The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-04
FREE TRADE IN SHIPS.

WHAT AN AMERICAN sHIpowNKI sAys-How
FOREIGN SHIPS IN WAR TIME MIGHT CARRY
OUR FLAG IF THE SHIPPING LAWS AE1
cHANaED-How AMERICANS MAY OWN
FOREIGN BUILT sHIPs-rHE REAL REMEDIES
NEEDED.
The question Of free trade ships IL exciting good
deal OF attention America A. present. IN view OF the
opportunities which general Of war IN Europe
may give rise, and HERALD reporter was despatched
the representatives Ct various New York shipping
firms 10 learn their opinions Mr.. Frederick @
Schmidt large owner Of shipping, gave the writer
his Impressions on this subject, US folIows:-
~ think the popular cry OF Free trade in free
ships iallacy Half tho people who alc seeking
panacea existing evils In free trade not know
what II or do not know what they are taking
ABOUT Ny own Impression Is, there Is fund raised
ny British capitalists In order to operate in Washing
ton 10 repeal what Is known the Navigation laws.
THIS would give Americans the privilege OF putting
foreign built shirs under American rogistries or
enrolments. AS the law now stands there 10
no declaring an American citizen from owning
foreign built vessel but he Is restricted In the most
positive way, IN regard the trade IN which he is
to be employed. For example, such q vessel be
used In commerce between Great Britain and the East
Indies Brazil or, 10 iact 10 any portion Of the
world except TO tho United States They are lot
granted registry or enrolment, but entitled 10 ny
American ensgns. and carry with Thorn documentary
certificate from tho customs that tho vessel owned
by American cizens entitled to all protection 40
regular registered craft Here Mr. Schmidt turned TO
tho regulations, printed by the Treasury
Department, and pointed out the act under which
this can be DONE II Is found In chapter s. page so,
articles 81. ~ and 95. md have not before been pub
hshed, save by tue g0vernment-
xr,cLs bull. vessel: purchased and wholly
tegerents neutrals during which the United
sS the Authorities
the United s.stss the 2ropsriy Of American a
BY me laws Of the United states be
ART DlTo enable however the Of such vessel
ss e ns *. Ss
hidden by law TO grant any marine
IL his Office sushsntc.to validity
and deliver to the owner certificate to that effect ssrt
These thus the transfer was ia good
II sn III s % me
Of the bill Of sale aud citizenship will Oe prma tacis evil
Ant ali cases. therefore tho evidence Of
sss p;ooi 81 ss ~
Meter Of W % ,s. Dc IN 70
IN IL ni i
iss .%r Hssa ~ VAN
i Il. ;ss. T:;ss
$500 Of the 80 here follows descrp.io Of vssseU. sold
s saS .a w and has bsn duly
my ONCE sna that the las.niny owassj are ELL
sens OF the Uuitsd states.
Witness my hand and seal, &c.
THE EFFECT OF The LAW.
Upon being questioned n regard 70 these provisions
the shipowner named told the HERALD reporter that
he considered idea that the repeal ot The Navga
ton act would benefit American commerce was abb
surd Tor the simple $50 foreigners can
procure all the American owners they may want
during This IS doLe by selling the vessels 10
tenn Gizon n rpl IN All m sOn
enable The latter 10 lake oath ut the Custom House
he the owner. He gets his papers and the ves
.But is The real owner NOT in danger OF being
swinded?'
sides, when the ship eoes to sen she manned W
officer OF tho owners choice and crew selected BY
.Th,s seems, however, 70 be . risky business"
when u ~ considered the owners have another
remedy. They take from The nominal owners powers
oil Attorney and on the mortgage they can take pos
session almost any ums. =
.Can we build snip. here cheaply as In England
the Clyde IN case our business should revive ~
sCsrssinly. As regards wooden ships they eau be
built cheaply shan AZ any other period within
they VIII work out their own salvation. general
| European Wat would merely permit The American nag
be used a. coyer ana amer .na. the Vessels would
flags, leaving ~ bare OF tvnnsge and our competent
| scsmeu and navigators out Of employment can see
| NO way make compromise N which Americans
would be benefited and therefore, consider the cry
freo trade In Tree ships ~ unwse aud iooiisn.
man and run ships - prouIaby ~ the English an
| swer:-
.Secoad-Our capitalists look for larger return Tor
| their investments tnan foregnera Where they are
| content with from three 10 SIX per oent Americans
want uftccn or twenty.
"TAird-rhe detects in our marine laws. A mortgage
on . sh,p should be- hrst lien, always excepting
| mems wages botomry bond, NJ the present
| moment IL almost impossible 10 borrow money
vesse because capitalists hnd so many uncertainties
| In q
| now stands weasel cannot le held Tor supplies fur
| nished her homo port although she bo held
IN foreign port Also. the rights or minority own.
crs should 10 Recognized suppose ship Is owned by
two parties, possesses nve.eghtn aud the other
a thrse-eightn interest An accounting 10 demanded
by tho owner III the smaller share and Is refused
| by the larger shareholder The vessel seized and
the larger owner In order to release simply enters
into bond 20 retain The properly IN good condition
been praclised 30 oten aud the large holders have
proved their ability 10 ngnt OH smaller owners by
simply insuring Interests tho rights VI the
| minority aro trxmpied upou with impunuy.
According ~ the EogIsh practice ships should also
10 permitted 70 take out certain amount OF supplies
out OIL bond Tree Vi duty, the amount TO Dc citcum-
scribcd according TO tonnage aud length Of voyage
Tue repeal the tonnage duties also would DO another
sep toward commercial prosperity.
| sALKs IN FOREIGN PORTS.
rhe acts OF consuls who fuib certain laws without
common might also be modified advantage
For tue Secretary vi the Treasury according
to regulations exacts three month"; extra pay for any
seaman discharged from American vessels oi y
sale vi said vessel being made orciyn ports. Now
orders frequently come IRON the West lndies Cuba.
Porto Rico and The spanish for small
sells anu tugs aud large trade has been built ny Wy
supplying this demand. suppose contract Is niaue
to deliver vessel az one OF the above ports, the owner
makes his calculation. snips crew gives them high
wages Tor taking the vessel out. anu agrees 10 pay
their passage home When trausier vi The vessel
Is maze Ucore the American Consul the latter exacts
three months wages Tor every man, although have
known some where the declined 10 Receive
the money and specially protested against H. To these
men The consuls return the explanation that tho