The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26
A PLEA FOR SUBSIDIES.
s. G. COBB OF PENSACOLA BEFORE
TIE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

He Recites the Onerous Duties the
Merchant Marine Was Subject to
During the War Benefits Which
Would Accrue to Pensacola II She
Should Become q Coal Exporting
Point.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Sewall c. Cobb,
representing the Chamber of Commerce of
P ensacola, Fla, made an argument on the
question of the payment of subsidies to
American merchant vessels before the
House committee on the merchant marine
and fisheries to-day. Mr.. Cobb called TO
mind the onerous duties that the merchant
marine had been subjected to during the
war by the imposition Of heavy tonnage
dues, and insisted tnat it was due to the
shipping interests Of the country that legis-
lation be enacted that will give some re-
turn for this heavy outlay in taxes.
BENEFITS TO PENSACOLA.
Mr. Cobb spoke at length of the benefits
that the city of Pensacola would derive
from the passage of the Farduhar bill. He
asserted that a plant for the building of
ships would be erected there, and that all
the necessary conditions for such an estab-
lishment were centered in shat locality The
city had good harbor, was in close prox-
unity to the sea, in an excellent locality,
and was near the seat of the iron industry
at Birmingham, Ala.
WHAT HE CLAIMS.
The speaker said that if the government
instituted the policy of paying subsidies, at
| the end of ten years a large amount of
capital would have been invested by the
American people in shipbuilding
If it was stopped at the end Of
that time the industry would
be in such a state that it would return fair
compensation for the outlay. He instanced
a case where he had an opportunity to enter
into contract for the shipment of coal
| from the United States to port in Central
America in competition with foreign sub
sidized line which is bringing coal from
England, and of the benefit he could derive
from the contract by the aid Of a subsidy.
WOULD EMPLOY MANY PEOPLE.
| The expectation of coal to Central
| America wonld give employment to a great
| number Of people in the United States, and
i be a source of great profit to the southern
| states producing coal Besides this, the gov
ernment would profit by the amount of
custom revenues that would be collected on
articles brought back from Central Ameri-
can countries. Mr.. Cobb's speech was listened
to with great attention by the committee,
| and he was closely questioned in regard to
various statements he made.
| CHARLESTON ALSO STIRRED UP.
| CHARLESTON, s. c., Jan. 25.-Charleston
| is again promised great boom. Ex-Judge
| A. G. Haskell addressed the executive COM
| mittee of the chamber of commerce to- day
in the interest of the tonnage bill now pend
hing in congress. Among other things,
Judge Haskell said that he was the legal
afaf fNP -
ern commercial bodies He came to Charles
ton at their request ito present their views
on shipping matters, and to obtain the CO.
| operation of the chamber in an endeavor to
| obtain legislation more favorable to our
merchant navy. He had visited South
| American countries, and said that he had
noticed that most of the people dressed in
white cotton goods.
| SOUTH CARoLINA's CHANCE.
These goods are more cheaply manufact-
ured in South Carolina than in any part of
the world. Charleston, he says, has more
advantages than any other South Atlantic
| port, and northern men realize this. We
must have foreign commerce imports and
exports. The South Carolina railway now
| has the chance of obtaining connections
that will give Charleston through lines to
| all parts of the country. Northern men are
turning their eyes to the south, and realize
that the salvation of the merchant marine
must come from this section. South Caro-
lima ssand particularly Charleston,s sis
being studied by these, and they are ready
to invest large sums Of money here. II the
tonnage bill is passed, he said. big firm
will Immediately start line of steamers
from Charleston to South America, and
run English goods out of those markets.
The bill in congress provides that 80 cents
| shall be paid per ton carried 1000 miles to
a foreign port in American bottoms At
the close of his speech a resolution was
| adopted indorsing the tonnage bill and call
ing upon the representatives of the state in
congress to support the bill in question.