New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-09
FREE SHIPS NOT WANTED.

VOICE OF THE COMM IRCIAL CONVENTION.
THE RESOLUTION AsKING GOVERNMENT AID FOR
THE RESTORATION OF AMERICAN SHIPPING
ADOPTED by VOTE OF 60 TO 11--sIoHI
sPEECHFs on BOTH SIDES.
icy 1EIEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUNE.l
B0sToN. Oct. S.-ihe National Commercial Con-
vcntion came 10 vote to-day and ITS action proved
that a majority of American ship owners and ship
builders do not demand free ships. The debate was
entirely on the following resolution reported by
the committee of nine:
S,rh- That results have clearly and forcbly proven
that uudr the present condition II affairs our shipping
cannot proper or even maintain ITSELF IN com
petition WIZ the uayigliiIu OF olhcr ~ hume
peoples. Therefore cal upon The Government To
aid the restoration al oar commerce ny slaLth@ a
per Tor steam tonnage. iot period or - years
atcr tie passage of tals act uhs to Apply only To
vessels engaged in the foreign trade and not exceeding
fifteen years oil age
The debate lasted from 10 a. m. to 1 p. IN. under
the ten minute rhe. Free ship speeches
were made by Mes'rs Hill, of Boston.
Townsend Miller and Boynton. of New-York. and
few Others. Mr.. B0ynton preferred fee steamships
coupled with a revival o. the old law for r'quIrng
that ship, shall brny in them only from the
countries III which they were butt and owned. Mr..
Miller Of New-Yorl. made excellent speech, ~
whi ho took occasion incidentally to speak Of
Yonkers and predicted for 1t a famous future in
manufacturing The speaking, however, was
chiefly on thc other side.
In the convention were men representing
200 600 tons OF American steam and 100000 tons
of sail shipping. The sentiment among these men
was almost wholly against The free ship policy and
I'm favor Of moderate fostering policy of some kind.
Speeches made on this side by M'sSrs. Cause,
of Wilmington, Bates, of Chicago. Wcthcrc and
Wiusor. of Philadelphia, Webb of Ncw-York, Ord
way Of Dos on, seth Low, OF New-York. >layton.
OF New-Hampshirc, Parsons Of troit, and Roach,
of New-York. The speeches were all brief.
Mr.. Wctneroll raised tie point that if foreign
ship, once be put under the American flag for for
eigu trade an eminent jurist had declared that tie
American vino owned It could take his property
anywhere lie pleased in this country.
Mr.. Seth Low made a capital speech, in when he
told the history Of the ships his house had owned.
and predicted success for America in the line Of
steam aippng lie was heartily applauGel.
An important incident of THIS debate was the fact
that Nh Cause Nh Roach. Captain Go,s and others
rose and stated IN behalf Of the wooden and ron
,npDulIders Of this country that builders do
not want bounty on Shipping but that
If any bounty is giy n II should all
be given to shlDowners These statements were
received IN each case with applause. The excite
mcnt ran high. ard once during Mr.. Lows remark,
when aIlusIon was made to the manner IN which
John Roach mad, Tor 50 many year., almost Single
handed and alone, fought the battle IN favor f
American shipbulldIug and slirowniug. and tire
manner IN which, by his enterprise, NE had
put tie flag at the peak OF line OF
American steamers and run them to Brazil,
Mr. Thavcr. of Boston, rose and proposed t.r,c
cheers for John Roach. These were given with Il
wall the whole convention rising 10 1t, fec, while
Nh. Ruach's lace was an understandable picture oil
bluslts and happiness
Al the hour Of ~ which was fixed for tie vote.
tie struggle became warm. Captain STOW and
others wa, ted an indefinite post. ucmcnt, and
re.ortel 10 many devices to Gle er
vote. Motions were made Of all sorts.
1hc chairman, MIR. otranahan, called 10 order Ie-
pcatcdly.
Finally the voting began. free ship substitute
offered Dy Mr.. townsend, Was voted down ny
large majority. An amendment by Mr.. It's. OF
Chicago to levy "a lax on foreign ships Tor II hi
house and harbor Improvement GueS WIS also lost. |
\ substitute 10y bir. Cause Ior dppiNug TONNAGE !
taxes 10 paw tor ocean mails, and 90 aho,h t1uua c
taxes American ship, was IDst because there was
no time o consider IT,
Another institute WAS lost and then the impor-
TAM vote was taken. The resolution quo Ell above
was adopted Jy a vote OF 60 to IL. The following
New Yorker, voted ma y: Vi '-SlS. Bplutou !
Ward. Iclfav Townsend, Rogers, Stark, Rcci, Coon
and Low. All the Others yOtod aye H. Is. Miller
was excused.
All jhc Western men except one voted aye" and
the majority OF NeW-Englaud and Middle States
men. The free snip idea was buried by an immense
majority.