New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-05

The number of documentcd vessels OF all classes built
during the last fiscal year less than that oil the fScal
year ended IN 1882 by los.
Distribution OF CARRYING TRADE.
or the merchandise brought In at seaboard, lake and
river ports during the fiscal 1888 an amount eg'
In value to Sl360O 800 imported In American
vessels, and value of 1864 l7j576 in foreign or the
exports of merchandise, value of $lO4,4lS,2l0 was
shipped in American, and value OF 1904, Isis u
foreign vessels OF the combined imports ana exports OF
merchandise, 1884 per cent was conveyed III American
and 81. 80 per cent In foreign vessels,
INCREASE OF OUR COMMERCIAL MARINE.
II will be seen from the statistical returns herein pre-
sened that for many years past Of the exports ana i'm
ports merchandise greater part than an average
amount of per cent has been borne III American Vos
sells This Is, In measure due to the facility ana secur
ity offered investments of capital In domestic and In
land commerce. and particularly In land trans
by railroad Tho decline in the domestic tonnage OF tao
Mississippi River and its tributaries may Largely 90 set 10
this account IL Is not an agreeable renecuUn t' .J
freghtage on I'll per cent OF our commercia imports anu
exports should be paid TO alien shpOwnes can ms De
helped by the removal OF burdens laid by law o those
directly imposed by statutes on our vessels suing
foreign there remain besides clearance, entry ana ad
fees only the OF 80 cents per ton pay
able on entry from foreign port vessels IN
from tonnage The Income ron this tax for the last
fiscal year was $l,320,600 80. OF this amount
large proportion is thus paid, II Is well deserving OF
consideration whether not advisable to return TO tne
policy adopted In 1881 and entirely abolish the TAX II
presses more heavily than any other upon our foreign
The burdens imposed by the States in the way of pilot
age considerable OF this subject Congress mas never
taken control The charges shipping on account OF
potage vary with every port The extent OF the en-
barTassmcnts arising TO commerce from TINS cause can De
fully understood and remeded only when Congress shall
take entire control OF the subject as is believed IL mas
the power to do.
Against the general abolition OF entrance clearance and
admeasurement fees, there exists the objection that
portion OF the wages OF customs officers are ny present
paid from them and their abolition would entail me pay
ment OF fixed salaries in the place OF payment 10y per
quses. III recommendation In another part OF TINS
report for dscontnuance OF these fees and FOR payment
by prexed salaries be adopted this objection VIII cease
The removal OF these burdens will tend in some degree
to an increase In our foreign going shipping.
There appear hut two methods by which our Foreign
shipping be directly increased namely, by subsidies
and by allowing the free purchase OF foreign ships
Whether either or both OF these means shall DC
VIII depend on the Judgment Of Congress whetner J.
better 10 resort 70 them than TO suffer the yearly loss
"a per cent of the freghtage exported and imported
merchandise. -,
1t would facilitate the solution OF questions OF the char
aoter above presented there were established III tne
Treasury Department bureau OF navigation wnose
function II should be to supervise that Interest mako
study of its needs observe its decline or increase ana
recommend from time 10 time such measures az would
keep II In state Of progress parallel with tue general
advance OF the country. IL such bureau were 10 DO
nothing than to look 10 the interests or seamen and
keep a record of the commercial marine and guard
against the physical DISTINCTIONS TO navigation within
our waters It's existence would DO Justified Some OF