The Portland daily press., 1886-02-09
Also Encourage An Increase of the
American Merchant Marine.

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-Senator Cameron
introduced bill today to promote the for
eign trade of the United States and encour-
age an increase of the American Merchant
Marine. 1t declares in its preamble that
prior to 1855 traffic between the United
States and foreign countries was chiefly car
ried on by American vessels, and that since
that time the increase in such traffic has been
enormous yet the amount carried by Ameri-
can vessels has actually diminished; that
this diversion of traffic to foreign vessels is
due to a variety of causes which cannot be
overcome by unaided individual efforts; that
the existence of a large and effective mer-
chant marine under its own flag land manu-
ed by trained seamen always available for
naval operations is essentialIto the safety and
highest commercial growth and prosperity
of this nation; that all the important COM
mercial nations of the world have found it
necessary to extend their government, and
in some form to develop and protect their
ocean carrying trade, and that revival of
American shipping will open much needed
field of employment to many, and by provid-
ing cheap and regular transportation to
markets not now so reached will enlarge the
demand for the excess of products of all the
American industries. The bill provides:
SECTION 1.--That the provisions of this act
shall apply only to vessels having American regis
ter and conforming to the classllcatlon herelnaf-
ter given, and which shall be owned and c0ntroll-
ed by American citizens or ASSOCIATIONS Thereon,
or by corporations formed under the United
States law under the laws Of any OF the States.
SECT 2-That no vessel shall be entitled to
the benefit of this act unless 1t belongs TO one OF
the following classes, and IS or snail unti othef
regulations are provided by law, be built in con-
fornty with rules equal to the British LloydS, or
the French Bureau Veritas. Glass J., section A.
both. engaged in freight traffic only and Of not
less than one thousand tons, United States gross
register measurement. Section B.-Vessels of
metal or wood, or partly OF BOTH propelled by
steam or power applied through machinery and
engaged in freight traffic only and of not less than
one thousand five hundred tons United States
Vessels Of metal or wood or partly OF both pro.
PEELED by steam or some form OF power applied
and passenger traffic having an average sea speed
of not less than 10 knots per hour and of not less
States gross register measurement Sec
tion B-Vessels similar to those described in
Section A of Glass;, but having an average sea
speed of not less than IA knots per hour and OF
not less than 5000 tons United States gross reg
lister measurement, ana first class cabin capacity
for not less than one hundred persons. Section
C-Vesses similar to those described in Section b
of Class z, but having an average sea speed OF
not less than Is knots per hour, and OF not less
measurement and first class cabin capacity for not
less than 200 persons
SECT. 3-That every such vessel shall be en-.
titled TO and shall receive from the Secretary of
the Treasury the respective rates of compenSa-
tion hereinafter described and shall as part
consideration therefor carry without further
charge whatever mail matter shall be delivered
to said vessel under such regulations as the Post
master General shall from time TO time prescribe;
provided, however, that said vessel shall only be
required to take mail matter received at ports of
the United States from which it clears to foreign
ports it expects to call and for whatever may be
received at SAID foreign ports and carried to the
port or ports of its destination there shall be
further consideration. The United States gov
ernment shall have the right TO purchase or
charter any such vessel for a price, the sum to
be fixed by agreement between the owners and
the Secretary of the department purchasing or
ehartering said vessels, and in case of disagree
ment to be fixed by two appraisers, one to be ap-
pointed by each OF said parties, with the power in
said appraisers to choose third Ill case OF dlsa-
SECT. THAT the rates of compensation shah
be put as follows for each nautical mile now be-
tween the port of the United States and any
foreign port, including both the outward and in
ward passage The mileage between the ports
visited shall be computed by tne snGrteSt routes
there Shall be paid at tne end of each Of such
voyages. Glass 1, section A,-For each one hun
dred tons u S. gross register measurement, four
cents: Class /, Section B,-For each one hundred
tons u S. gross register measurement, four CENTS
Class 2 Section A,-For each one nun hundred @ tons tons
tenths cents; Glass 2, Section B,-For each one
| hundred tons u. S. gross register measurement,
four and cents Cas- ,ess seetea
| measurement five and thrse-tenths ceats.
SECT 5-That all payments shall be made
upon vouchers with forms OF accounts
and verifcalions, and under regulations reg
to be prescribed by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and for all voyages beginning after January
| /, 1887, and whatever moneys may pc neeaed 70
| No payment for ocean port services shall be
made after January /, 1887, to any vessel other
than those covered nv this act excepting III Case
| where and only so long, as such vessels cannot
| give service as efficient as that given ny olner
| vessels. Tables of the great circle distances
furnished by the Secretary of the Treasury, who
| shall publish them and forward tAsJn to the eoI-