National Republican., 1888-01-17
country. have the honor to remain, very re-
sTectfuly, your obedieDt servant,
DAVID ID. PORTER,
Admiral, L. S. Navy.
To the American Shining and Industrial

" MS CuttICu Inc
Mr.. Vanderbilt moved a committee of
seven on credentials be appointed from the
different sections of the county, even Da-
kota having her representative.
REMARKS OF col. WILLIAM +. swfTzLER.
The chairman introduced Col. William
+. Switzler, chief of the bureau Of statistics
Of the Treasury Department, who spoke as
follows;
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEuEN or THE
CoSNENTloN: In the state in which l have
lived for many years-and will mention the
name Of the state, because we are proud OF its
history and of its achievements, aud claim that
Il is the Empire state Of the Mississippi val
] repeat, that in the state in which l have
lived for a long time II has been my fortune,
or my. misfortune, Mr.. President, and am
whether II be one or the other, to have actively
engaged In the discussion by platform and by
press of the questions economic, polite, aud
and divided public conviction, IL has beun
my custom in the discharge of these platform
duties which have often devolvcd upon me 10
mean the delivery OF that which had to say
in unwrttcn words; but the nature of the dis
cussion upon which we intend to enter this
bave submitted written words, well oonsld-
,ered words, and statistics well studied, but my
official duties have been so pressing since the
advent of the Federal Congress as the chief OF
the bureau of statistics of the Treasury Depart.
ment that have not had time to commit TO
paper any elaborate ideas Of that which have
In my own mind as the scope and character of
that which is desired OF me in this connection.
This is no doubt very fortunate for me, and
have no doubt Il Is very fortunate for you that
6s ne Of ho my 10 bs hs Osed G
when contemplate that which was announced
in the papers this morning as the subject upon
present impotency Of our merchant MARINE
IL is not expected or desired oil me in the treat.
ing oi this topic that should argue anything,
orshould he elaborate in the presentation ofany
view which may have oft problems which
underly this whole scheme, and of the reasons
which have influenced the public judgment
In various sections OF the Union iu regard toa
topic which has very rapidly obtained promi
ntnce, not only in Cong css, but b fore the
people, The present impotency ofour mer.
chant marine, as, You will see at glance, is
very largely aD historical, and more LARGELY II
statistical que ton, and presume tbnt ii any
thing viii especially iniluenGe q committee In
awarding duties to various citizens Of repub-
lie TO be discharged on this platform, u was
my intimate relations to the statistics OF com.
meTce IN this country which Influenced the
selection of me 70 speak on this Darncur
THE present impotcncy of our merchant
marine" for its present impO.ency eau he
shown by tho. statistics OF the government
and by The history OF, thc, marine, aud the7
ought TO be thus disclosed to the Amer can
people, because 50 far as have knowledge of
amy OF Our industries, and they are very mutt.
to the generation to lOllow us. There Is no
important industry of the American pc e1ple
which to-day is so imrotent as our merchant
marine.
Now, II you will give me your attention. |
will endeavor to occupy your time very brief.
ly, and trust prolitably, in the presentation
present to the mind Of every intelligent
citizen who will either hear or read them, u
clear and reliable exposition of the present
condition OF our merchant marine, lcOm which
which the public men of this country, who
speak and think aud write In the public
journals, and legslate In the national Con
There is iiitfc hisiory 1t might have have been zen
very elaborate, but have chosen to make
ityiry brief connected with the present con.
d.tion of our merchant marine, and | beg
that you shall give attention to this brief his
tory, because II antedates thc discnssio IS Of
this hour, and for that reason, If not for
Others. II may not be familiar to You.
The actual tonnage oi the United states was
rot ascortained at the Treasury Department
until the year 1893. Previous to that time the
ury was that on which dues were collected,
and which included the repeated voyages
made by the same vessels IN the course OF the
and 1898 no vessels could be employed in
foreign trade unless duly registered, aud 10
vessel could obtain q register unless II was
owned in the United States or had been taken
and condemned aslawiul prize, and was owned
by an American citizen. In 1898 the registered
| tonnage employed in our foreign trade was
| $4,000 tons. The increase Of the tonnage OF
the United States has been without example in
the commercial world. This has been owing
| to The increased quantity of the bulky article.
| OF dom estic produce exported, to the rapid
increase of our population aud to the extent
| of our carrying Trade. In 100 the tonnage
amounted to CG0G tons, in 1910 to 2Si 900 tons.
| In the .consting trade for the same period the
III cen tons; in 1850, 2i5,0O0 tons; in 1910 37i.
co tons. The increase of the leGiNelel ton
mage employed in foreign trade from 1903 to
| 1861 was 5000 tons, having nearly doubled
| in that short rel liOd.
| from li!l to $50, apcriOd OF seventeen years,
the ipgIeasI softonnage ermployed intha ioretsn
| mage employed ID the cOasting trade from l7Gl
| 10 $50 was 2SS 0G0 tons. The whole amount OF
tonnage in the United states in $50 was ,i2l,
| 900 tons. according to the record in the Treas.
| uiy Department. The United States Owned Il
much greater amount of tonnage than any
other nation, except Great Britain. The gov
| ernment endcayOred TO promote aud secure
the commercial shipping interests by a nayt'
| CATION act, aud AT the same limc was not inat
| teutiNc to the interests OF The navy, liy M
act Of CongEess passed April -. Is 4, the sum
Of 81 ,C0O,t 90 per anuum for eigat years was
Appropriated for the gradual increase OF the
! navy. In $50 the total lonnnGa Ogthe United
! 1g7SCOu tons sail. ard 2jl 900 tons steam res-
scls. IN 1850, $50, 600 tons sail, ami 5000 ton
stcGm vessels. In 1856, 2,GoN,cOi sail ant
l,bS2,OOQ tons steam vessels. the decrease o
pioyCd in foreign trade from 1850 to 1856 wa
! 1901 eco tons, or 81 per cent. The value OtNht
ns he ara S GSpSs %ns s 81 6oa or
We're trspsp ported in American vessels, In The
| year 1887 shows the total exports and import,
10 be 81 ,5Oi ,OOO,CtO. OF this only ii per cent
| some gentleman mentioned 1t at lG per cent
1t is only this year per cent or s.4l, 900 900
were transported in American vessels. On
coaslwiao tOnnAgc-thG creates. in wealth and
| rTCspCrity-has steadily advanced and pre-
served healthy condition AM maintained
our national dignity as navigating pa0p!c
Now, Mr. President, there is brief summary
OF what has transpired in this country in 'Gll-
ton 10 sunIc o. tAe paases OF tho suYJeCt s'neS
beg leave very briefly, trust very clearly, .tc
come down toa later, period, Gul .ShQT ,th'
present I'M otency i bel!eyg that's what 40
| expected TO do-'hc present !fnpO.cucy OF Oll
merchant marine. This, of course, is Il com
| raIattve teGm-the present imp1tcucy as m
paled with It's condition Mt some other p rlot
~ our history. If ] am successful In thiiS
| shall have accomplished my purpose. Aud
think can do so upon the condition that
you win give me your attention, tor this Is
popular audience, and 1t takes very brave
from the Yves, bank OF the Mississippi river
and take 6reakiaSt on statistics, lunch on sta
tistics, and then dinner on statistics, why | an
at homo in the midst Of them, aud may men
ton thal they are Nceura'e-l 90 not meal
Statistics in tie llph N Which
we are discussing n' questions o
on economic character IN q, ~ Css aud else
where are vulucess unless they arH s'ria =
accurate. They are ir9m the oil ,Idl rrapt l.
Of tic government aud cnnno' be d,spg eh
Five years before our c.v war, ~ - is IN ia'b
our merchant mlliu', or 10 Ci'l 10 uy another
lame, our An cli. aIl \ ipuug WIS high p1u
tin, itl!uw- citizens In American c)nim"Iac
ltwae the autocrat Of the seas Applause
IN lsM, In an nssrygg,e lorelgn commerce ol
| Sil9,i tJ,Cun SIS '0)o0N of our inunti and
eNToiis, Cr - Tor cent was Caui.I IN AmeH
Can bottoms, Applause
| II the ilIurcS IN d-til cannot b. rom 'm
lCrcd, there Is one lhiug rlnl W1 ril can r2-
member and that is that s!S'y-lte ytnls be-
tore our civil var - per cat o. thH ir,igi
commerce of this nation was ClUial in uH
own shlps and followed oUr Owu i,&I' an.