The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-08
Our Shipping MISUNDERSTANDING of the
Board of Trade. - -.

| dent of the Board, occupied the CHAIR, and al
ter calling the meeting to order, announced it
object. He spoke of the memorial of the Ma
tional Board of Trade, asking Congress to au
thorize American citizens to purchase foreigl
built ships and to register them for service un
der the American flag in our foreign MARITIME
commerce, as injurious to the interests of Maine
The Portland Board of Trade had been erro
neously represented as favoring the proposition
and he hoped that it would give no uncertain
sound in regard to its position the question
Mr.. Rich, the Secretary, offered the followin.
resolutions:
Whereas, the City of Portland abides will
the State of Maine in protesting against poll
cy SO fatal to not only the interests of this cit,
and State, but disastrous to the real interests o.
the whole country, as that proposing the pas
| sage of a law admitting foreign ships to Amer
lean Registry, believing that nothing could BIZ
more disastrous to the shipping and commerce
| of Maine; therefore,
| ResolUed, That the Board of Trade of the
City OF Portland, representing the business in
| terests of the chief commercial metropolis Of
the State of Maine, hereby enters its solemn
| protest against policy SO calculated to pros
| trate one of the largest and most important
| business interests of the country, and which
would be virtual surrender of our natural
| maritime and commercial independence, and a
humiliating confession of natural weakness
that we as patriotic people are not prepared
| to accept.
| Resolued, That with such relief as can be af-
forded by judicious legislation of Congress, in
| arranging for a drawback on materials entering
| into the construction of vessels, we can com.
| pete with any other nation in the building and
| sailing of ships, and with such relief our de-
pleted merchant marine will soon be restored.
Mr.. Charles H. Haskell remarked that the
ri bad oIr aIx,o
when Mr. Lynch's bill was before Congress two
years ago.
The Secretary read resolution passed on the
Goth of May, 1870.
Mr. A. X. Shurtleff remarked that in his
opinion it was advantageous in the present de.
pressed condition of our shipping, and our in
ability to compete with foreign builders, to buy
ships abroad and bring them in by the payment
of duties, the same as any merchandise.
Collector Washbun replied that he had not
yet lost his allegiance to American interests
Our country was formed for a commercial ma
ton In the height of the tariff excitement in
the days of Calhoun and Clay it was conceded
that shipping must be protected. No policy
was more injurious than that which did not
seek to recover our equality on the seas We
should thereby lose our independence as ma
ton. If we import ships we close every ship
yard in the country, and thousands of mechan-
les suffer and many interests 'languish. Such
policy would be suicidal. He believed we should
preserve this handicraft. 1913
Mr.. Haskell favored the passage of the reso-
buttons, and said the policy of free ships
would deprive all our ship carpenters and 9TH
err mechanics connected with the interest of
their business in single day and compel emf
grafton.
Mr.. c. G. Tyler spoke of the efforts being
made in number of the coast towns in Maine
to establish shoe manufactures. These towns
are dying on account of the prostration of ship
ping, and are reaching out their hands for 9TH
er business. The merchants of those towns ad-
init this, and are begging for revival of the
shipping interests to give them business.
Mr.. Shurtleff said we had been waiting for
remission of duties or drawbacks for years, but
while the grass grows we shall starve. So long
as Pennsylvania and the West control the ac-
ton of Congress we cannot get relief. Mr..
Lynch failed to carry his BILL but it was not
through any fault of his. Now if Congress
will not grant relief in the form asked for in
Mr.. Lynch's BILL let us have free ships as the
next best thing and get some of our money
back in the carrying trade. The present duties
upon foreign articles used in ship-building
amount to positive prohibition. a,ts .
Mr.. j. w. Munger suggested that if Con-
gress would adopt the English method of allow
ing supplies for ships to be taken out of bond.
free it would be measure of relief. The pres
ent duty on these articles is burdensome-
From IS to 80 per cent. of the cost of ships is
in labor; and in the States high wages, neces-
STATED by the extreme cost of living prevents
competition with St. John, which can produce
ships at $25 to $35 per ton, which are taken
across the water, few pounds laid out in knees,
and they are rated AL for five years at the Eng
lish Lloyds They can therefore carry freight
at one half our rates and make money. The
remission of duties ON materials will not be
sufficient to compete with British manufacture
ers. Al least IS per cent of our commerce has
gone to foreign bottoms.
Mr.. Washburn thought Mr. Munger over
stated the proportion of labor in the cost of
ships. He understood Mr. Lynchs proposition
not only provides for supplies free of duty but
for everything entering into the construction of
ships. One of the most successful and intell-
gent ship-builders of Maine had recently said
to him in substance that if the relief contem-
plated in Mr.. Lynch's bill was granted, we can
compete with foreign ship-builders. Our labor
is more skilled and like amount paid will pro-
duce more. With relief and protection our
ships can flourish again. If we buy foreign
ships every shipyard in the country will be lost.
Mr. Washburn, referring to the remarks of
Mr.. Tyler, said that diversity of business is the
secret of prosperity. If everybody rushed into
the shoe business it would be over-done The
people in the coast towns who are proposing
this, should labor to get back their shipping
and leave boots and shoes to the localities that
cannot build and sail ships.
Mr. j. H. Hamlen said he should vote for the
resolutions. He did not believe that drawbacks
would give us all the needed relief. With draw
backs and fair tariff we shall be able to COM
pete with Others Unless Congress gave speedy
relief he believed we should 60 for free ships
Mr. T. C. Hersey said he believed from the
present movements that Congress would settle
the question the present session. but while the
question was open he hoped the Portland Board
of Trade would adhere to its former decision.
Boston formerly stood shoulder to shoulder
with us, but she has changed ground. There is
no change here. If we throw open our ports to
foreign ships we should have all the old bot
toms of the world under the American flag.
We could get no freights with them, insurance
would be increased and we should be worse off.
If Congress will allow us to reopen our ship
yards, labor, about which much has been said
here, will be equalized. We shall call the most
skilled mechanics from the Provinces. The
only free trade in ships we want is the free
trade which would come of reciprocity with the
Dominion.
The following resolutions were added to the
list and all were unanimously adopted:
Resolved That the meeting hereby re-affirm
the resolution adopted by this Board May 20,
1870, viz:
Toted That this Board approves of the bill before
Congress for the relief of the shipping or ship-buid
ing interests by the proposed remission of duties tax
ation &C.. materials used in the construction of
vessels and steamers.
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trade of Port
land cordially approves of the bill introduced
in the House of Representatives by Hon. John
Lynch, prohibiting the collection of pilotage
and harbor dues by State or municipal authori-
ties, and would respectfully urge upon Congress
its enactment at the earliest date practicable
RESOLVED, That copy of the foregoing reso-
buttons be forwarded to each member of Con-
gress from this State.
A communication was received from Messrs.
George w. True & Co., calling attention to the
expense and delay incident to transportation
between Portland and the West. The debate
| took colloquial FORM and the sentiment of