The Portland daily press., 1884-03-24
Senator Frye on American Com
merce.
mis Adhre.s bal New Orlenns.

While the committee of the United States senats
inves igating the Copiah county outrages was In
New Orleans. Senator william P. Frye was invited
to address the members Of the Mexican Exchange
of that city on the shipping interests and the COM
meroe between tho United States and Spanish
America. The only report Of this address which we
have seen is taken from the New Orleans Picayune
and We reproduce 1t a matter Of interest to the
Senator's f,ien in NIalne although 1t Is plainly
but naked skeleton of his remarks. Pearl Wight,
ESQ the President of the Exchange, presided, and
at the close of the address a resolution of thanks
proposed by Judge VIM. NJ. Burnell, was adopted;
Senat or Frye said that seldom had he had occa-
sion t. speak to an assemblage of men having so
much at heart the development of commerce as the
one before him. He would not under take TO make
a speech, but would express his h1mble views on
the subject in plain and quiet talk. He was sorry
TO say that the American flag was, with the course
OF time, disappearing from the vast ocean, ana
would, perhaps, one day not be seen waving In any
foreign port but still he proud to say that tbs
American coastwise trade was The largest and most
profitable Of its kind In the world. No nation can
be great unless Il is great on the ocean any more
than State can be great with one industry. IL IL
necessary that the United States of America be
great on the ocean, England has 80 per cent OF the
carrying trade of the world. Last year the United
States had ! per cent
The late war cannot have done to the American
people all the damage that has been inflicted. Az
one time Great Britain buying ships from tho
United S ates. In 1856 the Parliament OF Great
Britain enscted law creating ooafd OF trsoo IA
all the ports of England. BY this methcd the com,
merce was greatly increased. Eng land later found
that by using instead Of sail it would be bet
ter, and therefore adopted that system and built
iron and steel vessels.
The Senator spoke at length on the merchant
marine Of tn, United STATES and England, saying
that the latter had always taken careo OF her marine
while the former had always neglected hers. II 10
true that in the six year following the w- the cur
rency OF the government was such that It was not
able to expend much in the care OF marinej out
aL the rate the DaODl0 have been retrOQrdQ1uR IL
only rexures three four years and not an Ameri-
can flag will be seen floating from the mast OF YES
sci 10 any foreign port.
The speaker referred to the vote of Congressman
Hunt OF Louisiana, against free ships. He so was
and still is against free ships. The wages OF the
American sailor much greater than those OF the
English one. 1t is also impossible for the americans
to provision their ships easily the Engishmen.
The amount expended by The English for their con-
sular service last year was Sl5O,UOO; that OF the
United States was SSO0.u0O. The Americans have
also the tonnage tax and the hospital dues things
which England has not, and which should DO TO
pesled.
In speaking of the manner ia which England was
gaining ground over the United States, the speaker
said that il the Americans had not reserved their
coastwise trade that also would have been lost. IL
tree Shipping is allowed in less than ten years En-
gland will be doing the coastwise trade de saw no
reason Tor the cry for free ships. For success in
ship BUILDING, coal iron and water are required IL
is in this that the Clyde has the advantage. But
here In the SOUTH there Is Alabama, where spien-
did iron shipyi rd could be built all the necessary
things being near al hand.
There is no country in the world that dares touch
the United States on land In the event OF q war
with Eng and, what would the Americans do TO hght
them on sea? No nation can live without having
war some time or other. England has established
lines of steamships at the ends OF which are estao-
/ shed English houses and established credit. Tho
United States has done nothing Of the Kid. II
there statutes which obstruet shipping they
should be repealed, and on the other side If there
some measures which could help commerce they
should be enacted into laws.
The speaker then dwelt on the question OF pilots,
remarkInR that in New York the pilots make from
$4 0U to $4,000 year. In Maine he contended
there compulsory piotage law. Why should
this great country allow the States regulate the
pilotage laws? The pilotage tax is outrageous ana
ought o BE- repealed.
He referred to the taxing of vessels as personal
property, and making each member OF nrm re-
ought to be brought up at the next session or the
Legislature. he people of this country will never
becou,e great commercial people until they rise
from demagoguism to Statesman ship.
In referring to the surplus in the treasury he said
the question. "What shall do with the surplus In
the treasuIy?' is at all times asked If it were In
his power So 600 600 shouldbe paid every year for
the establishment of a line of steamers to South
and CT Dtral merican ports; So 6.O0OOOO should be
appropriated for a navy, for it is hardly credible
that Chis navy l. greater tn an that Of the United
States. FROM the treasury surplus take SlOO,OOO,-
Ub0 and dig canal across Nicaragua, and charge a
small toll TO American ships TIE Panama Canal
is very handy but it has been built with French
capital and is therefore French canal. In the
ju@gment of the speaker, within five years thoTe
will be no duty sugar, and under the Mexican
treaty New Orleans will become the New YORK Oh
the South.