Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1881-02-28

enterprise which pays more 'han 'ne
yery lowest rate OF interest in this
country. England engages in ocean
shipping because it pays her best.
The United States refrain from ocean
traffic because, railroad mining and ag'
riculture pay better and not because
ocean traffic will not pay. The fact
that We have SO much tonnage now
engaged in ocean traffic shows that We
have not been driven from the ocean.
All else being equal Mr.. Gibbons
shows where the inequality comes in
between England and the United
States. The expenses incident to the
support of an American steamship are
greater he says than these Of any other
people. Rates Of interest to European
ship owners are only three and four
per cent. while the interest in this
country is from six to eight per cent,
This difficulty is about to be removed
by the passage OF judicious funding
bill by Congress, at reasonable rate
of interest, which will drive capital to
seek other Investments. some Of which
will 20 to the carrying trade OF the
oceans.
Nr. Gibbons also shows that the
rates OF Insurance TO European owners
are only from three to seven per cent.
while to American vessels the rates are
from six to ten per cent. from Amer,
can underwriters. This inequality
should not exist bu: should be con-
ttoled by an international board of
underwriters If such thing were poa-
sible. There is no reason why al
American ship which is stronger built
and better equipped than foreign yes
seis should nave to pay three per
cent higher than foreign ship.
Mr.. Gibbons mentions many other
minor points which in his opinion mil,
itates against the United States
amongst which are wages, which are
30 per cent. higher in this country
than upon European ships; and more
costly provisions are furnished to
Americans than to European crews.
There Mr.. Gibbons has touched a vital
point. American labor is better paid
and American laborers are better fed
than in Europe, and this state of at,
fairs cannot be changed without degra
ding the manhood Of the American la
borer and reducing him to the condi
ton Of the paupsr laborer of Europe
We DO not believe that Mr.. Gibbon
himself desires this to be done. A
the head OF one Of the leading sLi,
building firms OF the United States h
sppreciates the value OF intelligep
skilled artisans and laborers who ar
not the mere walking automatons c
the will and power Of another. Their
may be many oppressive restriction
upon our shipping interests but N
one fact that American lsbor is pre-
tected aud paid twenty per cent. NOR
than European labor is paid ia a redeem
ing feature.
Mr. Gibbons refers to many othe
points in which the expenses Of a;
American shipper is increased over
B1ropean shipper. Legislation in thi
country in relation to boilers and hull
, Of vessels, he says are annoying an
5 all the required regulations for carry
: ing passengers and freight are cost
: in the extreme. So the laws relatiy
Il to the shipment Of crews and the
treatment while on board, hospitl
g dues for sick and disabled seamen are a
= exactions which bear with grindir
i force upon ship owners. In no cas-
t does Mr.. Gibbons advocate repeal
0 these restrictions which an intelliger
public will recognize as humane an
requisite, but he mentions them! b
cause European ship owners are NJ
troubled with such requirements an
) hence they escape the annoyance an
, expense, thus initiating against ii
profits which would inure to Amer
can ship owners were all things equa
Mr.. Gibbons briefly sums up the rel
= sons why ship can be built as chea
d in America as in Europe thus:
1t will BE- asked why, in view of th
fact that the prices of steel and iroi
4 and all other materials, save WOO
y which enter into the construction
: steamships, are cheaper in Englsr
! spd on the continent than in the I'm
! ted Ststes, and that the rates Of skill
oied labor sss also leas costly than wi
sitLe Americans, the latter can hui
8 ships as cheaply as the constructors
l. shs former countries. The answer
J. this: 1t is true, as stated, that Il
!, values Of materials aud wages a
u ebeaper with the English and Scot
l. builders than with the American: B
D. the poisonous infusne of trades-uni>
70 which have so long controlled the ope
p ations of the former, have held ba
a, from and prevented the use OF t
- many labor. saving appliances TO
;. found 10 all of the well-equipped AM
~ lean yards; and to such an extent az
W chic sinolp Iartic1lar obtain tina