New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-10
AIDS TO COMMERCE..
PROVISIONS OF SECRETARY BoUrwELL's BILL

PROVISIONS OF SECRETARY BOUTWELLS BILL
To GRANT BOUNTIES TO SlilP-bUlLDEhS'
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-Ihe bill presentcu
NV secretary Boutwell, before tho House Committee on
Commerce to-day, his means for aiding the mar
interests OF the United States, authorizes the ~.
Of the Treasury TO offer bounty of not more thah CIV
per tun to he paid each year for period OF n'o
for the construction in the United states Vi nV"
ships Of not less than 1000 tuns each, the oou'''o
paid for not exceeding 100000 tuns In inc
for more than 100000 tuns in any one yo'i ' r,
vessels to be employed exclusively in foreign trhuo
S.,u hoI, ,,o rublc notice that proposals VIII be
ovod for tho construction Of $1,000 tuns upon tnc
Atlantic Coast 5000 tuns upon the great iaSeS anu
spui River and 25 600 tuns upon the racine oo''
The vessels shall DO hrscass, and be constructed or
such rlans models and specifications as snail nave Oee
ot by the Bureau of Construction and Repairs
Of the Navy Department; and the Government hay ''
any fine purchase or charter said vessels, or require
tbeo n carry mails between the United States anu any
forein country and payment shall be made therefor o
any sucb sums as shall be ascertalneu III"
determined by i've dislnterested persons u"'o
Of whom shall be appointed by the fIcsF
dent of the United States. and Two , m ,I nc
owner or owners OF any vessel that may DE so tak OF
emDOyed and the Secretary Of the Navy may dctd any
officer OF the Navy not above the RANK OIL oO 0
board Of any vessel that may be built undeT Ie ~
of the first section OF ts act anu up an ohcer Of
the OF such vessel he may aetill an oiov ~
the Navy to commanding OnCer' II cohs,stcn,
wit interests.
under such regulations as snail DC estaniseu U! Wv
Secretary Of the Treasury upon any hIstcIass
launched and finished and to he employed eAcuS'.5
i'm the trade between Atlantic and Paclhc pores OF we
United states the sum OF Is Tor eech ana ever! JUN
registered tunnage OF Such vessel
There shall be aoT Hnd Sd ens Secretary ng the
Treasury upon every nrstciass salng NtSse "a dbJ
than 200 uns burden. hereafter launched, ana hhsneu
ana authorlleu 10 oHSaso i' oooitin, trade of The
in any one calendar year IN the coas'g o' , u ~
United States. the Of So for each tun OF te regis
tered tunnage of any such vessel II the owner OF any
vessel on which bounty shall have been paid shall de-
sire 20 have such vessel enrolled ana licensed LOT COAST
ug trade such authority may be granted by the secre
tary OF the Treasury upon the repayment OF me amount
org inay paid by Government, after making uSuuc-
been in service provided that at least fifty per cent OF
the amount originally paid shall be refunded TO COY
ernment For the period Of five years there shall he al
lowed and paid TO the owners OF any vessel en-
gagged in the cod mackerei fishery upon the Atalu9
ocean It's coast the sum of Sc per n OF the registered
tunnage OF such vessel provided that no payment sal
be made account Of vessel That mas not Deeh 80
Vessels of the United States employed IN the foreign
trade or the sheries, purchase snip stores sup
plies and outfit, not including articles 1Or the repair OF
iununc of such vessels in bond and without the pay
mcnt Of duties under such regulations as may DC pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
The Secretary said that the three main features OF tho
bill are those which deal with the fishing interests with
the construction of sailing vessels either Of iron or wood
foreign commerce, aud with large steamers Dnit OF
IRON His reasons for giving aid to the fishing interest
were twOfod. First because it is in some sections OF
the country interest of great local importance, and
second because indirectly its prosperity Injured to the
benefit of the whole country In some parts
of Massachusetts, and Maine where the fishing
interests very great. probably most or the people II
these interests should fail, would turn thcr aeno 10
other pursuits but the country itSeH Woud lose tne
advantage of having large class OF men Drcd 10 he sea
from bOyhOOd, aud who furnish the best sailors ana
officers whether for our commercai marine III line Oh
peace a volunteer navy in time OF war Tue treaty
interest III great peril me pe0Pie VI SUM p'tS va
Massachusetts, now engaged III TINS pursuit. can Owlng
to the peculiar character Of the country, pursue
Nc other calling and they particularly are now hed
with the serious appTohensOns as 10 theI iuture
retary for these reasons would place the fishing interests
at the foundation OF maritime power IN the country ne
fixes the period five years tho time during winch
bounes shall be paid upon me tunnaSe OF VteSe De
he considers that sufficient ume III winch 70 dost
the value of this lie estimates the annual cost
OF paying these bountcs 10 fishermen at about S6OOOO
% Tor s %eSe OF or the S Of
each which launched from domestic yards Tor
use foreign commerce. The secretary assumes lhat
transatlantic commerce viii hereafter be Snr st G1
occasion for the construction OF sailing vessels Ior lne
commerce between the British PT0yinGes ana Ihe poli
of the United States the West India ISLANDS ana south
America He not. however believe IN the cOhstruc
ton OF wooden vessels OF large size for ocean commerce.
| Mr. Boutwell, pointed out the difficulties that would
arise from a system Of drawbacks and thought that his
plan OF giving bOuntes would be far practicable
aud open TO fewer objections. He also avOrs the bounty
system because he thinks that il will encourage the use
of American iron in ship building, which though az
some contend may be worth at least 20 por cent more
than English iron for shpbuhding, would stand mule
| chance by the side of foreign material admitted
free of duty. The cOasting trade, the Secretary
says, ls already monopoly in the hands OF
| is prosperous. and does not need
further protection. The secretary thinks that the
first two sections his bill will stimulate the building OF
| iron steamships by putting the merchants and ship
builders into competition and making II at the same
time possible from steamships TO he built with profit
in this country This proposition, he says cOntemplates
the building OF what would be equivalent to 30 iroI
steamships of 1000 tuns each for five years Upon IN,
basis of his BILL the actual cost would be about
s25OOOOOO which would be distributed that the pay
nen on the whole would not be required during any one
| year
Gen Butler will tomorrow appear before the sam'
Committee to urge hs plans relative to DISCRIMINATION
in favor OF American vessels. The Committee Ia exam
| lining into maritime relations with other nations
the effect which they have upon our material pros
| perlty.