National Republican., 1883-01-08

fully, namely: Buy abroad, since we cannot
! build at home"
Mr.. Dingley said that It was a humiliating
fact that the carrying trade Of the United
States was rapidly decreasing and the Ameri-
can flag disappearing from the sea. In order
to remove the Impression that the dccadence
| of the foreign carrying trade began with the
war, he quoted from statistics to show that
between 1855 and 1889 American tonnage de-
creased 60 the enormous extent Of g. 40 per
| cont OF this 3S 6-10 per cent. was attributa-
bic to the war and - 40 per cent. since the
war, which was less than the percentage of
| decrease from 1855 TO 1860, which amounted
to 10 4-10 per cent. The gentleman from New
| York tNIr. Cox was wrong that the deca-
donce of American shipping interests was the
result of the high tariff of 1861, the truth
being that the decline was occasioned by
causes outside of the tariff and began long
before the tariff of 1861 was adopted One Of
| the causes was the radical change from wooden
| to iron ships, for as long as the trade of
the world was carried in wooden bottoms
the United States had an advantage Of other
nations. IT, at the time of tho change, tho
| American congress had como forward and
| lifted all the burdens imposed upon shipping
| by the shipping laws so MS to give the same
benefits TO our shipping that England gave 20
| hers; and ii, in addition Co this, it had given
as generous mail contracts to steamship lines,
Americans to-day would not have TO sing in
lamentations over the deCadcnCo of their ship.
ping. Then had followed the war, when, in
stead of building vessels, the people were en-
gagged in destroying thcm, and more than one
third of the United States tonnage had been
swept from the ocean. Instead of being
amazed mt the rapid decline of the foreign
carrying trade, il should almost be wondered
that it had stood tho contest so well. Tho
difficulties which lay in the way of u restora-
ID
| difficulties as could be largely removed by
| legislation, and the pending bill contained
| much of the needed legislation. He then
| proceeded TO enter into detailed explanation
of the provisions of the BILL especially dwell
I ing upon tho provisions abolishing the adj
vance wages system and reducing the hospital
tax.
| Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, inquired whether
there was any evidence that the sailors them
selves objected to the hospital tax.
| MIR. Dingley said that anumber of masters had
| testified before the committee that in San
Francisco and other ports the English vessel
would procure the pick of the men in conse-
qucnce of the hospital tax which was levied
upon American sailors.
Mr.. Hewitt replied that though that might
be true of foreign born seamen, the hospital
tax was rather popular than otherwise with
American seamen.
In conclusion Mr.. Cox said that the ques-
tion presented by the bill was moro than u
local question. 1t was not n question of
building up a ship yard or even Of building
up an industry 1t was more than that. 1t
was u national question which reached to
every part of the country. The east was
probably interested in II more than any other
section for it was Indispensable to. the east
that there should be an American merchant
marine, not simply TO compete with other ma
| tions for the foreign carrying trade, but u
i merchant marina rplinnpn
placed in time of war. The United States
was almost unknown abroad by its flag. He
| begged of members therefore, however much
they might differ in opinion on the subject of
free ships to take this one step forward for if
| the United States went on ten years longer
in the way il had been going for twenty-five
| years past, the Americap merchant marine
and the American flag would have faded from
the ocean. [Applause.]
| Mr.. Ellis gave notice of an amendment au-
| thorzing the postmaster general to allow as
compensation to United States steamships in
| carrying the mails any sum not exceeding the
sea and inland postage of the United States 1;
and to foreign vessels sum not exceeding the
sea postage.
Mr.. Money gave notice Of an amendment
authorizing the postmaster general to make
contracts with American steamships for car
| rying the mails for term of four years, at %
sum not exceeding 50 per mile; such steam
ships to be subject to purchase or contract by
the government in time'of war.
Mr., Reagan, of Texas, secured the floor, and
the matter went over, Mr.. Page stating that
he would call ii up Monday, after the call of
states.
Mr.. Forney, of Alabama, and Mr.. 0'Neill,
of Pennsylvania, from the committee ON APP
preparations, reported the Notifications and
pension appropriation bills respectively, and
they were referred to the committee Of the
whole.
Mr.. Steele, of Indiana, introduced q bill to
equalize the bounties of soldiers, sailors, and
marines. Referred.
The house then (at 4:25) adjourned,