The New York herald., 1878-08-27
OUT OF WORK.

OUT OF WORh.
MEssRs. CHARLES h. MARSHALL AND oEoR
WALKER BEFORE THE HEWITT coMhrrTEE
SHIPPING AND FINANCE.
The Hewitt Committee ON Labor heard great d.
OF evidence yesterday on the present stagnation
trade and labor The most important Witnesses we
Mr. Charles II. Marshall who discussed the carry
trade ana Mr.. George Walker, who dwelt upon
financial issues OF the day.
Messrs Hewitt and Rice. Of the committee, wsre
their places at hall! past eleven O'Clock, when tI
session begun. Mr. Hewitt read postal card whiy|
he had received from John Peters. OF BaitimorI
who complained that the workugmen had moi ia
representation before the committee. Mr. How'd
gave ~ explanation that he has done severs
times before since the sittings. were begun t
remove any false impressions that might be derive
from such complaints. Ae said they mad tried 20 sc
actual workngmen, and iailcd TO the present time
but If workingnen would offer their view \
either In person by writing they would be pror
ery regarded The committee would sii unt
Wednesday in this city, ana thereafter continue IL
sessions In Pittsburg and Chicago. In
IRON SHIPS IN
Mr. Charles II. Marshall was then introduced an'
said he was not largo shipowner, but he had beer
connected with commerce for fifteen years. while hi
father had the shipping trade Tor forty years
before him. lie fixed the first dscadence in AmeriI
can shipping in tho exchange OF wooden ships iei
iron He gave detailed account OF tho cost OF iror
ships in England aud in this country, coms
parison that greatly in favor OF the
former country. The life of iron ship was twenty
years. without inspection, except In case OF accident
while a wooden vessel was gwen but nine years oi
such lease American builders Claimed they could
coustruc; as good ships any other builders in
IA tNte q toint an WI
was not ready to give decided opinion. He could
see no reason why they could not do so. He in-
slanced still another advantage that English irok
ships had over American wooden ships, which was 10
commanding higher rates for transportation Taking
altogether with less primitive cost. larger Carrying
capacity larger lease of lie aud higher ra,es of re
muneraton, the iron ships were out Of the reach OF
wooden competition.
NAVIGATION LAWS.
Mr. Marshall then discussed at considerable length
commercial marine The former did not beiieve our
navigation laws were an actual hndrancc, so tar as
ioreign ship owners came do business tor US
could have done it ourselves.
sion that the navigation laws were objectionable IN
aving kept SO many American people out OF tho en-
ploy ynent tnat rightiuy belonged 10 them II we had
been quite free OF ali navigation laws we should.
Mr.. Mar arshas op nion have gone abroad 10 purchase
freight bottoms which to do our own carrying The
war, he admitted would stl have had ITS legitimate
results the condition OF our marine, ana II
tho close Of The war there mad been
no navigation laws American capital would
still have per cent against four or
per cent ior EngIish capital In addition English
we. still we could, in Mr. MarsnaIls opinion, nave
competed with them 10 AN important extent We have
comue ed TO some extent as it is But We would have
had the great advantage OF owning cheaper and
u economical faet OF vessels. For all the oshsr
difficulties that would still have 0esct "a the witness
botieved would made sensible advance
since tue war haa the navigation laws been repealed.
The cpastng trade had ooen sort Of monopoly and
laws had served good purpose. Inc witness would
not In OF opening the coasting trade i'm med-
ateiy gn compctitors but gradually he thoughss
II ought " be acconpi pi,shel. Ho would allow period
TO intervene, theu, AZ matter oil principle, No
wouli throw open The coastIng trade to otherx sg
Mr. Hew 1T asked II the navigation laws had not ns
creased the use OF articles To consumers, while pro-
tscting. as It had, the coasung trade. Mr Marshall
answered that tho trade, like all other protected
industries, mad 10 be protected At somooody!
expense. Witness expressed .ns spiu,on mat
ing ~ this country would BE- almost At az
end because of the Disadvantages before named Be-
lore the lsoored under the same disadvan-
taxes an now yol we competed 70 . considerable ex-
tent in the carrying trade with other countriss Ia
response to questions IRON Mr.. Hewitt tue w.noss
allowed that Is Was desirable for the people largo
that products bc brought hero ut he lowest possible
ratc He beievsd ALSO that the cost OF transports
tian eitncr producers or con-
samors. Ho agreed 10 the proposition that
The American people were gamers by Whoever would
do our carrying traGo cheapcs,. IL The navigation
laws repealed, all other things romaining tno
same, tho English bottoms could still underod as
ican capital would soon leave that neld TOR otherG
whore 1t found more profit
PRKk TRADE
Mr. Marshall said he was Ircc trader, and he bss
eved all other protective laws might be measured W
tho same. rule As tnoss affecting tho commerelaL
marine Free trade ihs did not mean absolute Tres
traoe) would tend 10 equaze our conditoa Win thoss
otuer countries IN all branches oi inanuiacture
The old Eassn navisatioa laws were not repeated
until England had position OF eminent superiority,
but he think tnose laws brought about tnae
superiority. lie dtd not think that navigation laws
trossed condition OF our comuercv. rne seasoo
OF depression was less felt to-day In England than
IN Amorica Mr. Hewitt asked II the volume Of
English exports had increased during the last year
and witness thought naa. wnen asked a ,nT ,o =.
donntoly, and Mr. Howitt answered or him tnas
had Tho latter added tnat on the other hand
American exports had increased both IN volume ana
value Witness said we dill not bring back the same
vauo Of products that VIC sent abroad. Tor the reason
process that IS called ''paying Tor a dead horse"
USwisE LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Marshall believed that legislation not based on
proper consideration OF the organization oil society
was largely responsible for our present troubles, and
he particularly cited the legislation inat iol.
subject OF infation ho was asked wh1
he would do II the government offered him new green
backs Tor capital that had cost nm time aua iapos
to get together. Mr. Marshall repl ed that he would
accept the green oacks for all he had, convert tncm
into gold take tho next seamcr Tor Europe VIII
ness thought should DO less sectional ana
more Tor the benefit OF tho country nj large Mr.
Hewitt SAID that Cong Washington Tor
tue people OF their particular dstrcts Senator's went
thcro tor states; but he knew VI no ono VINO went
hcre I'm the OF tne whole country There had
been some few who haa tried 10 become statesmen,
but 10 had them unpopular Ia their own dis
tricts that they were never returned
Mr.. Marshall summed up the condition of the
American shipowner to-day by comparing IL TO that
oil man hanging, on to tger's taii-to lot 20 Was
death, aud he would BIS killed II ne nuDs on.
AT the conclusion OF Mr. Narshaii's testimony
man who pronounced himself IA protcctionist, and
complain Cd side been iatrly heard by
the committee. asked Tor an opportunity 10 reply 10
Mr.. MARSHALL Nr. Hewitt said that freo trade was
but side issue with the committee, and only these
who happened 10 be before them on otncr suujccts
had been asked their opinions on this. lney mad
not time TO hear everybody, aud MT Jonn Roach,
prominent protecionis would appear before them
on Wednesday (tomOrrow)
Mr. Robert +. Austin. wholesale grocer, took the
witness AR and gave evidence that bore moro on
subject OF railroad monopoly than that which
it is inc particular province OF tho committee %
consider.
THg FINANCIAL ISSUE.