Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-06-26
The Dingley Shipping Bill.

The Dingley Shipping Bill ha, passed
both the Senate and House and nov only
requires the signature Of the President TO
90 into effect July |. II affords ! much
needed relief to the shipping Interests Of the
country and especially TO Maine.
II is composed o: thirty sections, the sub
stance Of the provisions being a. follow,
II allows an American vessel on a foreign
voyage and till her return home 10 fill va
caucies in positions of officers below the
rank of captain by the appointment Of aliens.
IL abolishes the three months extra wages
and provides one months extra wages only
shall be paid in cases Of injury in the ser
vice of vessel. II increases the amount TO
be paid by the Government for the transpor-
tation of men in cases of long VOYAGES. Ii
prohibits advance wages 10 seamen. Dat
provides for alotments OF wages 10 sea-
mems relatives.
IL requires vessels in the foreign trade 10
carry slop chest with supplies Of clothing,
etc, excluding, however, vessels in trade
with the countries and islands Of North and
Central America from this obligation 1t
abolishes consular fees for services 10 YES
sells and provides for the payment of con-
suls from the Treasury for such services. IL
abolishes the tonnage tax as now imposed
and provides in lieu of the same for a duty
of three cents per ton at each entry on yes
sells trading with any port in North or Cen
trail America and adjacent islands, including
the Sandwich Islands. and six cents ton at
each entry on all vessels from any other
foreign trade; but il requires the President
TO suspend the collections of so much of this
yaSsaiz Tror, 81,
North, or Central America, as NAV be in
excess of the tonnage and light house dues
imposed on American vessels Dy the laws of
the country in which such port is situated.
As Canada imposes no taxes on American
vessels the bill abolishes the tonnage on
vessels trading with Canada after July /.
II abolishes the hospital tax for seamen
in both the coastwise and foreign trade. and
provides that the expense of the hospital
service shall be betrayed from the tonnage
TAX !; it provides that supplies for American
vessels in the foreign trade may be imported
in bond free of duty. II provides draw
back of 10 per cent. Of the duty on imported
materials for the construction of vessels on
a foreign account, or for re-exportation,
shall be allowed when the vessels are partly
constructed Of imported material in the
same manner as when thus wholly construct
ed. IL limits the individual liberty Of a
shipowner to the proportion TO which his in
terest bears TO the whole.
II provides for the engagement Of a sea
man TO serve on voyage to any port or
for definite time and exempts vessels
making regular and stated trips from pay
ing fees or reshipping seamen, and also
authorizes the shipment of seamen in
foreign port for a definite time, or voyage,
and provides that seamen so shipped shall
not be required to be reshipped. 1t allows
the putting on the stern of a vessel the
name of the port Of registry or place in the
same district where any owner lives.
1t exempts vessel in trade with Cana
da and Mexico from an obligation to pay
tax on passengers SO long as no tax is exact
ed on passengers coming from those
countries by land carriage. Ii repeats all
compulsory laws that oblige American yes
sells to carry mails to or from the United
States arbitrarily, such repeal not to take
effect till April 30. 1885.
1t gives a sailing vessel the same privi-
leges in unloading cargo that are given
steamship. 1t provides that shipping COM
missioners shall hereafter be appointed By
the Secretary Of the Treasury instead Of by
the Circuit Courts, and shall be subject to
regulations prescribed BY him. 1t reduces
from S25 to $40 for the Rrst hundred tons.
1t allows vessels arriving at port Of en-
try, laden with bulky articles, like salt, etc.,
to proceed to places within that collection
district to unload under certain regulations.