St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-29
The Spanish Government Willing to
be Little More Liberal to Get
the Treaty Ratified.
Republican Senator's Afraid the English VIII
Whip Us Ia Nicaragua If We Don't
First Secure Navy.
The Commissioner OF the Merchant Ma
rine Makes a Report Full Of
Good Suggestions.
COMMISSIONER OF NAvIGATION's REPORT.
LWar.nrn 10000 r..

marine al the present time. although Il ha
not in later years kept pace With that o
Great Britain, is second only to hers. No;
withstanding the disadvantages American
ship builders have had to contend against
the high character OF their vessels have beer
maintained. Our wooden ships are probabl-
the best and safest vessels ahoat, and th,
comparatively new iron ship-buiiding works
of the country are beginning 70 turn
out steamships and other iron Graf
Of very high class. In repI,
TO the assertions in some quarters that W,
have no ships, the commissioner states tha
we have the finest coastwise trade In the
world, and the best feet OF sailing ships
known is now engaged in the California
wheat transportation under the United State
nag. II is mistake, says the report, 10 &C
eept the opinion that the day OF wooden shipi
is entirely past. Two-thirds OF the tonnage
of the world is probably still composed o.
wooden vessels, while their numerical pre-
ponderance is still much greater, notwith-
standing the fact that for screw steamers and
many other kinds OF craft iron possesses
certain advantages In round hunters
the total Of our see-gOipg marine
was on June so, 1884: Vessels, 6, ,Gy6;
tons, $500, ,4O4. OF this number 422 OF
COL, lSG tons burden were steamers and tie
rest sailing vessels. But the entire number
OF vessels Of all kinds under the flag June 80,
1884, was "a, 0S2, measuring 4, ,27l, 22S tons.
The value Of the total tonnage OF the United
States is at present $50, 600, 900; the value
OF the sesgoing feet SIZE, 900, 600. Com
pared with the preceding year the total ton
mage OF the country exhibits an increase oi
80, 742 tons, enrolled and licensed tonnage
having increased 33, ,6l6 tons, while regis
tered tonnage increased 2.l26 tons. The
relief afforded ~ shipping interests by the
bill passed last session is, the
commissioner thinks, sufficient e
place the American sailing shlI
on an equality with the vessels OF other flag:
in so far as the expenses Of navigation ART
concerned. The counterpart Of that wise en-
actmeni would seem 10 be a measure equal
izing the cost Of construction of iron ships.
a business comparatively new In this country.
The tariff which operates 10 raise the price OF
labor makes the cost Of the American shir
higher, while II gives no support aud can
afford no protection TO those engaged in the
foreign freightiug trade, since their busi-
ness is one Of OInpetitiOn with ship owners
OF all nations in the field aud beyond the
reach Of our laws. II is important that this
country shauld be prepared to compete for
the supply Of the world with ships, aand
equally important that our ships should start
with the same advantages as their compel
iiors enjoy. The commissioner recommends
Offering bounties sufficiently large TO encour-
age the construction by private enterprise ..
a feet Of flrst-ciass, powerful mail steamers,
3hich could be used with good effect in 3
IT 1fa~Ns
transports. A strong argument was also
made in favor OF having American scamen
for American ships, the crews Of which are
now composed mainly of foreigners. On this
point the commissioner SAYS. In
order TO induce American lads 10 fol-
low the sea for a profession, some
inducement might be offered with
great advantage to the merchant service
as well as national provision for trained
seamen. A system OF apprenticeship is rec
commended to be established, ia pursuance OF
which American merchant vessels In foreign
trade might receive a certain fixed sum from
the government for the support and instruc-
ton of apprentices carried On board for a
stated term OF years. Such system would,
it is thought, do much TO improve
the average standard OF American sea-
men, and repay the national expense in
aifOrding an available corps OF loyal seafaring
men, who could be relied upon in case OF
emergency TO help man the navy. Further
legislation is not suggested in the direction
of making more efficient laws for the prOtcc-
ton and punishment of sailors, and the in
stitution of courts Of inquiry in this country
are recommended Mith the power 10 punish
officers and seamen who, by carelcssness or
incompetency, cause collisions at sea.
N RE THE SPANISH TREATY.
Especial Telegram TO the Globe.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.-Senor Valera, the
Spanish minister, said to-day that the cable
dispatch from Madrid announcing that the
Spanish government had authorized him to
assent 10 notifications Of the Spanish treaty,
and particularly with regard to the provision
relating to sugar, was true. He had been in
structed, he said, 10 assent TO a change which
will admit free into America only sugars up
to No l3, instead of Dutch standard Of No.
Is, us the original text OF the treaty provides.
This change, Scnor Valera thinks.
will lessen the opposition OF
the domestic sugar interest 10 the
treaty, as the lower grade of sugars will not
come so directly in competition with the
Louisiana product. The minister said he
had not yet received any explicit instruction
TO assent TO a modification of the tobacco pro-
visions OF the treaty, but, from the nature of
the adv;ces already received, ne felt quite
sure these would follow. He said: The
Spanish government is entirely willing 10
consent TO any notifications that arc fair and /
proper and which will tend TO secure the rati-
tication Of the treaty. His government is
not disposed to insist upon any provision
that may be deeIaed Instantaneous TO the
people of the United States. lie repeated
that ne anticipated instructions looking "a
alterations in the tobacco features Of the in
strument Said he:
Il expect that such notifications as the
American senate. rejecting the wishes and
sentiment Of the people Of the United States
may recommend, win be agreed 10 by the
Spanish government The senate will adon;
the modification, and will transmit them 10
the Spanish government for approval. Moth
ing definite has yet been fixed upon with re-
gard 20 tobacco, but probably the treaty viii
be modified SO as to admit the Havana Leaf
into the United States. l am sure the manu-
facturers of this country cannot complain OF
that Under such a provision they could
purchase and manufacture the Havanua leaf.
and that would result in the extension O,
trade. am not yet sure as to what will be
done, but my impression is that the Havans
leaf viii be allowed to come in free, and
such alterations viii be made as to remove
the objection that American tobacco could be
taken 70 Cuba and then imported as the Hs-
Tana product. The only portions Of the
treaty against which objections have been
urged arc those relating to sugar and to.
bacco, and as the Spanish government IL
willing 10 remove these for the saka 81 ,,-o-