Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-14
WAsHINGroS, Dec. Is.

ho PIoSEam IOr the leRlslAtlve business during
the week can be indicated. Four hundred
and ffty-six nominations have been sent to
the Senate and many of them will probably
be reported at the first executive session.
considerable portion of the latter half Of the
week is likely to be spent with closed doors.
Although the committee on rules of the House
of Representatives have completed its labors
and ~ill submit the report tomorrow, it is not
thought probable that discussion will be be-
gun until Tuesday in order that the members
may have an opportunity to see the proposed
revision in print. There is desire on the
part of many members to have call of the
States on Monday for the introduction of bills
Tor reference to appropriate committees,
when appointed, and twas informally agreed
by members of the committee on rules yes
terday to make no opposition to such call.
There are, however members of the House
who express their intention to oppose the in
PRODUCTION of bills until the House shall have
finally determined by a vote on the Morrison
code, the jurisdiction of various committees,
and who hold that il would be useless to in
undate the speakers table with food of
bills until some proper outlet is provided for
them. As the House is not governed at pres
ent by any definite system of rules, these
members contend it will require consent to
oioCA q Saii ouu dsscTt tHat tulS CdIUot Ue OD-
tained. The discussion of rules will continue
the remainder of the week and the contest
over the scheme to distribute the labor of
appropriation committees promises to be
sharp and interesting
Jarvis Patten, commissioner of navigation,
has just completed his annual report, giving
an account of the new bureau of navigation
since its establishment by the Dingley ship
ming az In ripu tha Of
ican shipping with other maratime countries,
he says: "The comparison of our merchant
navy was formerly a source of pleasure and
satisfaction as this country took the lead on
the ocean, but though we may have develop
ed in other ways we have not kept our place
on the sea with every promise of our national
youth. The complaints, however, are not
true that our shipping is going to ruin. 1t
appears that our mercantile navy stands sec
ond among the nations of the world and still
forms one of the elements of our greatness.
A record is made of the number and tonnage
of vessels of various maratime countries,
from which it appears that Great Britain has
1887 sea going sailing vessels Of AHA ,746
tons and 1852 steamers of 6,464 1862 tons
United States, 62S4 sea going sailing vessels
of 2, ,138, $50 tons and $50 steamers Of 545, 1877
tons; Germany, 4404 vessels of all kinds
over 10 tons measurement, with total ton
mage of ,23l ,0G2; Norway, 40SG sea going
sailing vessels with tonnage of l,443, ,74l,
and 266 steamers with a tonnage Of 14l ,452.
The total number of vessels employed in diff,
ferent coasting trade and fisheries of the At
lantic and Pacific coasts, including western
rivers and inland navigation, excepting the
northern lakes, on June 80, 1885, was 10, 1923,
and their tonnage 2,452, l20. The total num-
Der of vessels engaged in coastwise trade ex-
Guiding those engaged in fisheries and upon
northern lakes and Western rivers, is Is, 5,9lS,
and tonnage 2,00l ,9l7. Commissioner Pat
ten gives figures to show that our coasting
trade is by far the most fourishing branch of
the United States merchant marine and says
'If we include our lake and river tonnage it
is the most formidable coasting fleet IN the
world, surpassiug in the point of tonnage the
combined mercantile navys of any two ma
tions, excluding Great Britain. In fact the
aggregate mercantile tonnage of France.
Spain and Italy together falls short Of the
United States coas;ing msrine."
The commissioner recommends amend
ments to sections 4348 to 1861 of the revised
statutes where they refer to the entrance or
clearance of vessels so that the coasts may be
divided into three great coasting districts as
follows First, the Atlantic district to include
Canada to Mexico; second, the Pacific dis
trlct to include the Pacific coast and rivers
from British Columbia to Mexico; third the
Alaska district embracing the coast and rivers
of Alaska. Considerable space is given to
the necessity aud manifold advantage of sub
stantial encouragement by Congress of our
shipping interests and of the adoption of a
wise navigation policy on that subject. The
commissioner says; The relief afforded to
American shipping through the operation of
the shipping act of June 30, 1884, is already
felt in our favor, but our expectations of
permanent revival must be delayed until
reaction comes with demand for more ton
mage. The United States is now in the con-
dition to feed the population of great part
of the world, but we must build iron ships OF
the best quality to compete with the vessels
of England and France. Great Britain can
build iron ships nearly as cheap as wooden
ones and might glut the market and keep
the freighting business of the world at a low
ebb. Everything should be done to encour-
age American iron ship builders. The prac-
tice adopted in France and other nations of
granting bounties on ship building in order
to give their vessels equal standing as to
prices is commended. In the matter of pilot
age the commission refers to the report of
the select commissioner of the 48th Congress
on ship building and ship owning interests,
in which it is admitted American vessels pay
for support of the different pilot systems of
the country more than million dollars an
nually, and showing that the rates of pilotage
are one of the most costly charges our mer-
chant ships have to bear.
The commissioner admits that pilots are a
very useful class of men but says the time
has arrived for Congress to take charge Of
the whole question of pilotage in the interest
Of pilots themselves and Others concerned.
Pilotage varies in many States and the rates
are high in all. These are shown to be op-
pressive and the ship owner demands the in
PRODUCTION of a new system that shall operate
alike throughout the union. The local taxa
ton of shipping in various States is also
dealt with by the commission. He says the
system of taxing ship property in England is
protective in its character compared with that
of most of the States.
Under theshead of collisions, the commits
sioner discusses at length the different plans
for double side lights, but advises caution in
any change of the present system, which, be
says, should not be ventured on till . new
system TO replace it has become familiar TO
maritime people and found to De acceptable
to the commercial nations generally. The
commissioner commends the plan proposed
by Capt. Risndel of the French navy, pro-