National Republican., 1888-01-03
TIE TRADE OF THE OCEAN
Is TRANSPORTED CHIEFLY IN VESSELS
] OF FOREIGN NATIONS.
what is Requisite for America to Make
Successful Competition-our Increase
In Tonnage on the Lakes and Pacific
Coast,

II shows that the business is one, perhaps
more than any other, governed by competi-
ton OF all nations, aud ga 70 that unless the
American ship in foreign ports, or in our
own, can take cargo as cheaply or more
cheaply than the English, Norwe gian, or
German, or Spanish vessel, the merchandise
will be transported by the foreign vessels.
The commissioner sets forth in detail the
various aids and advantages enjoyed by tue
shipping Of other nations, aud concludes
that 1t lie impossible without change Of
tho present condition for our navigation to
regain its lost supremacy In the foreign
trade.
He says 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, &c and British
vessels have been and ure aided under one
guise or another.
The report alludes to various facts relat
ing to the West Indian and South American
trade which naturally belongs to this couu-
try, but II is almost monopolized by Ed
ropean ships.
With regard 10 the coastlng trade the com.
missioner says the case is different and the
shipping employed, amounting 10 5000 2s3
tons, without including maLy craft not
documtnttd, Is reasonably prosperous,
especially upon the lakes, where the coast
wise trade Is developing rapidly, the in-
crease In the American tonnage there dur
ing the year ended June 30, 1887, being 2l,.
lGl tons.
The gain upon the Pacific coast was S,76l
tons, and II was about the same on the
western rivers.
The total documcnted tonnage OF the
United States is i,105,Sii tons, 1t be!Dg dis
tYiE l.1 oil md hss1
2,G3S,272 Pacific coast 35G,Il5 northern
lakes, 1s3, 72l western rivers ,97,405'
The foreign going registered tonnage Is
1,0l5,6G1 tons. The commissioner rec On.
mends that the coasting trade be relieved OF
its burdens as TO pilotage fees, on the
ground that In many cases where ptlstage
was formerly essential the government
has expended millions Of dollars In improy.
ing channels, in placing beacons and buoys
as guides, in making the measurements
and accurately noting them on carefully
prepared charts, and In erecting light
houses.
lie thinks shipping should receive the
benefit Of these improvements In reduced
charges for pilotage, and that Congress
should abolish the compulsory features OF
the state laws imposing pilotage, half
pllotage, or license feeson coasting vessels,
so that the practice may be uniform In all
the states.
lie speaks Of the impolicy of local taxa
tion Of vessels and its tendency to drive tho
ownership Of vessels from the place where
they are taxed to places where they arc
nottaxed, as well the fact that 1t weights
them in their contest with foreighu ship
ping--not only not taxed, but subsidized.
lie says thai the expense OF state quarap-
line should be paid by the parties interestel
that is, by the general public and that
fees for The support OF the stations aud the
salaries CT the officers should not be exacted
OF vessels, the owners Of which suffer more
than their share In having their vessels de-
tained in quarantine while at expense for
crew and loss Of service.
The commissloner is Of oplniivu that
American salllng~or steam vessels should bs
ss1iIOwed to transport goods on which duties
| have been secured without further bonds,
\ the vessel being already bonded under the
| navigation laws, and the present regula.
tions constituting discrimination against
| ordinary sailing vessels and steamers OF the
| United States not forming part OF regular
lines. - -
An amendment OF the laws relating to
| tonnage tar 10 recommended, 50 tb At steam
ysssc.o may pay on the same relative capa-
Lefty IS sailing vessels. The present tax
dscrminates In favor Of foreign vessels
To nrevent duplication Of names OF yes
sels Of the United States, there being, for
example, exactly sixty "Susans" or names
derived therefrom, he recommends that
names Of new vessels be suqmitted to the
/ bureau Of navigation, where an alphabet.
cal list of all vessels OF the United States
is kept, and where 1t could be at once de-
termined whether the name propose !
would be duplicate OF Others already 10
use.
lie suggests that laws govern ng changes
OF name'be extended, to include all vessels
over certain size owned by citizens OF the
United States.
| The report refers to the lack Of system
on the lakes, as regards the punishment 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 extend
| to the middle OF the lakes, and often It l;
almost impracticable to establish the fact
that an offence was committed In partc
ular jurisdiction. The courts have hereto
fore had difficulty in disposing OF thes,
casfs.
lie thinks there should be some inspec.
ton Of steam vessels carrying passenger
upon waters of q state not subject to the
laws OF the United States, and suggests til,
establishment OF several lights and stations
and that a law be enacted to make the re
cording Of bills Of sale, mortgages, and by
potbecations OF vessels as valid when re
W
recorded under state laws In state courts o
otherwise, and to authorize concurrent jur
isdictlon on the port Of the United State
district courts with the state courts In tn
matter OF foreclosure under such documents
The commissioner deprecates the man,
hardships encountered by ship owners b!
reason OF the constant change going on II
navigation from sail to steam, from WOO
to iron, and from iron to steel, and also b,
reason OF foreign bounties, subsidies, an,
aids granted to foreign ships competinj
with our vessels both In the merchan
service ard the fisheries. The commits
sioner says he is especially wroth that tn
Canadians should have made the $780, 90
foolishly given them by the United State
for almost worthless fishing privileges
making fund the interest on which, h
says, Is paid as bounty TO Canadian fisher
men com npetiug with our fishermen, VIII
) were already at disadvantage on accouu
Of greater expense for vessels and outfits
lat ana wages.
This condition Of affairs, he adds, Is /
disobedience Of the Bibles iuiunction-no
to seCthe the kid In It's mothers milk,
He suggests that the present practice a
10 steering gear should be made uniform, S
that an order to "port' on one ship woul
not, ss is now the case, mean to "stai
boardr on another vessel, whose chains ar
. differently rove.
( The commissioner expresses himsel
strongly in favor OF q naval reserve, an
, concludes bis report with draft OF a bi
embodying his ideas Of the legislation re
, quired on this and other points calling 70
prompt action by Congress.