New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-17
4 WORSE CASE THAN BEFORE.
GENERAL WHEELERS OPPOSITION TO THE
TONNAGE BILL.
SECRETARY HILLS DEFENCE OF THE EXPRE1Sl
DENT OF TILE SHIPPING LEAGUE-HE EA-
POSES SOME NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE FREU.sIIlP MEN.
fey TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIBUNE.l

Washington. Jan. 16.-The correspondent Vi
Tribune has received letter from Charles . iiiI I'LL,
secretary OF the American shipping League III rc9'i'
to Washington dispatch published in The lrip""'
OF January A. In his letter Mr.. Hill says
The facts presented entirely correct DuO '.'
that there was reflection upon some OF our De'o '"
friends which would unJusty attribute to then an W.
American disposition to favor foreign carrying
To bleed by taxation people by the payHohv q"
subsidy to foreign ships through the United Sta'S ,
Office Department, we have been DONG lor 'n 'I
uirtyiyc years. True it IL very much TO be r's'e.V
that General wheeler should find any cause al u'i' %
day to dIdr from the otherwise unanimous sentiment VI
the Shipping League In favor OF inc lohhaXo O''
other pIoposon on the subject has ever peep 'ppIo
By the League which has 50 strong Constituent
throughout the United states and why Gen'ra "ne''
should halt az this time ncompehcnsble to MS iehu
General Whitthornc Is firm defender OF that Wl'e
provision for a Nayal reserve in the merchant "'''
and General Hooker, whom reference was also maui
stood soldy and alone shipping interests A. 0'"'
crat In the last Congress. 80,
In le Of the references to the late president Of the
shipping League, General Wheeler 1t Is que TO u9'
,oni,,,lon "A we'll a. 10 himself. TO submit the foo"
inc letters. ,.oc
The first letter which bears date of July l. 1o9''
l. General Wheelers acceptance Of the PRESIDENCY
Of the shipping League for the state OF Alabama III
This letter General Wheeler after expressing ms
grateful appreciation Of the honor conferred ana h'
acceptance Of the same. wrote:
regret that the choice OF the League hau ho' '''oi
ron ono ADLER than myself represent Alabama IN It's
authorizations though feel confident no Aaoaah couu
vmpatbi,e moro earnestly than do with the purposes
and efforts Of League to do all 1t possibly can I"
restore or revive the former prosperity OF our shipping
interest now prostrae or at best in dporaby lansud
condition. -.,,. T.,
am convinced too that this renewal Of ACTIVITY IN
our shipbuGng interest must inevitably be attehu'd pS
the Development Of great activity along the Gun coast III
cvc,v branch OF industry connected with that interest
The development of the vast iron and coal beds OF
Alabama render inevitable that the IRON sn'' mnr"
must National and merchant marine OF INC iu1e
can be- most adyantagcousy and economically constructor
n the readily accessible points most contiguous TO e'e
immense coal and iron deposits. 1900
In hi, letter to Tho Tribune correspondent Mr.. lliu
continues, ....,,...
and heartily cooporatd with Us all in Our work and in
all or conventions a. viii DE from the records OF
rho r,cue and IN evidence o which the following letter
to our convention at NcwoHcan5 in 1855 bears strong
testimony:
House q, Representatives. United states,
Washington. D. G., Feb. ., 1883.
To tho presiding officer, National Convention American
Shipping League, N'w.orlcans. La.
Dear Sir: | deeply regret that pressing Official uute'
VIII doprve ne Of the pleasure should have In psrtclat'
ing in the proceedings your convention and becoming
II possible deeply mbucd with sentiments oil ueN
T. the cause which you are ENGAGED Inc F' ''D
u.hucnt of our former supremacy a maritime lroc
racal A. one OF the important questions no" dena
Ing solution the hands Of American al'n'P an"
enterprise Tho successful accomplishment oil u' op'0'
IN vn OI
Of sror, of millions OF dollar, now being annually pau "
fr,uars for carrying our exported good' but 1t means
also useful aud profitable employment to thousands o' our
art sans and the ADVANTAGEOUS iuNcsnth, o C''' "o"
living dle and comparatively unproductlve.
II means greatly increased activity IN h''N "''F ''
FL, m. vast number Of our diversified indu'tirS now a"
gushing declining for want OF favorable oppo''u"x "
cope on equal terms those Of other countries when
the sails Of American ships shall again whlteh every sea
and the soke Of American merchant steamers ascend 70
the archng accessible part OF the siooe'
e dire and deploriblc struggle between uhdeFpau 'o'r
and uuproducti,c capital now going on a'"h" W.
,t ,, u,.d away forever for then We shall supp! inc
market. or the with our surplus ps'oH't' lh''''u "
-, 1T .a,, limited 10 tho consumer within our own
orIars To accomplish this vast and ncatuabl" Ohrh'
cent revolution In the comn,fc" ana huu'.' vi w
try ia the lofty and noble purpose Of our J. a'ue our sue
r.,s Will insure contentment ana happh''' !" o"' "
army ~ worknen and satisfactory returns TO our active
,igant and entcrpr-ing capitalist Let IL a'h''' '
,-. Az, have IN view ana prosperity. peace, plenty ana
,.ntuent VIII prevail throughout cur lani-'lohS the
shore, OF the Gut the borders OF our Noi"'n '''
,, our Atlantic ,eacoa,t Throughout, It's whole extent a.
upon IN" Pacific ... ,,,
auccc,s OF design results Of whcn promise 'u'h COM
rn., and enduring benefits TO III" people 81 our "'oe
ro,ntrv rht well satisfy the ambition Of hr more as
bring man than myself ana sh''l e't''S S'''' '''''
opportunity contribute to that ehd'
Til. statistic, bearing upon the subject VIII De pre-
soni.d L, yol by gentlemen far more competent th'h "
dI Win m,m but cannot refrain from saying uat al
ready tito ave gratifying evidence, ~ t' ad| '-l' TO-
s,n, from such am organization as our i'ue ia the r'-
ncv.d interest IN -hpbulldne industry and th' h,NN
aroused sense II Importance Of our foreign 'adr "h'h
n, p,rccptlbc throughout the country.
v,h renewed c>prr.- ons ~ regret for my Inability 10
be- WIKI you and implicit confidence that the result "'
conn dn,raon. will be- u great immediate benefit 10 the
League and ultimately 70 the country. am, ~ very ie'
>uort;illly your obrdcnt servant JOS. Wllf'l'l.h'
TIL. letter wa. listened to with clos" attention ana
heartily appaudcd. No Democrat can 20 back upon inc
shi,In, I'm without ,tsuauln2 Jefferson. SO Ecp1b'
l,n can fail % stand mp To it, cn-cmrnt a> re-" without
r,nounclng the greatest claim Of his party principle Tho
d,,l,n,c az American shipping is National disgrace a.
non.ccouomic policy of Congress Tor mlN-hNe Yeas u
il An.omauia,-u and British Lloyds lobbyists that have
uro,,l.d tine -ophc.Iy and ways and means during that
,,rlod To influence the reputation by Congress Of all
steamship mail contracts and to defeat patriotic and rational
legislation in fence of our Naval Eo'N'-a me''A"'
No better evidence Of the non.partsauship II e
u,.ton can Dee cited than :hc fact presented 70 this Con-
,r.. m t,. minority report against the shipping bill by
Democrat of Illinois, which is absolutely reproduction ana
indoten.nt OF similar minority report Of shipping b
p, a E,,uh,u Of Illinois In is,s both ~ which bear -hN
imp,,. il not the imprint Of Captain John Goldman ccl'
bat,d a, ubiquitous obNucton't I" the restoration &"
American shipping T., former corou, prestige and the
advisor aud defender Of British shipping.
II T. therefore with regret that the attempt
mad, Al this time to influence some Democratic iti'nds
against th, great economic subject Of 80 much Na''on
Importance. IL /, great mistake and extremely I'M
lust to hir,, insnuate that some Of the prominent
p.mocra,ic ,r,t,mrn who have been for the last four
wear. working healthy with the Shipping League 10 az.
ronn,h the revival 81 shipping and 10 restore our
oq To the ocean could be induced to adopt such an
/ inconsistent course.
Tuc. General Wheeler who for three the
ur..lrnt and for year the NircWrsatnt OF Nanala
differs On specific points, and in his exception 90
the majority report the Merchant Marine Committee ~
dIcaa- that bill now before Congress does not sNe
sufficient protection the iron aud coal interests Of his
district 50 lr q, such protection GOES il i, point wen
taken: but for pace and harmony with our other Demo-
cratic fipnl- ike the Hon Amos Cummings ana others ot
eraw.matria principles, the bll was made one Oh tho
most equitable. conservative and rational character
The cms,arlc, British interests, like David y Wells
and Captain John Goldman wicd their pens Win crafty
facility scpt-cal arguments in some OF our journals,
and upon some senators and Representatives, ana
strange to say allure them from the patriotic path OF duty
and logical comprehension political economy well as