The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-07-01
The Shipping Interest,

June 18th the Senate passed senator Frye'> bill
for the encouragement of the American mvr
chant marine and to promote postal and COM
mcrcial relations with foreign countries. This
bill allows for the transporting of the mails of
the United States between any port Of the
United States and amy foreign port, or between
ports on the Atlantic and ports ON the Pacific.
touching at any fcrcign port, the payment of
sum not exceeding - cents per mile c;icA way
of actual nautical miles Travelled between ter
ininal points, such service to be performed only
under contract entered into by the Postmaster
General and the lowest responsible bidder.
The ships with which such contracts are made
are to he OF American register only. and con-
tracts for not more than four years. This bill
practically repeats the provisions of the so
called subsidy clause to the post office appro-
priation bill, and will give the House another
chance to pass upon il.
The new shipping bill, now become law,
aboli>he> all Custom House, Steamboat Inspec-
tor and Shipping Commissioner fees for doclt-
mentarN aHd other services to vessels of the
United States. except entrance and clearance
fees, after July |. The fees abolished amount
10 about S1O0,ooo per annum. Collectors and
other officers are to be paid from the Treasury.
The other sections Of The bill go into effect at
once. section two allows shipping Commits
SiOntrS. by request of the master of a vessel. to
ship and discharge seamcm for the coa>twi,e.
West India and Canada trade, but leaves a YES
sci free TO ship >ramen a. heretofore for these
trades.
Section three amends The Cox section of The
Shipping act Of ISL which prohibited the
payment of advance wares. a. to allow a
seaman in his shipping agreement to aot
wages TO he earned, not only To relatives. but
also to an original creditor for board or cloth
Ing, not exceeding SO per month for each
month of the time usually occupied in the
Il 4 N
basis as American vessels III case they ship
seamen in our ports
Section four extends the limited liability
rule established for >ea-.oiny vessels bv the
Shipping act Of 1851 to all vessels on inland
waters.
Sections five. six and seven change the penalty
for minor violations of the laws relating to
vessels from forfeiture TO a small fine.
section eight imposes a fine Of two dollars
per passenger on any foreign vessels carving
passengers between American ports,
Section ten restricts the drawback on inn
ported bituminous coal to coal used by Amrri-
can vessels.
Section eleven extends the offer to abolish
tonnage and lighthouse dues IN case foreign
countrie, will abolish a. to American vessels.
TO MH foreign countries. instead of simply the
countries Of this continent. a. was done in the
act of 1884.
Section fifteen extends the privilege of in
porting free of duty certain materials and arii-
cle> for the construction. repairs and supplies
granted by the acts of 1872 and 1854 in the ease
of American vessels in the foreign trade. SO as
to cover fishing and whaling vessels. 50. here
after, article, for the construction. repairs and
supplies of fishing vessels are to be admitted
free of duty.
Section fourteen eXellpt> steam vessels from
the requirement to he provided with the pa
tent automatic steam register and requires
them to simply have the ordinary steam reg
lister.
Section seventeen authorizes the President
to withdraw commercial privileges from the
vessels of any foreign country in our ports to
the extent, and from vessels of the same char
acter, that such privileges are denied American
vessels in the ports OF such foreign country.
Section eighteen increases the allowance TO
American steam vessels for transporting ship
wrecked American seamcn.