Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-22
the SHIPPING INVESTIGATION.
More Hearings Before the Congressional
C0mmittee.

NKw York. Nov 81.
The joint congressional committee to ill.,
Quire into the cause of the decline in our
shipping resumed their labors this morning.
Lieut. j. Kelley of the navy, stated that he
believed that proper officers and men should
be provided for navigators of ships. Errors
of judgment and want of information on SIM
pie matters have cost hundreds of lives. He
said that one-half the shipwrecks were due
to preventable causes and two-thirds to igno-
rance and incompetency. From the exami-
nation of 5S2S English and 1867 American
casualties, il was found that of the fatal
numbers of wrecks, including collisions, As per
cent weredue to preventable causes.
Edward Lauterbach, counsel for the Pacific
Mail Steamship Co., said that the company
had S2O.OO0.0O0 invested and yet for Is years
had paid no dividends. He blamed the mail
law for it. Lauterbach also complained
that the mail law was unjust. Steamers at
San Francisco are not allowed to clear until
the arrival Of the mail, and but two cents
for each letter was allowed whether carried
100 or 800 miles. British steamers running
from San Francisco need not carry mails it
they did not wish, and all he asked for the
Pacific Mail Co. was that it might carry on
its business with that same independence
granted even to peanut vender. He adj
vocated the exception of steamers from To-
cal estate taxation. He favored also the
adjustment of commission fees for shipping
and discharging seamen.
j. b. Houston, president of the Pacific
Mail S. S. Co., said the company did not
purchase ships abroad because it could not
use foreign ships in its trade. He thought
it unjust that other companies could go
abroad and purchase vessels to compete with
American built vessels. He advocated the
same changes suggested by Lautebach.
John Roach then asked to go over some
of his testimony and when he finished
turned to Capt. Goldman and asked why he
who did not represent any shipping interests
should be permitted to supply the committee
with questio 70. Personalities were INDUCED
in and ended by Congressman Cox asking it
Goldman was in the employ of shIpbuilders
and owners abroad to which no direct reply
was given. The mate of the barkentine
Cornelius E. Rich, testified that seamen's
advance pay should be abolished.
Mr.. Edward Hincks thought if America
could buy ships and ships materials in the
cheapest market, American shipping would
not be in bad condition. At present the
carrying trade is decreasing. Notwithstanding
the fact that commerce is rapidly increasing
with the growing population.
Wooden ships could be built cheaper here
than elsewhere, but it was cheaper to use
| iron vessels. In a long run the expenses
were much less. These were the reasons
why he advocated free ships. This con-
cluded the public sessions of the committee.
After the conclusion of the public hearing
the committee held a private session aud
discussed the various points presented by
those who have appeared before them SO far.
They related to legislative distractions and
successful running of American vessels in
foreign trade after they are built. The COM
mittee unanimously cOncurred in the opinion
that all such legislative obstruction should
be removed. Senator Conger and Repre-
sentatives Cox and Dingley were appointed
a subcommittee to draft a bill and report
covering these points in accordance with the
views expressed by the committee and were
instructed to report to the committee at an
adjourned meeting to be held at Washington
Saturday, December 2, at 10 A. NJ.