The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-04
Our Navigation Cannot Regain It's Lost
Supremacy Without Aid.
The Coast Shipping Of the Country Shows
Large Gains at 81 Points.
The State QlarIntinss Should Not Be- Sup
ported By the Vessels.
An Amendment of the Tonnage Tax Law
RecOmmended-Inspee OF Passenger
BOats-rhe Subsidy Question.

WASHINGTON, January 2-The report of
Mr.. e. B. Morton, Commissioner OF Navi-
cation, sets forth in detail the various aids
and advantages enjoyed by the shipping Of
other nations, and concludes that it is i'm
possible, without a change of the present
conditions, for our navigation to REGAIN it's
lost supremacy in the foreign trade. He
Gays that our vessels must be put on an
equality with foreign ships, or they must
be gradually forced out of the contest.
Bounties or subsidies are paid by Spain,
Italy, Germany, France, etc, and British
vessels have been and are aided under one
guise or another. The report alludes to
various facts relating to the West Indian
and South American trade, which Dasur-
ally belongs to this country, but is almost
monopoliZed by European ships.
With regard to the coasting trade, the
Commissioner says the case is different, and
the shipping employed smounting to
5000, 2S2 tons, without including many
craft not documented, is reasonably pros
porous, especially upon the lakes, where
the coastwise trade is developing rapidly,
the increase in the American tonnage
there during the year ending June 80,
1887, being q ,160 tons. The gain upon the
Pacific coast was S761 tons, and it was
about the same on the Western rivers.
The total documented tonnage of the
| United States is 4 105 S44 tons, distributed
as follows: Atlantic and Gulf, z. .63S, ,272;
Pacific coast, 356, ,445; Northern lakes,
7S3, 722; Western rivers, 327, ,405. The
foreign going registered tonnage is 1,Ol5,-
$50 tons.
The Commissioner recommends that the
coastlng trade be relieved Of its bundens as
to pllotage fees, on the ground that in
many cases where pilotage was formerly
essential the Government has expended
millions of dollars IN improving channels,
in placing beacons and buoys, in
making measures and accurately
noting them on carefully pre-
houses. He thinks shipping should re-
ceive the benefit of these improvements in
reduced charges for pilotage, and that
Congress should abolish the compulsory
features of the State laws imposing pilot
sge, half pilotage, or license fees on coast
ing vessels, so that the practice may he
uniform in all the States. He speaks of
the impolicy of local taxation OF vessels
and its tendency to drive the ownership of
vessels from the place where they are
taxed TO places where they are not taxed,
as well as tie fact that IL weights them in
their contest with foreign shipping, not
only not taxed but subsidized.
He says that the expense of State quar-
antine should be paid by the parties in
teIested-that is, By the general public,
and that fees for the support OF the sta
tions and the salaries OF the officers should
which suffer more than they share in baV-
ing their vessels detained in quarantine,
while at expense for crew and loss of SER
vice.
The Commissioner is of the opinion that
American sailing or steam vessels should
be allowed to transport goods, on which
duties have been secured, without further
bonds. the vessel being already bonded
under the navigation laTs, and the present
regulations constituting a discrimination
against ordinary sailing vessels AID steam
ers of the United States not forming part
of regular lines.
An amendment of the laws relating to
tonnage tax is recommended so that steam
vessels may pay on the same relative ca
paclty as sailing vessels. The present tax
discriEinates in favor of foreign vessels.
To prevent duplication OF names OF vessels
of the United States-there being. for ex-
ample, exactly sixty 'Susans'-or names
derived therefrom, he recommends that
names Of new vessels be submitted to the
Bureau of Navigation, where an alphabet
cal list Of all the vessels in the United
States is kept-and where il could De at
once determined whether the name pro-
posed would be duplicate OF others al
ready in use.
The report refers to the lack of system
on the lakes as regards the puhnishmsut
OF crime there on vessels of the United
States, and recommends the extension of
the admiralty jurisdiction to include such
cases. At present some OF the counties ex-
tend to the middle of the lakes, and often
1t is almost lmpracticable to establish the
fact that an ofense was committed in a
particular jurisdiction. The courts have
heretofore had difficulty in disposing of
these cases.
he thinks that there should be some in.
spection OF vessels carrying passengers upon
waters Of State subject TO the laws of the
United States, and suggests that law be en-
acted to make the recording Of bills of sale,
mortgages aud hypothecations of vessels
as valid. when recorded in the proper Gus
tom house, as when recorded under State
laws, in State courts or otherwise, and to
authorize concurrent jurisdiction on the
part of United Stetes District Courts with
State Courts in the matter of foreclosure
under such documents.
The Commissioner describes the many
hardships encountered by the shipowners,
by reason Of the constant changes going on
in navigation from sail to steam, from
wood to iron, and from iron to steel, aud
also by reason of foreign bounties, sub
sides and aids granted to foreign ships COM
petiDg with our vessels, both in the mer-
chant service and the fisheries.
The Commissioner says he is especially
indignant that the Canadians should have
? ide the $5.JoO,0OO foolishly given them
b. the United States for almost worthless
fishing privileges, fund, the interest on
-hlcb, he says, is paid as a bounty to
~ anadian fishermen competing with our
.hermep, who are already at a dis
dvantsge on account OF greater
xpense for vessels, outfits, bait aud
wages. This condition of affairs he adds
y - IN disobedience OF the Bible iDjunc-
tioD, not TO see the the kid in its mothers
milk. He suggests tnat the present prac-
tice as TO steering gear should be made uni
form, 30 that sn order to port" on one
ship would not, as is now the case, mean
20 'starbosrd" on another vessel, whose
chains are differently rove.
The Commissioner expresses himself in
favor Of q naval reserve, and concludes his
report Hiths draft ofa bill embodying his