The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
The Struggle in Congress
for Free Ships.
EXTRAVAGAN7 DEMANDS OF SHIPDUILDERS.
Opposition Of Ocean Subsidy Advocates
to the Existing Law.
The ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL.
Amount Required to Pay Arrears
of Pensions.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1879.
AMERICAN REGISTRY FOR FOREIGN BUILT SHIPS
HOW OCEAN SUBSIDIES ARE DEFEATED BY THE
EXISTING LAw-ExTRAvAGANT DEMANDS OF
AMERICAN sHIPBUIDERs AND THE PROBABLE
RESULT.
The Maine and Pennsylvania men who vigor-
ously oppose the movement to grant American reg
istry to ships owned by American citizens matter
where they built striking for too mich. They
insist upon the total exclusion of foreign built ships
of all kinds and this. if the two houses vote
on it, they will be beaten; not only because they
claim close monopoly, which has become repug-
nant to the general Of justice but also because
. good many men who would like to see ocean sub
sides granted have discovered that the House will
vote no such aid without at the same time giving
free registry to all ships owned by American citizens
Ocean subsidies under the present registry laws,
are. everybody here now understands. not grants
for encouragement Of commerce, open to all citi
Gems alike who choose to perform the service, but
simply gifts to two steamship builders. who
having monopoly under the law, put the subsidy
into their pockets just certainly as though their
names were in tho bill. Having close monopoly. it
turn out as good ships they would have to if an
American citizen were allowed to buy a steam
ship where he pleases. The Philadelphia
men argue that they and do build
as chesply any builders in Europe; in which case
it would be supposed that American owners and
buyers would not complain. because it is undoubt-
eddy more convenient for merchant to have his
ship built here under his eyes than the Allan
tic. But the fact is that the American monopolisr
does not build good and stanch o steamer. Having
the market exclusively to himself, he is not COM
PEELED to do his best. Hence frequent complaints
that where these home built steamers run on the
same line and in competition with foreign lines,
they found to eat up large share Of
the profits in repairs. San Francisco reports
that Of the most celebrated and finest of
the China line cost so much in money and time to
repair. after her first voyage to place her at very
serious disadvantage against the foreign built
ships of other lines.
Those who demand free registry for ships owned
by Americans do therefore, not because they want
perversey to buy their ships abroad, but because
they would like to see American builders compelled
by competition to build as good and solid ships as
foreigners. Nobody doubts that American ship
builders can build cheap and staunch
stesmer foreigners; the serious complaint is that
they do not but that they skmp their work because
they enjoy monopoly under an antiqusted law, and
able to say to American who would like to set
up steamship lne:-"You must buy your steamers
of US and take such vessels choose sell you
or you shall not establish your enterprise at all
II the shipbuilders were only u little moderate in
their demands they might easily succeed in keeping
the market they have so long monopolized. They
insist upon nothing less than the absolute exclusion
from registry of all vessels which they do not build
If they would be content with a tariff on
<~f ;rty
could get that for many Of the advocates of free reg
istry would support such measure. which would at
least operate q check upon the charges of the
workmanship of the American shipbuiding monopo-
lists. bill granting registry to all ships owned by
American citizens. but laying duty of thirty per
cent adj valorem ships of foreign build when they
take register and hoist the flag. if it introduced
and supported by the Phiadelphia builders. would
probably get the support of the free ship mon and
become law. II this does not happen however, the
day is not far of when bill admitting all ships
owned by Americans to registry on proof Of their
ownership will become a law.
The advocates of ocean subsidies here Of
two classes: consists Of the agents Of Phila-
delphia steamshi builders who looking for job.
and TO whom the extension of American commerce.
much talked of, means only that Congress shall
provide fat subsidies which they. holding the mo-
nopoly Of ship buihing. will pocket less the expense
" their lobby. II Congress should grant free registry
70 American owned ships the lively interest these
gentlemen feel in the extension Of American com
merce would measurably die out and their lobby
would disappear. The other class friendly to ocean
subsidies consists of merchants and Others Northern
and Southern men. who have legitimate interest in
the increase of commerce. and who argue that
foreign nations pay largely for the maintenance
OF steamship lines government is in
. manner compelled for a time at least
TO follow their example, But these persons would
like to buy their ships cheaply possible; their
interests in fsvor of free registry and they begin
to see that. whether the enemies of monopoly are
strong enough to pass free registry law not they
at any rate strong enough prevent tho passage
of ocean subsidies until free registry granted Hence
II is TO their interest TO support registry law
whenever the question comes fairly before Congress-
whether IL will do at this session is doubtful but
the shipbuiders ought to that the days of their
monopoly are numbered. and IL they are wise they
would compromise q tariff on foreign ships for
which they would get the support OF good many
FREQ registry men.