The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-16
AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

Ok the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
is a present movement in reference TO
petitioning congress relative to legis-
lation regarding the American ship
building industry. 1t has always
been cardinal principle of the Re
publican party that American ships
should be built in America. 1t is, in
the opinion of many, the only view of
the case consonant with the require
ments OF our foreign trade. The
question OF cost is the main one, and
until ii is clearly demonstrated that a
vessel can be built as cheaply in the
United States as IN England, Ameri-
can purchasers of English vessels
viii be in the majority. Capital rec
Ognizes no sympathy, makes no con-
cession TO patriotism. takes no ac-
count OF national needs. But cheap
ness IS not 10y any means synonymous
with safety. There Is q loud growl
on both sides of the Atlantic concern
ing certain practices OF English firms.
American newspapers may at times
publish distorted accounts, but no
one viii object to evidence furnished
10y the plaintiff Here is what the
British Merchant Sercice Journal
says npon the subject:
The despatch OF unseaworthy and
overladen vessels, the confidence
trick, and the grinding down of sala-
ries paid TO those who navigate the
modern ship denote the fact that
there are persons managing shipping
matters whose greed causes them to
ignore the safety OF their servants
lives, and TO show no consideration
for public interests. The aim of the
manager is TO secure masters and Off
GERS at the lowest salaries. His YES
sells are well covered by insurance,
even to the most trifing damage;
hence skillful navigators are not
sought after, and the manning and
offering OF the mercantile marine is
effected by the employment of those
who are willing to risk, In addition to
their own lives, the money OF their
friends. No matter how many lives
may be lost by a casualty, the COM
pany has not to pay compensation;
the shareholders receive their divi-
dend and the ship-builder an order to
fill mp the vacancy in the joint stock
feet, Shipowning rs it was under
stood some few years back, is rapidly
becoming an Improbable investment
for private enterprise, and if is for
this reason that so many prospectuses
are issued notifying the conversion of
the firm of Brown, Jones & Robinson
into limited liability company. It
stands TO reason If Mr.. A. can make
his ten per cent on his money he will
not be so verdant as to take the pub
lie into partnership. This fact, how
ever. is frequently lost sight OF by the
gullible public. Can stronger evi-
dence OF the rotten state of shipping
he desired than is given in the follow
ing advertisements extracted from
the pages OF the Standard? Every
enc acquainted with the mercantile
marine knows there Is no need to ad-
vertise for commander in a mail
steamer, unless it be for the purpose
of practising the confidence trick
nor is it necessary to tout shares in a
steamship company paying @ 20 per
cent dividends.
CAPTAIN WANTED. duly qualified to
take command of mail steamer in Indian
Ocean: one VINO can invest a few hun
dreds IN the company literally treated
with. Address pa. the .StaadGid Office.
. ST. Bride ST., London, L. c.
SALARY AND COMMISSION N.-Resident
agent required for sale of new steamship
shares; steamers now running paw 20 per
cent annual dividends: connection with
tradesmen and small capitalists neces-
saTy. Address 6 Avon ST.. AufeId. Liver
pool.