The Portland daily press., 1885-12-14
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
Commissioner Patten Presents His
Annual Report.
A Very Hopeful outlook Some I'm.
portant Changes Suggested.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Dec. 13.-JarYiS Patten
Commissioner of Navigation, has just completed
his annual report, giving an account OF the work
of the new bureau of navigation since its estab-
lishment by the Dngley shipping act. In COM
pairing the status Of American shipping with that
of other maritime countries, he says: "Com-
parison of our merchant navy was formerly a
source of pleasure and satisfaction, as this coun-
try took the lead on the ocean, But although we
may have developed in other ways, we have not
kept pace on the sea with every promise of our
national youth. Complaints, however, are not
true that our shipping is going to run as the fact
appears that our mercantile navy stands second
among the nations of the world, and still forms
one of the elements of our greatness"
Record is made of the number and tonnage Of
vessels of the various maritime countries. from
which it appears that Great Britain has 14,959
Seag0ing sailing vessels OF 4,714,74o tons, and
1852 steamers of 6,464,362 tons; the United
States has 6,284 sea-going sailing vessels OF 2,-
1873, $50 tons, and 355 steamers OF $40, 1877 tons;
Germany, 1904 vessels of all kinds over ten tons
measurement with total tonnage of 1,23l ,O62;
Norway, 4,0S6 sea-going sailing vessels with
tonnage of 1,443,741, and 266 steamers with
tonnage of 141 ,452.
The total humber of vessels employed in the
different c0asting trades and fisheries of the At
lantic and Pacific coasts including western rivers
lakes, on June 80, 1885, was 9,123, and their
tonnage 2, ,455, ,120. OF this number, IL, ,062 were
sailing vessels, ALL steam vessels, zoo canal
boats, and 894 barges Total number Of vessels
engaged in the coastwise trade, excluding those
engaged in the fisheries and upon the northern
lakes and western rivers is 1913, and the ton
mage 2,OO1, ,S17.
Commissioner Patten gives figures to show that
our coasting trade is by far the most fi0urshing
branch of the United States merchant marine,
and says: "If we include our lake and river ton
mage it is the most formidable coastng fleet in the
world, surprising in point OF tonnage the eombin-
ed mercantile navys of any two nations, exclud-
ing Great Britain. In fact, the aggregate mer-
chant tonnage of France, Spain and italy, tOgeth-
er, falls short of the United States coasting ma
rine."
The commissioners recommends amendments
to sections 4,348 to 4,361 of the revised statutes
where they refer to entrance or clearance OF
vessels so that coasts may be divided into three
great coasting districts as follows:
First-Atlantic District. to include the coast
and rivers of the Atlantic from Canada to Mexico.
Second-Pacific District, to include the Pacihc
coast and rivers from British Columbia to Mexico.
coast and rivers of Alaska.
Considerable space is given to the necessity and
manifold advantages OF the substantial encourage
ment of Congress Of our shipping interests, and OF
the adoption of wise navigation policy. On this
subject the commissioner says: 'The relief afford
ed to American shipping through the operation Of
in our favor, but our expectations of permanent
revival must be delayed until reaction comes with
the demand for more tonnage. The United States
is now in condition to feed the populations of
great part of the world, but we need iron ships OF
the best quality to compete with the vessels OF
iron ships nearly as cheap as wooden ones, and
might gIut the market and keep the freighting
business Of the world at low ebb. Everything
should be done to encourage American iron ship
builders. The practice adopted in France and
other nations of granting bounties on ship build
ing in order to give their vessels equal standing
as to prices commended.
In matters of pilotage, the Commissioner refers
to the report of the select committee of the 4Sth
Congress on ship-building and shp-owning inter
ests, in which it is admitted that American vessels
pay for the support of the different pilot systems
o., the country more than q million dollars annu-
one of the most costly charges our merchant ships
have to bear. The Commissioner admits that pl-
time has arrived for Congress to take charge of
the whole question of pilotage in the interest OF
the pilots themselves, and OF others concerned
The system of pilOtage varies in many of the
States, and the rates are high in nearly all. These
are shown to be oppressive to the ship-owner, and
to demand the Introduction of a new system that
shall operate alike throughout the Union.
Local taxation of shipping in various States is
also dealt with by the commissioner who shows
how much it affects the profits Of the vessel
owners and prosperity OF trade. Complaint OF
high taxes made in certain localities and there
is 4 great disagreement as to the high valuation
of ship property for the purpose of taxation in a
period of hard times when ships are losing money
instead of making it, and when the assessors
should endeavor to relieve shipping of its burdens
until the season of depression is passed 1t is
suggested that shipping constitutes a class OF
properly which differs from landed property, and
if not altogether exempted from taxation It should
only be partially taxed. The system of taxing
shiD property in England says the commissioner
is protective in its character, compared with that
adopted by the most of the States.
Under the head of collisions the commissioner
discusses at length the different plans for
double side lights, but advises caution in any
change of the present system, which he says
should not be ventured on until new system TO
replace it has become familiar to maritime people
and is found to be acceptable to the commercial
nations generally. The commissioner commends
the plan proposed by Capt. RiOndel of the French
navy, providing for the establishment of mixed
fnfar off inr1al frih q
collision at sea by vessels of different national
tiles as decidedlyin the interests of harmony and
economy.
The Condition of seamen and the efficiency Of
crews in seananship passes under notice. and the
commissioner recommends the establishment of
the apprentice system. 1t Is said to be hard TO
find crews to man ships, many of the sailors OF
today being landsmen unable even to hand, reef
or steer and an apprentice system would correct
this. The complaint of poor and unSeaworthy
seamen is partly caused the commissioner says,
by an increase in the number of vessels propelled
by steam which bring many coal heayers and
strikers into service, who are not Sailors though
useful in their way, and partly by men affected
by diseases purely preyentable. This latter cause
might be remedied by compulsory and uniform
system of physical examination Of seamen at the
time of shipment.
The law prohibiting the payment Of advance
wages exceptin certain cases Is cited. This part
of the law has met with great opposition, and at
first delayed vessels needing crews. 1t would
seem that the British law to the same erect can
not be carried out in England and the Commits
soner is of the opinion that in view OF the dit1cq
ties met with it would be better TO modify the
law in further legislation and make It apply to
foreign and American ships To meet the eXigen-
ces of masters of vessels with inSubordinate and
mutinous crews ON board, the Commissioner Sug-
gests additional legislation cOnferring enlarged
powers on masters for the purpose OF protecting
life and property committed to their care. The
Commissioner severely criticiZes the sailor board
ing house SYSTEM and recommends the establish
ment OF sailors homes at all the larger ports OF
the United States.
The necessity OF action in regard to some inter
national agreement on the subject of color blind
code and extension to river steamers of the linn
tied liability section of the act of June &C. 1884
are also urged. The establishment of local
marine tribunals is strongly urged. The sugges-
tion is made that the government institute sys.
tenn of examination of officers of
system, under which certificates would
be granted to masters solely on their merits as
navigators, and that the employment of masters
on board vessels engaged in the foreign trade
prohibited. He says such system of examin-
ations would be of great benefit to our shipping
interest.
The commissioner concludes by referring to
cases of hardship where American citizens have
purchased vessels not wrecked in waters of the
United States but contiguous thereto, and brought
them to ports in this country and expended sums
forrepairs equal to or exceeding three times their
original cost without being permitted to take out
American register. AS the letter of the law here
terprise it is suggested that the present legisla-
ton be extended so as cover abandoned
ship property on uninhabited reefs of the
West Indies or coasts of Central America when
purchased by American citizens and brought to
this country and repaired at a cost equal to the
sent law.