Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-17
CITY AND DISTRICT.
OUR SiEsrpI>G tSrExESrS.
FOpeuins Session oa Gisc Shippsn.! Com
yontion Yesterday -.st!nira, G0rtcr's
Letter and 0IiIer PFoceedine..

At the OIeniIg session Or the second annual
CC-yentcn % The American shipping aud Indus
al League Ia Wiilari Hall yesterday afternoon
= 8 creJaTy, Mr.. Hill, read a number u tee-
~ > from prominent men rH;retting their ina
b.itT to attend the convention. He also read a
1HsseT from Admiral Porter, IN which he said that
SSae issue advocated ty the league appeals TO
every Industry within the BORDERS OF the IrnfJed
States, and no less i'm DOrtant AT this moment than
She tIrin, or ifre trads, or tbs surplus ia the
Treasury. The latter {, only a temporary incon-
ven;ence. which easily be adjusted and no
0ocb', WITHIN lew months means viii be taken
% return The surplus revenue a circulating
Dediu'. among our people. no Will be no loser IN
lac said that the enormous sum OF 1850, 900 600
year Tor tc past ten years had been taken out or
TINS country Ia gold ana has into the pockets
OF fOreis0Srs without any apprrciable returns from
Ihe steamship companies. The surplus in the
Treasury. be thought, compared with this great
ou,s0, was OF small Importance. But
lew years ago. continues the admiral, "France
Germany and Italy we're dependent on Great
Britain for building their Large ocean steamships,
but oy means OI this great OutgO from the United
states they have been able to declare their indie
penceIce and to build up their own extensive ship
marine In hand ten years ago and given IL the sup
port that has been given by foreign powers 10
Their shipping, We might at this tine share equally
with GreaE Britain In the profits of this great
dustTy and supply the world with a class OF YES
sels constructed Of better material than those Of
osher nations, and, although the cost OF labor
might De greater In the United States the superior
quality OF our ships would more than compensate
fOr the difference The restoration our
mercantile marine is insepIraSle from the Tehabil-
station OF our Navy. The two undertakings must
go hand in hand II We wish either TO succeed
The admiral refers 20 his report TO the Secretary
OF The Navy during the present year, and says
that his chief Recommendation was "thab Con-
Yress should pass tonnage bill and give ships
propelled by either sail or steam, built ant owned
ia the United States and under the American nag,
thirty cents a Ton for each 900 miles traversed
IN sailing TO foreign ports There could be cry
OF monopoly here, because this law would act
upon all vessels alike besides when the country
could well arOrd 10 pay six OF eight million dollars
year for the encouragement OF the building OF
lines OF very fast steamers under the supervision
or tine Navy Department, which could be used In
case OF war as commerce-destroyers, troop-ships
or Transports"
Addresses were made by Mr.. Ambrose snow, OF
New ! OFk; Col SwitZIer, chief OF the Bureau of
statistics. Dr. Geo. II. LOriDg. ex-commissioner Of
agriculture, and WIN W. Bates.
Commissioner Webb. who expected To be
present and make tine address OF welcome, found
at the last moment < Il cold would prevent
him from using his vOit. Mr.. Horatio King per-
fortne,i that dUty Ia a graceful and effective
The Convention adjourned until this morning.