United States in their
rates Of taxation ON ships and cargoes,
which demand, emphatically, correction
under laws of Congress, which shall
applyto all ports equally and lairly, and
which, without being burdensOme, shall
yield sufficient sum to meet the expen-
diture necessary to their enforcement,
which Is all that was ever contemplated
IN the necessities which caused their
origin. Among those which stand prom
inent as exactiOns raised in these lorms
are the forced payment OF heavy sums on
vessels, cargoes and persons, collected by
tho officers at quarantine, especially at
the port Of New York, and the
less but equally veXatiOus eXactions of
harbor masters to secure berths for ships,
which In mos, eases can only be obtained
by paying premium, either direct to the
harbOr master, or to some known and
distinguished favorite OF his. The rate of
pllotage should be equal, except in cases
Of great danger and exposure. These
arc now all controlled under the State |
and municipal laws, which are in direct
violation to the Constitutional provision,
that Congress only shall regulate com.
merCc, and that no State shall demand or
collect any tax on tonnage.
The report was adopted, and the com.
mittee continued and authorized to pro.
sent their report to Congress.
The Committee on State Inspectors
made report recommending the repeal
or modification Of all State inspection
laws interfering with unrestricted trade.
Adopted.
The Committee on Minerals and
Mining Interest submitted their report,
and recommended geological and minero.
logical surveys in all the States of the
Union, and that Congress pass stringent
laws for the protection of the lives oi the
miners.
The report was adopted, and General
NCgley, NJ, G. from Pennsylvania, was
requested to lay the subject before Con.
grCss.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Snyder, of
Tennessee, recommending the passage of
a law by Congress granting universal am.
nCsty, was passed.
The Committee on Miscellaneous Busi.
ness made report calling the attention
Of Congress TO the propriety of appropri.
lting to each Of the severOl States
q sufficient amount Of the public lands TO
educate the millions of urlellow citizens
who on account Of their previous Condi.
lion of life have not had the opportunity
Of receiving an education. Adopted.
A resolution was presented by General
Negley reciting, that
WHEREAS, This Convention has adopt.
cd q resolution asking OF the General
Government to refund the tax collected
On cotton; therefore, be II
ReSOlDcd, That coal OIL iron, and other
commodities, having paid n similar tax,
De included in the resolution refunding
The tax on cotton. Adopted. . II
st. Louis was selected as the place and
.he third Monday in Nov, 1872, as the
line for holding the next National Com.
nerclal Convention
A motion was then made to adjourn,
which was carried.
President Bishop made m appropriate
address, and pronounced the Convention
adjourned sine die
All business not acted upon was referred
o the Committee on Unfinished Business,