The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-27
TIE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
How Uncle Sam Proposes to Flos
the Union Jack.

tuc OA1on JoCks
President I. G. Haas OF the board Of trade
has received the following letter, under
date Of May 20. from hon. Ambrose Snow,
chairman Of the executive committee OF the
American Shipping and Industrial League:
We send you herewith a copy Of the tonnage
bill as favorably reported by the House Of
marine and fisheries. and now on the
calendar OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives. The measure explains itself.
It only proposes to do what has been and is
being done by other nations, and. as the title of
the bill states. to place the American merchant
marine upon an equality with that of other ma
tions. the absence Of the American flag abroad,
or even upon the ships seen in our own harbors,
must be humiliating to every American.
IL you favor the measure proposed. we ask
that you sign the blank petition herewith, and
return it promptly to me-"
Mr.. Haas says something ought to be
done to revive American shipping, and to
a MORNING NEWS reporter he said that it
is a shame that there should be such a dis
parity of numbers of vessels as to occasion
the complaints. He win present the mat
ter to the board of trade at an early day,
probably at the meeting tomorrow.
The bin referred to, as amended by the
committee, provides that there shall be paid
TO vessels of more than 500 tons gross
register, constructed in and wholly owned
by citizens OF the United States engaged In
the foreign trade, Is cents per gross ton for
the first 500 miles or fraction sailed out
ward or inward, and the same for each sec
ond 500 miles or fraction sailed outward
or inward, and 80 cents per gross ton
for each 1000 miles thereafter, aud pro rata
for any distance sailed less than 900 miles
after the first 200 miles sailed, but not for
more than 1000 miles sailed outward or in
ward, the foreign port to be distant more
than seventy miles seaward from the ocean
or gulf boundary Of the United States. This
subsidy at the rate of thirty cents to con-
tinue ten years, and for term of
nine years thereafter a reduction of
three cents per ton each year upon
each 900 miles and pro rata for any less
distance. Vessels to be entitled to the sub
sidy must load entire cargoes in this country
for discharge in a foreign country and vice
versa, and must have at least % per cent.
of net register tonnage, 2,240 pounds to
make a ton OF cargo.
Such vessels must carry officers who are
citizens Of the United States. During the
first two years one-sixth of the crew, the
next three years one-third of the crew, and
during the remaining term Of the act one
half of the crew, must be American citizens,
and vessels of less than 1000 tons register
must carry one native born apprentice, and
vessels OF 200 tons or over must carry one
native born apprentice for each 1000 tons
or three-quarters fraction thereof.
Provisions are made in the bill for vessels
already built as long as they shall stand in
spection, and also fixing the classification,
etc.
The government Of the United States re-
serves the prior right. while the act is in
force, to purchase or charter any vessels re-
ceiving the benefits of the act at price to
be fixed by agreement with their owners or
agents, or by the judgment of appraisers,
mutually selected in case of disagreement
The New York Herald, after a review of
the decadence of the American merchant
marine, figures up Just four American
ships in the grain trade in 1899. while
Great Britain had GIG, and while American
vessels carried only about 100000 bushels of
grain, Great Britain carried nearly
Is, 000, 900, AID the Herald concludes that
the United States either had four vessels
too many or a hundred times too few.