The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-07
Ar. Cox ON the Revival Of American
Shipping.

The speech delivered yesterday by Mr..
Cox in the House OF Representatives was a
clear and exhaustive exposition Of the causes
of the decadence Of our merchant navy. Duo
emphasis was laid on the multiplicity and
gravity Of the distractions which an at
tempt to resuscitate American shipping
would still encounter. even II vessels could
be built a. cheaply in this country as In Eng
land or Germany. We do not concur with
Mr.. Cox in advocating one OF the remedies
he proposes to wit. the admission OF foreign
vessels to our register, and we think him
disposed to take somewhat too gloomy
view Of the prospects OF our mercantile ma
rine. But we heartily approve OF most Of the
positions taken in his interesting discussion
Of an important subject, and We hold that
they cannot be too often or too earnestly i'm
pressed upon our people.
Mr.. Cox gives most OF his attention to an
inquiry which others are too apt to over
look, viz: Could we afford to run vessels,
even II, through a remission OF duties on
their materials, equipments, and stores. we
were enabled to construct them as cheaply
a. our competitors? An analysis OF the cost
Of operating American ships in the ocean
carrying trade shows that we cannot make
head against our rivals who are already In
possession, unless we e'E relieved from q
great variety Of BURDEN imposed by Federal
and local taxation. 1t Il true that most Of
these obstacles to the economical running Of
ships under the Amer lean flag existed quar-
ter Of century ago, when, In spite OF them,
our merchant navy was In an extremely
prosperous condition. But at that time such
burdens constituted no discrimination
against our merchant marine, because its
rivals had to bear them also. Now. on the
other hand. the latter are free from all such
restrictions and embarrassments, whereas our
shipping laws remain as OnerOus to-day as
they were when they were first framed more
than fourscOre years ago.
In q paragraph Of his speech Mr.. Cox
enumerates most Of the changes in our
navigation laws which are Indispensable to
the cheap operation OF ships after we have
got them. We must, for instance, adapt our
rules to the new class OF seamen, and aban-
don the prohibitions intended to give a mo-
nopOly Of employment to native or natural
lied citizens; We must remodel the provis-
ions OF the Consular Code which are con-
cerned with the discharge Of seamen In
foreign ports we must abolish the system
OF advance wages and blood money; we
must allow any or all Of ships officers,
except the master, to be chosen from citizens
Of foreign countries; we must limit the lls-
bility Of shipowners, rs that Of shareholders
In . corporation Is limited; we must re-
duce the hospital tax, repeal or mate
rally modify the tonnage tax, and, lastly,
erase from tho statute book Of every
State all local taxation upon shipping.
Among the obstacles to the revival OF navi-
cation which are under State and municipal
control. are specially mentioned pilotage,
wharfage. harbOr masters dues, quarantine
fees, and port wardens' duties. Wipe out the
whole Of this antiquated legislation which
now strangles our shipping interest, and the
running expenses OF an American vessel
ought not to be penny higher than those
OF its English rival. provided the interest
and insurance on the first cost Of the ship
did not represent heavier drain upon tho
owner. There 10 no reason. for example, why
the item Of sailors wages should be larger,
II there were no provisions Of law tending to
restrict the choice Of seamen to q single ma
hOnality.
Let US look now at the question OF first cost
as 1t was presented by Mr.. Cox In this speech.
We must bear In mind that 1t Is only iron
vessels, in building which we are at present
under a disadvantage. 1t Is demonstrated
by last years exhibit Of the shpyards In
Maine that we can even now build wooden
ships-and ships Of the category known az
auxiliary" having both steam and sail-as
ae0eptsbly aud Ghssply - any other nation.