The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-03
Report OF @. B. Morton, U. S.
Commissioner of Navigation.
American Vessels Must be Put on
an Equality with Foreign Ships.
If Not, They will Gradually be
Forced Out of the Contest.
West Indian and South American Trade
Almost Monopolized by European
Ships Recommendations Of Inn
portance Made.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The report of Mr..
G. ID. Morton, commissioner OF navigation,
sets forth in detail the various aids and adj
vantagcs enjoyed by the shipping Of other
nations, and concludes that 1t is impossible,
without change OF the present conditions,
for our navigation To regain its lost suprenl-
acy in the forcign trade. lie says that our
vessels must be put on an equality with
foreign ships, or they must b. gradually
forced out Of tho contest. Boun,ies or sub
sidics sro paid by Spain, Italy, Germany,
France, etc, and British vessels have
been and arr aided under one guisc or an
other.
Tho report alludcs TO various facts rclat.
ing 10 the West Indian and South Ameri.
can trade, which naturally belongs TO this
country, but is almost monopolized by
European ships.
With wgnNl 10 the coas,ing trade, the
commissioner says the case Is different,
aud the shipping employed amounting 10
| 3,GO,2s2 tons without including many
craft not documcntcd, Is reasonably pros.
porous, especially npon the lakes, where
the coastwisc tnldc l. developing rapidly,
| there during the year ended June 20, 1887,
being ~. l6l tons. The grain upon the Pa.
! ciiic coast was 4, 76l tons, and Il was about
| the same on the western rivers. The total
| documcntcd tonnage OF the United States
Is i,lOb,Ni tons, distributed ~ follows:
| Atlantic and Gull, 2,B3S,272; Pacific coast,
| 356, iih; Northern lakes, 7S3, 40, Western
| rivers, 327, iOb. The foreign going regis
tered tonnage IL l,Olh, 502 tons. The COM
missioner recommends that the coasting
trade he relieved 81 liz burdens ~ Ia pilot
| lee, ON the ground that in many eases pi-
lotage was formerly essential. The govern
mCnt has expended millions of dollars in
improving channels, In placing beacons and
buoys ~ guides ia making measurements
and accurately noting thcn on carefully
prepared charts aud In erecting light
houses.
The commissioner Is Of the opinion that
| American sailing or steam vessels should
he allowed "a transport goods on which
| duties have been secured, without further
bonds, the vessel being already bonded
under the navigation laws and the present
regulations constituting discrimination
against or,linary S,iling vessels aud steam
ems Of the United states not forming part
Of regular lines.
IN amendment of the laws relating ~
tonnage taX Is recommended M that steam
vessels may pay on The same relative 81
plcty NJ sailing vessels. Tho pm sent tax
Discriminate in favor ol foreign Vessels.
To prevent duplication II names OF YES.
sells Of the United States, there being, Tor
example, exactly sixty "Susnns' ~ NAMES
thcrcfrom, lac recommends that pamc- ~
new vessels be- submitted 10 the huran ol
navigation, where an alphabetical list 81
all vessels In the United States j. kept,
and whore Il could bc ut oncc determined
whether the namo proposed would be "a
duplicate OF OtllCrs alwndy IN use.
The IMPORT rcicr Ia the lack Of system
on the lakes ~ rgirls The punishment II
crime thcrc on vessels of the United
States. aud recommends the extension Of
the Admiralty jurisdiction 90 include such
eases.
At present some Of the counties extend
Ia the middle oi the lnlscl, and often II h
almost impnciicablc In establish the fact
that an ollnsc was committed IN u par.
ticular jurisdiction. The courts have here
toiorc Ind difficulty in dispnsing ui these
eases. lie thinks thoU should b. some
inspection oi vessels carrying passengers
upon waters Of q STATE, subject Ia the laws
Of the United States, aud suggests that a
law De- enacted ~ make the n'cnrling vi
bills II Silc, mortgages aud hypnthccaiions
Of vessels M valid when recorded In the
proper Custom.h0use ~ whom pcorlcd
under State laws In state courts or other
wise, aud IN authorize concurrent jurs-
diciion ON the part OF the United states
district courts with state courts In the
matter uf foreclosure under such docu-
mcnis.
The commissioner describes the many
hardshiI,s encountered by ship oWncr, by
reason of the constant change going ON in
navigation from sail 10 steam, from wood
Ia iron and from iron 10 steel, and also by
reason Of foreign bounlics, subsidies and
aids granted "a iOpign ships competing
with our vessels, both In the merchant sor.
vice aud the fisheries The commissioner
says ho Is especially indignant that tho
Canadians should have made the $500
900 foolishly given them by the United
States foralmo-tN orihlcss fishing privileges,
a fund, the interest on which, lie says, i
paid ~ u bounty "a Canadian fishermen
competing with our fishermen, who were
already nj disadvantage ON account ol
greater expense for vessels, outfits, bait
and wages
This condition Of Affairs. he adds, Il In
disobcdicncc Of the Bible injunction, not
30 see the hid In iis mothers milk. lie
suggests that the present practice as 10
steering gear should be- made uniform, ~
that am oplcr Ia 'port" on one slip would
not, M Is now the case, mean 10 star
board" ON another ycSscl, whose chains arc
differently rove.
The commissioner expresses himself IN
favor of u naval reserve, and concludes his
report with draft Of bill embodying his
idrm Of the legislation required on this
aud other points calling for prompt action
by Congress.
The American Association ior the Ad.
vance OF Science 1T Us last meeting adopted
unanimously resolution recommending
Ia Congress that steps b. taken lor the pre-
scryaliOn Of some Of the remarkable aTchg-
illogical curiositics Of the west, and y u
probable that the subject will be- laid be-
lore the proper committees OF Congrcss
during the present session. For the pres
ent nothing morc isconiomplatcd than the
passage of an act rcHcrNing designated
spots, perhaps not more than half dozen,
from appropriation and settlement under
the land laws, thus In q way stamping
them as government property. I