The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-22


l believe, upon broad and permanent principles, that
the only way to bring US back TO commercial pros
the other grievous burdens resting upon American
shipping In this state ships are taxed as personal
property, in England they are not taxed at all our
consular fees are much heavier than those imposed
upon any other nation. In 1876 Inc lees
collected by tho English consular service
by tho United States Consus amounted 10
100000, being most oncrous lax upon American
shipping AS Sir. Hewitt SAID 10 his recent speech,
1.-THE Englisn consular service is tanned at an an
nual cost 10 the British Treasury OF $780, OOO whio
our system IS maintained by tax on commerce, pay
ing It's entire cost and putting surplus o. Slio,uuo
into he Treasury" English shipowners have tho
right 10 buy al ships supplies, such as colee Tea,
duty You SEQ there at what great disadvantage our
laws place u.s."
repeal tho coastwise trade, which, he SAID, was
vested interest and might be ruined by sudden ccs
When asked whether the repeal would not hurt
American shipDuildng he replied that according 70
Mr.. Ganse Mr. Roach and Others, 1t could NOT, as
they had loudly Gained 10 BIO able 10 buid iron SHIPS
just as cheaply as they could be built IN Europe
ROBERT b. MiNruEN.
Mr.. Robert b. Minturn, oi Gnnncll, Minturn Co.,
SAID that certainly the American shipper could not
he expected compete successfully with Inc German,
French or Italian as long as he prohibed by law
from buying tonnage as cheaply as they could. Mr
MLturn gave the history OF tho decline o. American
shipbudlng substantially as detailed by Mr. Marshall
Had Americans been able 10 buy English iron ships
when they were vastly cheaper than theirs The Amer
lean flag would have maintained itself on par with
ton laws, VIII h had come down from Cromwe's time.
had made that impossible. sour government says
n w Say WHINE 10 exempt tns
coastwse trade from the operations OF the Tree nav-
CATION act not becaused no believed IT would DC In
jured but 10 remove It's opposition 10 repeal OIL the
present Law. With their arrangements, agencies, &c,
perfectly secured and with the favor winch would
always be gwen TO American lines even the coast
had nothing TO fear from foreign OPPOSE
tion. ''rnat is matter merely Tor the consumers"
he said ior tney really have 10 pay Tor the freight
trade In the hanos OF an American monopoly we
shippers are satisfied" AS to tho results Of
war between England and Russia Mr. Mlnturn
thought that American shipowners would un-
doubleday be benefited, provided only that
would seriously harass the British commerce. The
English claimed that Russia had no fleet worth
speaking OF 20 keep the pritsh men-oi-war occupied
the iatter would have ample time 10 look after any
Russian privaleers II British commerce was really
harassed the English would no doubt DO glad 10 sell
their ships cheapy 10 Americans.
''But IL IS said that they would only nominally sell
thor ships, to take them back after the warp
"Well, the Americun shipping men would not lend
them their protection nothing--lt they could
buy the ships outright they certainly would secure
commission But IN repeating the law stringent pro-
visions should be enacted, recommended by the
HERALD, 10 secure genuine American ownership The
new law should be SO framed that any cvasions
by fictitious transfers 0. ownership could not DO
accom- without false oaths ana without incur
ring serious penalties. AS the American government
is bound 10 protect every ship SAILING under the
american nag fictitious ownership would give this
protection 10 ships that did not deserve IT."
Mr.. Mnturn was firmly OF the opinion mat the re-
peal OF the law would result IN gradual increase OF
The tonnage under the American nag Inc
statement OF snipbuidcrs that IRON ships could be
built here cheapy as in Europe was one that should
be received with Qualifications II tho snpbuildcrs
really thought 20 they would not so eaergccaily OPP
pose any change in the law allowing Americans 10 buy
their ships abroad
Mr.. L. Mckay, Of Mckay Il DIX, No. ITO Water
ton act would greatly increase American ocean ton.
mage. lie did not believe that iron ships could DO
least not upon the same specifications. Mr. Mckay
said tnat although and his partner were American
Citizens nearly all their ships were sailing under the
Brush flag because the conditions OF British owner
snip were so much more favorable and easy ihan
those Of American ownership. Those ships were
mostly built IN Quebec, whore they could be got much
cheaper than here.
VIEWS OF IMPORTERS.
Dir. William LIBBY, OF the hrm OF A. T. stewart
Co., said that the proposition nlado by the HERALD
the most common sense proposition that can DO
maze to American merchant ana why We are not
portance OF obtaining Tor ourselves tho profits OF
inc carrying trade is evident, ana American
merchants oush. TO DO aos 70 Dmy snips
matter in what country or under what
nag they were buiit AS TO the influence OF the pro-
posed change on American commerce, Mr. Libby SAID
he did think IL would be TO increase the volume
uch except that by keeping the profits OF tho car
rying home thereby, as tar as We are con-
lessenng one element or tho cost OF produc-
tion might give Indirect stimulus 10 importing
and export,ur A similarly indirect stimulus might
law might 90 lar toward bringing about The very
result which was sought TO DO accomplished by the
enactment oil The law.
Ii. THuRBER
Mr.. +. Il. Thurber, OF the Arm OF II. X. h f. b.
rhuroer Co., Importers OF groceries, said mat IKE
most TINS question has TWO sides 10 IT. but inc
v eight OF argument Is on the sido taken ny tho
HERALD. o. tie one hand, u is desirable that Ameri-
suipbudins should DO iosercd; bot on tho other
nand tbs good OF people ~ general, u Is de-
siraOle that American shipping merchants should Do
permitted to buy loreign Quilt ships and them
IA
war between Great Britain and Russia, MS
American commerce IN English or Russian ships
xoud endangered II would be to our advantage 10
COY vessels oil both natonalities with the American
nag The result could not but help American
eights, because IN oil war there would be
great demand neutral vessels, and If AmcrIct had
sells would get her share Of the irciehts As
N instance Of me sensl.iveaess o. commerce 70
Two months ago one OF our importa-
lions oil teas IRON CANA had 10 supulate
that the goods should no. be shipped on an Enstish
vessc or II they were provision should De made Tor
prem uns, u any, and this circumstance alone
Was enough TO create preference for any otner aAe"
lie inclined 10 say that mere transfers OF ves-
sells TO tho American lag without actual change OF
Nv Gership, should not be permitted During Tho lae
l,eree, many OF the transfers the English nag were
merely nominal While Tho ships were ostensibly
,wncd by Enslishmen tho pronis slil accrued 10
Americans
ASsoS PHELPS STOKES
Mr.. Arson Phelps stokes, member OF the nrm Of
Phelps, Dodge Co, SAID that whic no was an advo-
oil absolutely Tree trade ia ships he was yet glad
% the HERALD calling Tor oven a partial modin-
,atto OF the navigation laws .Thero only three
Ihnes,n said Mr. Stokes, .'prohbited ny our tariH
aws--thcse are counterfeit money obscene Htera-
ure and ships. II ships arc good Things to have
Tho only question should be, How Can NO get
hem cheapesif and therefore we ought 10 DO
iblc to go into market and see who
viii sell cheapest Wnie Tree trader III The opti.
INST sense" continued Mr. stokes, II would DO glad
any measure OF relief sucn 10 allow vessels
large tonnage register Ior the foreign irade. even
il smaller vessels were not allowed 10 participate in
The coastwisc trade, or to see vessels admitted on
paying small rate oI duty II Tree trado In ships can
not be obtained. Free traders do not object
10 tarn Tor revenue, but when pro.cc-
ion begins tho revenue begins 10 decline.
II IN any way reuuce tho cost OF getting SHIPS
mat would 20 tar DO an advantage" Mr.. stokes did
not THINK that the elect OF Allowing foreign butt
snlps 10 register under tho Amer can nag would DO
any remarkable stimulus 10 our iorcgn commerce. but
The gain IN The prvlts oi the carrying trade would
DO quite enough TO justify u. He thought
tlaL probably could not ships quite as chcapy
ns the Euglisu, because tho English seamen, beng
NJ less expense TO support tntir families Than Amer-
can scancn, work Tor lower wages But tbat
would not materially reduce the PROFITS OF the carry
Ing trade. III am giad TO see, said Mr.. stokes In con-
ciuson, 'that the HERALD Is paying SO much attcn.