Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-09

commercial Convention.

4 VI >140 tAAS iOaA QoCStAOA " ~ SUBSTITUTION
Of steam for sail. and what we must do was
20 put steam vessels upon the ocean History
of sailing ships mad been already written.
| One of England's great advantages was her
banking institutions. which dotted the world
while hardly a branch of an American bank
could be founl outside of the limits of the
United States. He paid a hearty compliment
70 John Roach. saving it was his fathers
opinion. As well As his own, that there was no
man in this whole coui.try TO whom the ship
owning. building and commercial classes
owed 81 much as To that noblemsn who, single
handel and alone. was determined that he
would have an American steamship line upon
the ocean, no matter what ii cost him.
This statement called forth loud applause,
and Frank \. Thayer proposed three cheers
for Mr.. Roach, which were given.
Mr.. Low. continuing, said when we had
ten John Reaches in this country we would
have an ocean commerce. The speaker
stated he was opposed TO the purchase of
ships abroad Cheapness of money, naviga-
ton of ships, their original cost and their use
were elements that entered into the shipping
business Cheapness of money was now do
ing much for us. We used TO think ! per
cent. was a low rate of interest, but we are
now accustomed to talk of per cent. There
were many determinations against us in
navigation. Our ships were compelled to
carry life saving apparatus costing double
what the English carried We certainly ought
TO compel English ships TO come up to our laws,
or if We were unnecessarily stringent we ought
10 relax and give our merchants same priv
ileges with them. \ gentleman connected
with Philadelphia line had told him that
their vessels were inspected by a board on
every trip before leaving an English port, and
every slightest defect had to be repaired, and
vessels were put to all possible delays and
annoyance. And vet White Star line
steamer could leave New York with only one
blade in her screw and no one in the United
States could interfere. He was not in favor
of a repeal of the navigation laws, nor yet of
the proposition to ask for o bounty of so
much a ton. They had vet to have the sup
port of public sentiment before they could
work effectively. He was in favor of a COM
promise substitute, which proposed bounty
of 10 per cent, and tax of 10 per cent. on
foreign built vessels. That was a difference
of - per cent. in favor of American built
vessels and the difference of cost as Mr..
Roach himself said, only 10 per cent.
He believed the day for revival of our ocean
marine nearer than was thought.
After adjournment at l o'clock the dele
gates, upon invitation of the city authorities,
visited the city institutions in the harbor
Delegates returned from the harbor at .
O'Clock and the session was resumed at s
o'clock. The convention having expressed
its decided opinion opposite to free ships and
against advising repeal of the navigation
laws, proceeded to consideration of other
matters. \ resolution offered by Washing
ton Ryan of Portland was adopted in the fol-
lowing form:
That as foundation for all measures pro-
posed relating to ocean commerce and gen.
cral navigation Interests. of the country, this
convention petitions Congress to establish a
department of commerce, to be presided over
by separate cabinet officer, and that
Congress assume and exercise the powers
granted by the constitution to regulate COM
mcrce through that department.
The resolution of J. Edward Burt of Bos-
ton, in effect: That Congress be petitioned
to amend the law relating to admeasurement
of vessels, SO that accommodations for Off
GERS and men shall be exempt from measure
ment, or only such space as is available for
cargo be measured, and that English laws for
admeasurcment of both steam and sailing
vessels he adopted, so that American vessels
will be placed upon an equal footing with
vessels of that nation,-was amended on mo-
ton Of w. w. Bates of Chicago SO As to pro-
vide for outside measurement, and calling
for appointment of a committee Of five to
consider the subject and prepare a bill for
presentation to Congress. The amendment
was voted down and the resolution as origi-
naly reported adopted.
Resolution calling for abolition of COM
pulsory pilotage caused lively discussion.
Henry Winsor of Philadelphia offered a
resolution. He said there was other COM
pulsory pilotage besides that of compelling
captain to take pilot The law as now
to board and pilot ships having contagious
diseases on board. This he did not want
changed. He thought the English pilot laws
were good enough.
Il. s Osborn strongly favored abolition. He
argued that tug boats run no pilots to-day, and
in support of his argument he stated no sooner
does pilot get on board a vessel when he be-
gins to look around for smoke. When sighted
slip is headed for it, and as soon tugs
make fast the pilot sits down and the captain
of the tug takes the ship into port. He cited
many cases of compulsory pilotage where
half pIotage was charged where no service
was performed.
James f. Ward of New York spoke in
favor of the resolution. He said he was
managing a line of steamers plying between
New York and Havana. He paid his captain,
who sailed his ship and run the risk of sick
ness. 5000 per month. and to pilot who
spent but five hours on his ship, more than
he I'D his captain.
!. Edward Burt of Boston. stated that his
firm were obliged to pay $500 on single ships
running to Savannah.
Mr. Ward said every steamer run ashore
coming to New York for the past two years
had pilot on board, and Mr.. Ewell of New
York said the same was true for the past p
years.
Resolution was adopted by vote of "a to
10.
Frank w. Thayer Of Boston offered reso-
luton that in the Judgment of the conven-
ton the Office Of Il ited States commissioner
should be abolished. and shpowners and
captains left free to employ officers and men
to man their ships and to pay them off with
ont interference from any government
official
This resolution brought out Mr.. osborn of
New York who made an attack the ship
ping commissioner of New York, and Mr..
EIwcll defended him. Capt. Snow of New
York also defended the commissioner Of New
York.
Mr. Thaver said it was not the man but
the office of which he complained. He had
nothing against Mr.. Duncan, but it well
known that he got his position through Ward
Beecher's influence. The commissioner of
Boston was a politician from Wiscasset and
.ouI1 never Ia. found in his office