National Republican., 1888-01-19
THE AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Prompt aud Effective Measures Neces-
sary for ITS Restoration.

PROMPT aud Effective Measures Neces-
sary for ITS Restoration.
The delegates attending the Shlppiut
League convention called upon the House
committee on merchant marine and fish
cries yesterday morning, aud after
lengthy interview returned to Wizards
Hall, and at noon resumed the business
Of the convention.
The committee on resolutions made a re-
port recommending the passage Of the bill
allowing 80 cents per ton to American built
vessels for each 1000 miles travelled. Also
aresolution in favor OF holding In this city
q constitutional centennial celebration 10
1880 and Words Exposition iu 1902. The
report OF the committee on permanent
ofiicere, recommending the choice OF the
following named, was adopted President,
Gen. Jos. Wheeler, Alabama; vice pre5l-
dents, Ambrose Snow, New York; l.. NJ.
Merritt, Florida; George A. Kelly, Penn.
sylvania; John II. Geer, Iowa; Thomas L.
Thompson, California. The present rep
resentatiyes from the different states were
reelected. Charles s. Hill, OF this city, was
reelected secretary and commissioner, and
A. Vanderbilt, Of New York, treasurer.
a recess was taken at / O'Clock and the
delegates proceeded In body and called
upon President Cleveland, and presented
the following address:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: We have the honor to ap-
pear before you this morning for the pleasure
of expressing our respects and desiring that
you may know at least by observation the
men who compose the American Shipping an !
Industrial League.
II Is not political body, butipurely indus.
trial.
We have nothing to ask except that you will
consider the national necessity for every ste es'
man TO look into the true conditions Of our
merchant marine.
Its importance is paramount to oil other
economic questions because II is the reserve
Of our navy and national defense; II Is the
representative of the power and dignity of our
nation in foreign poris; 1t is the disseminatpr
OF onr products in exchange for those of Other
lands; II is the developer of peace, good will
| and civilization, and more particularly II Is
essential to the prosperity aud perpetntty o
| our people, for every industry and interest Gu
| tiers into shipping.
| and impotency of our shipping we are paving
tribute to foreign ships of over Sl5O,Ol0.OJ(
| annually in freight rates and passenger fares
| all Of which is respcnt In foreign lands.
In this we are taxing our people by a heavy
| bounty or subsidy TO benefit foreign labor auc
| We will not now present statistics or further
facts to prove this rninous condition, for W;
| come only to have the pleasure OF meeting 80,
| personally, Mr.. President, and ask the privti
| lege OF sending you hereafter a memorial o
views from prominent citizens Of every socsillI
/
| transmitted TO Congress.
At the afternoon session the followin.
| preamble and resolutions were t1eI
| adopted
Whereas the decay OF American shipping d :
| mands the adoption of prompt aud etiicica
measures for its RESTORATION to strength an'
| prosperity; therefore be 1t
| Resolved, That in the opinion Of this cDnveu
| ton the passage OF the following bill by Goa
| gress will promptly restore our ocean c,m
Be i Cndcied, Gc, That OH and after the pas
sage Of this act there shall be paid out .
moneys in the treasury OF the United State
not otherwise appropriated to any vessel
whether sail or steam, built and wholly ownct
in the United States, engaged in the foreig
trade, the sum of 80 cents per registered toi
for each 1000 miles sailed, and pro rata tot
any distance travelled less than / 900 miles Of
any voyage or voyages between this and any
| foreign country or countries; and the m measur,
of distance Travelled, and the distance betweel
| ports or places in this country and ports o
places in foreign countries, and between on
foreign port or place and another foreign poc
or place and from any designated point .
longitude and latitude to any port or place il
Which de,fnm'n'd sha be P roshad Sy Il
United states photographic ollce TO the burea
sci as aforesaid shall paid on the vessel
arrival at a port OF entry in the Uuited State.
in accordance with such resulatous as th
|
promugate. The paymeu, a. the rate OF SOcen,
| per ton for each 900 miles sailed, as herci
provided, to be paid to vessels engaged in IN
foreign trade shall continue for tue term {
| nine years at reduction of 3 cents per to
each year upon each 1000 miles sailed, an
pro rata for any less distance travelled:
| RtSOltLd, That this convention further urE
| upon Congress the immediate provision fc
the defense of the coast and seaport cities
the United States, on the lakes as well as o
| Resol,fd That this convention further urp
| upon Congress the rebuilding and equipmeT
ola strong and eficient navy not only f
martina daie,sa hut tqr The. Sepiiritv AT ~
provision for the improvement ofthe harbors a n
rivers OF the whole country cOncurrently wit
lhe restoration and development Of our ocea,
tbn ttbOanneree, so mat az sections and states Q
dement's OF restored and enlarged coninierc
WIN WIN each other and the outside world throug
I tneit t natural waterways and harbOrs, deve
| opeo by me fostering hand OF the nation.
| EfSpked, That the United States mails ourh
10 De cb rrled between this and foreign COIN
lrles IN American. ships, under our own fla :,
assoon as practicable consistently with Ger
fanny ana celebrity of the service, and that TO
snch service this government ought to nav In,
ahd adequate compensation, regardless OF the
sihs,,,tow az wIGh other nations are willing Il
| , HENred, That the vast present and proyp r
| IiFc manufacturing and commercial interest,
OF thls country cntitle them to foreign m nj
II
| talnty OF which shall be insured IN peace a md
| III war by national patriotism, national pride
| aiiu iiu national ambition tocN:eud our jnlluen 9e
| tho world.
| :, hso,yd, That such service can only he re-
| tion upon, in peace and war, from American
names, warmed by American hearts, unleI
the American flag.
An able address was delivered nv Dr.
Reed, of Tuscaloosa, Ala, on the resources
OF That state, and her facilities for shin.
building demand an interest In the revival
OF this industry.
Admiral David D. Porter delivered an ad
uress, In which he said al consider Won
are simply the advance guard of the preat
army OF delegates who are to come from
al The states of the Union to demand that
American shipping shall be revived.n
:, ten. lmboden, OF Virginia, also addressed
tle convention. His speech was spirited
ana patriotic, and during its delivery le
was often interrupted by applause.
letter was read from Admiral Jouatt
enthusiastically indorsing the work of the
league In arousing the people to the neces,
sary action to revive our merchant ma
rlDe. ~
Several resolutions OF thanks to differ.
eht speakers and the officers of the conven
tion We're passed, and, amid great enthusi-
asm, the convention adjourned sine die.
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