National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-28
OUR MERCHANT MARINE
Passage by the House on Saturday Of the
Shipping Bill.
Tho Amendments introduced ana the
Debate Upon Them.

and Horr.
The house then proceeded to tho consideration |
Of the special order being the bill to remove eer'
tain burdens on the American merchant marine
and encourage tho American foreign carrying |
trade.
Alter the reading OF the report Mr., socum. of
New York, said that tho bill proposed TO mako our
laws somewhat similar TO the changes made by |
England. The subject had attracted the attention
OF the people, and this measure was intended sim
ply TO sweep away some old laws which ship. |
owners, shipmastors, and the merchants oil the
statute books II contained no provision which |
was not unanimously recommended by the snip
M. Deuster supported the bill, saying that Il
contained many amendments looking to the 70.
vision of the navigation laws. IL was necessary
TO confront the defects in those laws and TO strip
OF the fungus growth which had come with the
passage OF time, in order that q wiser legislation
might adapt itself TO the changed condition oil
Mr. Cox, of New York, regretted that the ship.
ping committee had not provided Tor the a6oli-
ton Of the shipping commissioners Offices. The
government hnd no right to have Intermediates
between the shinmasters and the men employed
rs seamen. In reply to the question as to whether
he objected to the office or TO the Official in New
York, he said that he was opposed to both the
system was bad aud the execution Of 4 worse, -,
brushed of too few OF the barnacles which were
attached to the shipping laws, and gave notice Of
several amendments he would oher, which would
Affect more especially the commerce of the lakes.
The time had come when public opinion. regard.
less Of party or politics, was demanding that inc
should be removed, and that tho relief granted
should extend as well to lake as to ocean ship
PING r,,,,o :, ,,.,.,. oo,,0rood IN rsn,y
to statement of Mr. Cox, that ever since 1872
there was law on the statute books which ad.
mitted free Of duty ali articles required in the
construction and repair of vessels Intended Tor
the foreign carrying trade. ..,-
OF the treasury department, and according TO tho
accepted opinion OF congress. the law referred
simply to materia 8 for wooden 81 IS.
The bill was then read by sections for amend
ment. -. ..--.,-,
committee moved TO strike out the tenth section,
which prohibits the payment of advance wages,
and which applies to foreign vessels in ports Of
the United STATES; and also the eleventh section,
which requires vessels to carry Bop chest. He
explained that while the committee was In favor
whether It was within the power Of congress to
extend them to foreign ships, and unless tins
could be done thcywould serve as discrimina-
zion against American shipping,
Mr.. Cox opposed the motion, and contended
that the United States had control over foreign
Mr. slocum said the motion had been made out
OF Difference TO the opinion OF the secretary OF
state, but as the sentiment OF the house seemed 10
be 10 favor OF the section, he Withdrew the
motion.
Mr.. Hatch offered an amendment excluding
ing the great lakes or the waters connecting the
same, the ST. Lawrence river or the gulf of Mexico,
and vessels engaged in the coastwise trade.
In the course OF brief discussion of the amend
ment, Mr.. Hatch as protective tariff man, de-
claIed himself in favor Of tres ships.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Hewitt moved to amend tho section which
aboishes consular fees, and authorizes the secre-
tary Of the treasury 10 allow such consular officers
as are paid in whole or In part by fees such COM
pensation for their services as they would have
receyed prior to the passage Of this oct by adding
fiscal year the amount Of fees collected at each
consulate for such services for the fiscal year
ended June 80. 1888" Agreed to-
Mr. Dunn offered as substitute for section II,
which reduces the tonnage tax. an amendment
entirely abolishing the tax both upon American
as enter from ports to which vessels of the United
are mot a TO enter Tor trade and
impose q discriminating duty on vessels OF the
Mr. Dingley opposed the amendment. He did
not think that congress was called upon to abolish
this tax on foreign vessels and leave foreign
nations to impose similar tax on American
vessels
Mr. Durham favored the amendment declaring
that the tax really came out OF the pockets Of tho
farmers, especially the farmers of the west.
Mr.. Eaton took u contrary view. He was In
favor of free ships free irop free anything, which
would give to the American merchant marine Its
see how the amendment would tend to that end.
He would rather increase the tonnage dues on for.
eign vessels and discriminate in favor OF American
bottoms.
The substitute was reiected---yeas &c. nays7s
On motion of Mr.. Slocum, the fourteenth sec
ton was amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. IA. That in lieu OF the tax on tonnage of
per ton Fer Sn1Sm heretofore imposed
tho aggregate 10 cents per ton in any one year. is
hereby imposed at each entry on all vessels
which shah be entered in any port of the United
States from any foreign port or place in North
America, Central America. the West India Islands,
the bahama islands, the Bermuda Islands Sand.
%ich Islands, or Newfoundland; and a duty OF
cents per ton, not 10 exceed 30 cents per per
mum. is hereby imposed at each entry on all yes
sells which shall be entered in the United States
from any other foreign ports: Provided That the
President of the United States shall suspend
imposed on vessels entered from any port in
the Dominion OF Canada, Newfoundland, the
hahama sands the Bermuda islands, the West
India islands, Mexico and Central Anne ica down
10 and incluuing Aspinwall and Panama, as may
be in excess OF the tonnage and lighthouse dues
or other equivalent tax or taxes imposed on
American vessels by the government of the foreign
country in which such port Is situated, and shall
on the passage Of this act aud from time 10 time
thereafter as IL may become necessary by reason
81 changes N lhs laws . Of the foreign countries
ports TO which such suspension shall apply aud the
rate or rates Of tonnage duty fany to be collected
under such suspension and Prov dedJ urtisr, That
imposed up section 1919 OF the revised statutes for
the current year shall not be liable TO the tax
herein levied until the expiration OF the certif-
The words mot to exceed so cents per ton per
annum, We're inserted on motion OF Mr.. o'Neill
Mr.. Adams moved TO amend section Is which
abolishes the marine hospital tax by applying It's
provisions as well to vessels engaged III the coast
wise as to those engaged IN the foreign trade.
Adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. George, an amendment was
adopted providing that vessels arriving at port
OF entry OF the United States, laden with Coal
salt, railroad iron, and other like material In
bulk, may proceed 10 place within that collec-
ton district 70 be specially designated by the
secretary OF the treasury at the expense Of the
person interested for tho purpose of unloading
their cargos.
Mr., Cox, Of New York, offered an amendment
providing that from and uiIer the passage of this
act II shall be lawful for any citizen of the United
states 10 import IRON or steel-bullt steamships OF
not less than 1000 tons measurement fee of duty
and such ships shall be admitted to American
registry Pr0uided That said ships shall be the eX-
elusive property of citizen or citizens of the
United States and, PrOvided JHrthcr, That such
ships shall be excluded from the coaslwIse trade.
Mr.. Dingley said the adoption of this
amendment would sound the death.knell to the
building OF American vessels by American wOrk-
men in American yards, a proposition like this
never could revive the American foreign-carrying
trade, for all experience showed tnat ship build
ing and ,shipowning went together. nation
which did not build It's own vessels could not
maintain It's merchant marine.
Mr.. Cox called attention to the fact that in 1910
h5 per cent OF our commerce was carried IN Ameri-
can bottoms, while in 1858 but 10 per cent. was
thus carried. How could this decay be remedIed?
reform that would be vital which struck at the
real root OF the matter, Us this amendment pro.
posed 10 do, He wanted vote the amend
menl but as he did not wish TO endanger the bill,
itlhe senate refused " accede 10 It he would not
press ~ further.
that the adoption of the amendment would be
Wen calculated TO ruin the bill Why bring In a
question or this kind upon Il measure TO which
there was no ObjeGtiOnY The members Of the
house, by quarrels among themselves should not
aeny 70 the snip owners Of the country the small