Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-08-31
OUR COMMERCE.
Reports Of the Committees Oh the
interstate Commerce Law.
THE CANADIAN PACIFIC ROAD.
How That Line is Looked Upon by
the Business Community
Local Ship-building.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE nEooRD-usloN.l


ing at 1880, when President Rankin laid
before the members communication,
which was read, from the Federated Trades,
asking for representation in the Confer
ence, and transmitting the names of five
delegates.
A. s. Hallidie moved that the delegates
be admitted.
R. G. Sheath opposed the motion. He
said the Federated Trades represented
secret societies which undertake to control
labor and capital, and which use the boy
colt to enforce their DEGREES. He did not
think such societies were entitled to repre-
sentation in a conference of business men
who intend to obey the laws.
Captain Merry said there was no prece-
dent for admitting laboriDg men to COM
mercial conference of this kind, but he
thought they had an interest in the affairs
being discussed and should be entitled to
participate.
Hallidie's motion was supported by w.
A. Holcomb and C. B. Stone and was
adopted.
The delegates consisting Of W. a. Bush
nell, W. j. B. Mackay, NJ. McGlynn, J. G
MILAN and II. Witham, took their seats.
OCEAN STEAMSHIP SERVICE.
Captain Goodalls report upon "the per-
manent establishment of ocean steamship
lines on Pacific Ocean routes, and the lib
eral compensation by the Government for
the carriage of ocean mails by said lines,
by steamships available for war and trans
port purposes was read by Secretary
Haynes.
Captain Goodall made strong aud patri-
otic speech in support OF the report, which
was loudly applauded, He related how his
firm had attempted to engage in foreign
commerce. How they had purchased the
Jessie Ogden, British iron ship wrecked
of the heads, named her the Mariposa, and
attempted to carry wheat to Liverpool
Finding that the expenses of operating the
vessel were 80 per cent. greater than those
of the British, who sailed alongside, the
firm was compelled to abandon the enter
prise. The Mariposa was offered in New
York for S43, 900 without takers, and sold
afterward at Liverpool for $54 000 This
fact showed that it was impossible owing
to the high prices of wages and the bur-
dens imposed on commerce. by the Govern
ment, for Americans to compete with the
English in ocean trade.
On motion of w. II. Mills, the report was
laid over until Captain Merrys report on
the encouragement of maritime commerce
was received.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF COMMERCE.
The committee having the latter matter
in charge then reported in favor of amend
ing r. G. Sneath's report by striking out
all in reference to tree ships and inserting
the following:
First-That permanent Bureau of Naviga-
tlon be Established 10 look after the interests of
commerce and check at once any move made
by other countries to Our disadvantage
Second-Ihat Congress provide for the pay
ment of a direct bounty from the Treasury TO
all builders of wood, iron aud steel vessels,
steam or sail, to be engaged in the foreign trade
or between Atlantic and Pacific ports of the
united states, and using American materials;
said bounty to be equal to the import duty
which would have been collected upon the i'm
portation OF foreign material of like description
Thfrd-That Congress further enact an ap-
prentice system for all yes els of the United
states employed upon the high seas.
Fourth-Tnat the maritime laws of the United
States be so amended as to control the pilot
service in all ports ofthe United States.
Mr.. Stone moved to add to this recon-
mendation the recommendation of Captain
Goodall in reference to the French bounty
system.
Mr.. Mills seconded the motion and NJ, NJ.
Estee said be had lately been extensively
studing this subject and had nowhere found
present situation of American commerce
and so plain remedy as proposed by Cap
tain GoodalIs report and the recommends
ton of the committee
Captain Thayer may long argument in
favor of free ships. He said it was i'm
possible for Americans to ever control the
commerce of the world, or even a portion
OF 1t, unless they were permitted to buy
ship wherever they please.
HOW TIE QUESTION WAS DISPOSED OF.
Colonel Irish looked upon the bounty
system as merely anothe method of evad-
ing the tariff now imposed upon the mate
rials which go to build ships He thought
the best way was to look the matter square
In the face and go to the root of the diff.
Gully.
Mr.. Stone said he would like to see
American ships plowing the seas, but he
never wanted 20 see them if they were 90
ing to be built in Eugland [Applause.
Nj. NJ. Estee was utterly opposed to Civ
ing any preference to foreign capital or
foreign labor. Americans should plainly
Initiate the foreigners in building up COM
merce. But seven per cent. of the tonnage
which LETT San Francisco last year went out
IN American bottoms. The reason was
that England and France subsidized their
merchant marine, and the United States
must do that before it can expect to create
navy. Ships, guns and powder will never
make a navy. Men are more necessary
than anything else.
Mr.. Sheath closed the debate. He said
1t was not question of the condition of
affairs, but remedy There must be some
thing done, and speedily. He thought
time should not be lost in building ships
when they could be purchased at once. 1t
was business proposition.
The motion TO adopt Captain Goodall' S
report and Mr.. Sneath's report as amended
by Merry's committee, with the ultimate
proposition suggesting the French bounty
system, was then put, the roll being called.
1t was unanimously carried on roll-call.
Recess until ? O'clock
TIE PACIFIC cABLE-CoAsr DEFENSE.
The conference reassembled at 2:3O, when
Captain Merry submitted the report of the
Committee on a Pacific Ocean Cable. The
report was approved, with the exception of
clause which recommended that in case
the Government aided the construction of
the cable, it should reserve the right to con-
troll the rates TO be charged for service. Mr..
Craig accepted the amendment, and the re-
port was unanimously adopted
Mr.. Harrington submitted the report of
the Committee on Coast Defense, presented
yesterday by Irving NJ. Scott. Ii was ap-
proved with the insertion of the following
paragraph:
What has been said in this report
touching the defenseleSs condition of San
Francisco harbor applies with equal force
to the other harbors of the Pacific coast,
and there is no less necessity for the proper
protection of Puget Sound, Columbia river,
Humboldt Bay, San Pedro and San Diego
harbors, which are all, equally with San
Francisco in need of suitable defense All
are points that, would be the object of
prompt seizure by an enemy in time of
war,
Also the following resolutions
Resolyed, That the Congress of the United
States be earnestly urged TO make such liberal
appropriations as win be necessary TO nut all
the harbors, rivers and ports of the Pacific
coast 70 wit Puget Sound, Columbia river,