National Republican., 1882-12-18
THE STATELY sHlps.


How the Democrats Would co TO Work
20 Set Them Sailing Over the Sens Again.
The report of the minority of the joint
select committee upon the revival of the
shipping interests of the United States is
signed by Representatives s. S. Cox and Robert
NJ. McLane and Senator George G. Vest.
The report, after reviewing the history of
American shipping since 1855 and showing by
annual statistics its gradual decline, proceeds
to a discussion of the causes which have
brought about the present state of Affairs.
Chief among these the report says, is the re-
striction placed upon commerce by protect.
i've tariff. "There must be a trade and COM
merce or free interchange of commodities
between the United States and other trans
oceanic countries, or there will be
no occasion for ships or opportunity to
proftably employ them. Now, for many
years the policy OF tho United States has been
TO impose taxes and frame laws with the
avbwed purpose of restricting SO much of the
commerce Of tie country rs is carried on in
ships upon the ocean. What has been the
resnltp IL has been SO eminently successful
that the American commercial marine has
been nearly annihilated. The tariff
operates as we'll to discourage shipping and
commerce as to prohibit ship-building in iron
and steel. The burden OF the evidence is that
we can now build wooden ships and of a su-
perior quality in this country as cheaply as
they ar built abroad, hut as to the building of
iron and steel ships, the cost of materials and
labor abroad Is such that the percentage is
largely against ms, and if we could build it Is
doubtful il our people would buy them since
it will not pay to run under present laws and
conditions"
The report then sets forth the conclusions
at which the minority have arrived snbstan-
italy as follows:
An examination of all the evidence tearing
on the situation makes it evident that no one
measure will arrest the decay Of American
shipping bring back prosperity to our ocean
carrying trade, or revive the industry of ship
building in this country. The facts make it
further evident:
First. That we must repeal our naviga-
ton laws, at least to the extent Of permit
ting our navigators and merchants to sup
ply themselves with ships conditions as
favorable as are enjoyed by their competitors
who are the merchants and sailors of other
maritime nations.
Second. If we are to build ships in the
United States in competition with other ma
tions-and unless we can do so the ships we
may build will never be voluntarily bought
or used by our own citizens or any others
our snip DullucTS IluSU nave untlr lnaIeTldis
for construction as cheap as the builders with
whom they are to compete. Either allow the
importation free Of duty Of all the material
and stores that enter into the construction
and equipment Of ships or reduce the tariff.
Third. If foreign competing maritime ma
tions do not subject their ships to local taxa
ton the United States evidently cannot af.
ford to do so.
Fourth. Reduce all the expenses, taxes and
other burdens on shipping.
Fifth. Repeal the United States shipping
act of 1872
Sixth Reform the tariff and the natural
resources of our cotrtry and the intelligence
of our people are such that with the reduction
of the burden of taxes and prices consequent
upon low rates of duty we shall regain in the
next twenty years more than we have lost in
the last twenty and become the first maritime
nation of the world. ,.,,
In conclusion the report says. When we
reform our whole tariff system and extend oui
markets for our continually increasing sur.
plus we may revive the means by which we
ourselves may exchange the products OF this
country with those of other countries, and
thus not only save the $l40O00,00O paid te
| foreigners in freightage and fares, but gradu
ally resusctate that art, the very apprentice
| ship to which is almost obsolete" The mi
nority of the joint committee; while concur
ring with the report as to the measures re
ported by the committee, desire also to pre-
sent two other propositions: r.
| First For the admission free of duty of al
| the materials finished and perfected and ready
to put together in a ship.
| Second For the free admission to American
registry of ships built abroad.