Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-16
THE WHITE SAILED SHIPS.

Danger of a Decline of the Shipping
 Interests of New Haven-What is
 Claimed by Prominent Men Inter-
 ested in Shipping.
 Much interest has been taken by our ship pers in the recent bill before the Connecticut legislature to exempt sailing vessels from local taxation. The bill was tabled until the next General Assembly. Gentlemen who are prominently interested in ships and ship ping have been interviewed and they speak in terms of regret that the bill was set back because they say, the effect is detrimental to our shipping interests. They say: For three successive years the vessel interests of the State of Connecticut have appealed to the legislature for exemption of this class of property from local taxation. The appeal is based on the ground that said property re- ceives no local benefits on which inst claim for taxes can be founded, and that the taxes paid the government and State are sufficient. The latter taxes are cheerfully paid the government renders protection in return. Why, vessel built, owned and registered in New Haven sails on her first voyage and may never come back to this port or within the limits of the State again. Should she be subject to local taxation? But supposing the vessel does return to this port, what benefit can the city of New Haven afford the proper ty? Are the police detailed to protect this property while in the harbor. Con the fire department reach ita No, in fact the vessel derives no benefit from the town, city or State. But on the other hand the United States government does do something. The government furnishes revenue cutters which
 IL Ga- xl e assisting these vessels in distress, gratis; and life saving stations are located all along the coast and lighthouses and buoys and beacons. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent and many lives are saved yearly by these methods of assistance and protection. Again, if 8 har- bor needs improving if it needs breakwa- ter or jetty, or dredging, the government pays for it. Hence the government tax is just and fair one. Now, is it justice to load this property down with local and municipal taxation, in return for which it derives benefit or protection? What will be the re- suit of this taxing if it keeps on? If it con- tinues it will force these vessel owners to seek protection under the laws of other States, as it has been doing year by year. New Haven once could boast of the finest fleet of three-masted schooners built and hailng from any port on this coast. The name New Haven on the stern of a vessel is a Su1uC10uG glIdTdnGoo Ol Ter SOOu duaIlGlcS. In fact, New Haven is the home of this in- dustry on coast We were the first to introduce this large class of three -masted schooners, noted for their fast sailing and sea going qualities and she can to-day boast of having enrolled in her custom house list the largest three-masted schooner sailing on this coast-the General s. E. Merwin, jr. Can Connecticut afford to lose this honor? Can she afford to have ''New Haven" wiped off the stern of so many fine vessels, as is being done every year! These vessels can through the fostering pol icy of other States escape unjust local taxa tion. Before the next General Assembly meets many more of these fine models of ma rine architecture will have gone to other States and our once prosperous mercantile fleet will be thing of the past. Connecti- cut lies between the States of Massachusetts and New York, who have exempted vessels from local taxation. Is it reasonable to sup. pose that vessel owners will pay this (two per cent:) tax when they can avoid it simply by enrolling their property in New York or Massachusetts, They will be obliged to do this that they may compete with their neigh borS