Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-11-20
AMERICAN SHIPPING.


rothc Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The friends of the movement for the re-
storation Of the prestige of American ship
ping are more than gratifed over the fact
that more than three -fifths of the Republi-
can congressmen-elset are, with great un-
animity, In favor of the restoration OF the
American merchant marine, and over the
fact that this concurrence of opinion il the
result not of conferences, on the subject, for
there have been nons, but of individual
convictions on the subject independently
reach. We commend with pleasure the fol-
lowing from the New York Tribune on the
subject:
Tho LOG representatives who have indie
pendently reached the same conclusion in
regard to one of the most important matters
of current public interest represent districts
In all the old States which have Republican
representatives from Maine to California,
save two in the South, and Colorado, Nevada
and Oregon. Representatives from the great
grain and cattle growing States OF the West
and Northwest are % cordial and emphatic
in the expression of their opinions Is those
from the great manufacturing States on the
Atlantic seaboard. They realize that the ex-
tension of foreign commerce under the Amer
lean hsg means not only cheaper and more
direct facilities for them, but better markets
and brisker demand at home for every
thing they produce. They regard the pol
10y as one Of national honor and prosperity,
In opposition to the ignorant "neighbor-
hood" or provincial policy which dominated
the majority of the House during the last
SIX years, and the niggardly administration of
the Postefioe department during the last
But the Republicans will have some Demo-
cratic aid. The representatives from some
of the Southern States who demand IN outlet
from their own ports will support the pro-
posed measures. They can afford to do no
less, and some of them stand already COM
mitted to II. On this question at least
score Of Southern men will vote with the Re.
MANY tonnage
gress by Representative Cummings, of New
York, a. well a. liberal pay to American
steamers carrying the foreign mails, and will
support bill substantially like the former,
which will be offered by Congressman Far
quhar at the beginning Of the session. Such
a bill was unanimously reported lasr year by
committee Of the American Shipping
league, of which ex-Congressman Orlando B.
Potter, of New York was chairman, and
Congressman Whitthorne Of Tennessee, also
Democrat, was a member. Another Demo-
crat, q member of the FIfty-frst Congress,
General Wheeler of Alabama Is president
of the league.
The tonnage bill In the last Congress pro-
vided, in general terms, for the payment Of
30 cents per ton for ten years for each 1000
miles sailed in the foreign trade by any ves-
sci built and wholly owned in the United
States, and for further term of uine years,
with an abatement of cents per ton per an
mum during the latter period. This bill was
reported by the committee on merchant ma
rine and fisheries, by q vote of 8.to 9. Three
of tho eight Democrats who voted to kill the
bill have been rslegated to private life, and
Amos J. Cummings, the only Democrat who
voted with the Republicans, has been almost
unanimously reelected to the ffty-frst Con-
gress.
The majority Of the committee was too
lazy or Indifferent to prepare an argument
against the measure, and adopted as its own
an adverse report on similar bill made more
than two years before, most of the 'facts"
and much of the rhetoric for which report
had been contributed by Zone of the most
remarkable men In the country, sir" WORTH
ington O. Ford, who had been invited into
the State department by Mr.. Bayard, "to
edit the consular reports, and write free
trade essays for the benefit Of reform" A
sample of this young mans report, which
was highly approved, ought now to be quot
ed, to show his fearlessness of the truth. He
gives table of the tonnage of France for
series of years, showing G) the tonnage of
vessels built In France; (s) tonnage bought
abroad, (O tonnage sold to foreigners. After
stating that the paying of bounties began in
1881, this candid and sapient youth remarks:
"The bounties have succeeded In infusing
life into neither shipbuilding nor ship naviga-
tion."
New, an inspection of the table shows that
In the hrst three years under the bounty sys.
tenn The tonnage built In French shipyards
exceeded by 50, 1923 tons or more than 81 per
cent, the amount Of tonnage there built in
the three years preceding the adoption of the
bought abroad in order to take advantage Of
the bounties fer navigation Of 80 cents per
ton increased % ,o21, or about 129 per cent,
while the amount of tonnage sold to foreign
ers increased only 0,416 tons, or about 81 per
cent II may be worth while to add
icy of hountiss, both for construction
and navigation, despite Mr.. Ford's warning,
and that last year the former amounted to
$872, 100, and the latter to So, Ill, 900. These
sums are exclusive of $4,677,779 Of subsi-
dies paid on account of mail contracts. OF
this enormous sum about one-third, 81 49,
451, was paid to French steamship lines, both
In France and in South and Central Ameri-
%, Mexico and the West Indies. In the
can steamships for carrying the malls to the
same countries much less than $50, 900, In
Guiding some $11 900 which the United
States and Brazil Steamship company de-
clined to receive on the ground that 1t was
inadequate compensation.
But to return to the report on the Cum
minRs bill. The views of the minority, pre-
pared by the author of the bill, who svailed
himself freely of information contributed by
Captain w. w. Bates, the newly appointed
commissioner Of navigation, IL a document
which should be widely read by all Aneri-
cans, whether Republicans or Democrats. II
appears that the tonnage Of American vessels
In the foreign trade March !, 1883, was H.
8S5 less than II was in 1905, ninety-two years
before. Five years after the latter date
Thomas Jefferson had declared that 1--WE
must resume our trade" and Congress had
approved his declaration. 1t was observed
that twenty-five States and one territory of
the Union border upon tidewater coasts.
On the subject of Subsidies the minority
group some impressive facts. Years ago q
aeet of American steamships ran between
New York and Havre. It has been replaced
by French line, which receives q bounty of
80 cents 1000 miles or IL, 5000 round trip.
Once there was heet Of American sailing
appeared and the commerce 10 largely in the
hands OF French line, which receives the
same bounty ss the line between New York
aud Havre. Our West Indian fleet 10 now
being driven to the wall; Spain has adopted
the bounty system and q Spanish line be-
tween New York and Havana receives
bounty Of $3.50 per mile steamed. A now
British line between Vancouver and China
and Japan, under subsidy of $3.50, 900 per
year, IL sappinR the life of the American line
and made San Francisco port of call on the
route TO China. An American line between
New York and Bremen has vanished before |
, German line, which receives q subsidy of |
nearly 81, 000, 900 per year.
The owners of swift British steamers ply |
ing between New York and Liverpool, besides
liberal pay from both the United States and |
Great Britain, receive q naval reserve pay |
ment of $40, 900 per year for each swift ves-
vel. What commerce destroyers" the City |
company owning the italian line between
New York and italian ports receives 10 cents
per ton per 1000 miles and Italy pays In
Itsamship subsidies each year 81 $40, 938.
The Red Dr. line Of New York, the american
line running steamers and carrying the mails
10 Curacao and Venezuela, receiving from
he United States therefor the compensation
Of $3.50 per year, Is now brought into compe-
sition with Dutch line which receives SUBJ
tidy of $17s, 800 per year.
AZ Dwighs.P1aoe Church Tonight. \
At the entertainment to be given this
evening at the Dwight Place church, admis-
ZION being twenty cents, Miss Blanche Bid
we'll will rscits "The Little Peach" In imita-
lion Of celebrities, The Uncle" by II. q. Bell,
md ether selections from well known authors.