New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-17
REVIVAL OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY MERCHANTS.

The report OF speclai committee VI '"'
Chamber of Commerce the revival OF American eom-
merce caused largely attended meeting OF the Cham-
Der yesterday. The recommendations made were FAVOR
ably discussed and in the main approved, with amend
ments calling upon Congress TO provide the
necessary relief. The recommendations were
taken up singly and in order Among the recon-
mendations approved without discussion were 'ne
repeal of the existing law requiring the pay
of three months wages all discharged In Tor
eien ports the amendment OF the law requiring all
American vessels to transport wrecked sailors for uni
form price of $40 each that the compensation sna Do
so cents day for the time required for the passage 10
amend the existing law the subject OF the admeasure
ment of vessels that there shall be deduction from
gross tonnage spaces occupied by the crew. passen
ger cabins boilers, machinery, etc., and thus relieve
them from the payment Of large fees and other dues
which foreign vessels exempt from; that all snip
property engaged in foreign trade and TO and from Pa
ciGc ports shall be exempt from all United States State
and municipal taxes; general law to limit
the individual liability of ship-owner, under
all crcumst ances, TO the proportion OF any
and all debts and liabilities that his individual share
Of the vessel represents TO the whole
Upon the recommendation to pay salaries TO consus
and to abolish all fees charged to vessels for consular
service and Improve the consular service, Foster
Higgins read letter from Captain Logger, OF the DARK
Beebe, who states that when his vessel makes foreign
voyages he pay the Custom House. once ayear
Sl20 80 for the Government projections also tax to
the township of New Barbados N j. Of per cent on
the vessel In foreign ports he also pays TO the
Consul "a 06 to deposit his register for safe keeping On
voyage Havre his entire fees including the
fling of marine protest." were 167 francs
about 500. in this the Consul had
instructed his clerk unnecessarily to copy
the log book at an expense thirty cents for each
one hundred worda. Mr. Higgins added: 81 consider
sufficient indication of the estimate in which CONSUL
ships are held when such men Charles J. Gueau may
demand such positions because they can bring poica
influence TO bear upon It," The recommendation Was
adopted.
every kind and character entering into the construction
and repairs of vessels be made duty free to encourage
American ship-buildng, was Followed by discussion.
Royal Phelps advocated the recommendation IN the
strongest terms, saving that nothing had redoundsd 10
and that it required strong mercantile navy that
could be converted into effective navy f. L. Iaicot
G. d. s Trask and A. Il. Higgins also discussed the
subject and the recommendation was approved
II was recommended that the existing law requiring
the transportation of mails for not exceeding the
postage received be repealed that the Postmaster
postal service ana Compensate the service at sea in pro
portion the value Of such service the same as on
m iiit upon subsidies Mr.. Higgins denied the
charge of David A. Wells who accused the committee q
that Great Britain, with keen perception
OF the incalculable advantage and benefit
it is to her people to retain her supremacy
on the ocean, has led up to system
of subsidies, and ii Is welknown and authenticated that
for many years that country has not only aided in its
development, but maintained the existence or it's com,
mercia lines by system OF SUBSIDIES lie ptesehIgd
facts supporting the statements OF the cohmtee ne
denied that John Roach had had anything TO 90
with the report, but Mr. Roach had done more toward
the revival Of American commerce than any other man
ia the country.
the United ned its until the Rebellion which
made it necessary for American shpowners 10 transfer
Their interests lie would oppose subsidies, Ii was ul-
dersood that money was to be PAID for services not per-
formed but the American people had right to demand
thst Congress should pay literally ocean commerce
for mail transportation. He was informed that iron
vessels could be but as cheapy in this country as on
luda INIT
| sad experience that the Brazil Line had to be
| Withdrawn because it could not compete with subsi;
died foreign lines hence it proper tnat mail
service should be literally compensated He believed
In Englad capital engaged in The mercantile enter
prses was taxed, and this country cOuu well afford
| to do away with TINS lax, imposed as war measure
The merchants and the press combined should appeal to
Congress TO capital made free nom taxation so
that the merchants could stand equal vantage grounds
| with other nations He did not want to see
foreign steamship companies receive from TINS country
$l00,000OOO yearly Tor carrying us producs anu pas
sengers American vessels should also nave the PRIV
PROVISIONS free OF duty Upon MI Iacotts recon-
incubation resolutions were adopted that (the Chamber
believes that the time has arrived for the abolition OF
upon capital engaged IN business ente rpises ana
az IL would be of vast benefit 10 all Industries. and
terests Of this country Congress should be Impressed
with the importance Of cary the LEGISLATION station
Der docs not advocate subsidies, it believes it
TO be the duty of Congress to the efforts made
Tor ocean mail service and by removing any dscrmina-
ton which places the American slpowner at disad-
Rov9l Phelps presented resolution to abolish the
restriction Of the navigation laws so far as they
added that did not its adoption SO the resou
ton not acted upon Upon tnls Proposiiioh John
of the French ship bounty law IN building
world in 1879 consisted of 1891 sailing ships with
total of 1887 43O tons, and 5i62 steam vessels en-
gagged in foreign trade with total oil 5,5Z4,9Z1 tons
OF the three great Nations competing for the worlds
carrying trade, England owns 2l,e9l vessels, with
total of Obs, 900 tons; France, 1905 vessels and
| 929 900 tons; Germany 34O3 vessels ana 1,l933OO
IONS Thus il is tnat Germany and France nave
figures show that more than one,halt OF the worlds
| tonnage IS carried under England's flag Eng
nd' al Po Sner Is Nations and ore to
her workshops for ships. VIII the Chamber of
said about inonopoics, but there is none &c compare
with that Of Great Britain, which says: Tho greater
portion must be carried under our nag and
The capital Of other Nations must come to our work
shons All agree that this Nation needs more ships
than any other Nation because OF its great products and
II has tie iron the coal and other raw materials of
hotter nnay than elsewhere build these ships The
most energetic and Intelligent mechanics OF the WOrld
are here her sailors and capitalists are equal to those
| ~ an iron ship is labor, from the mine to the
finished slip, aud those wOrkmcn came here without
70 be Americans and TO be employed az fair days
nav To admit free ships means to close the shi-yard,
the foundry the machine shop ana 10 gave inc iHoorer
Mr. Talcott said that free ships would strike death
| blow TO American labor. -.
| Recommendation were adopted favoring Board OF
Trade Ike that in England TO ship apprentices ana TO
reboe the Tonnage in lieu OF the maintenance and
on term providing for the arrest OF deserers
and regulating profits on the STOP CHEST ana 10 aDoi-
The COMMITTEES was continued urge upon Congress-
the necessary action TO carry the recommendations INTO
effect
| SIGNOR ROSSPS Ih PRESSiONS.