New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-10
THE TONNAGE BOUNTY BILL.
IT'S CONSIDERATION TEMPORARILY POST
PONED
FREESHIP MEN IN HIGH FBArHER-DlLEMMA
OF NEW YORK DEMOCDATS-WHY Mr.. HOP
KINs WILL OPPOSE THE BIIL-HIS
ESTIMATES AND THOSE OF
NAY 1ELEGRArM To nm TkInrNE.l
PRACTICAL MIN.


IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TkIBUSE.l
Washington Jan. cit Is expected that cOnsidera-
ton of the Tonnage bill in the House will not be re
sumed until Monday Tuesday. and that the inter
venting time will be indu>trously employed by the
friends Of foreign shipbui!derS and shp-owners in
efforts to win votes for the opposition. They have
already succeeded in poisoning the minds of most OF
the Democrats, as we'll as Of some Republicans, and
one Of them glcefully declared today that the bill Is
as good as dead. lie estimated that fifteen Repub-
ucans would vote against it. and declared that every
Democrat, except Amos Cummings, would be Whipped
into line on the same side.
The Democratic Representatives from New-York and
Brooklyn TO be unceItain what course to pursue
They realize that public sentiment in their districts.
Irrespective Of party. is strongly in favor OF the bll'
and that may possibly control them. If they once
realize what is also asserted to be the fact that tho
Cleveland Mugwump cocric in WORK CITY is openly
strainnG every to defeat the bill. With tho
active but secret aid and sympathy Of Mr. Cleveland
it may influence them. There are some Of them who
would dislike extremely 70 play into Mr. Cleveland :
hand and at the same time run counter to the bust
ness and industrial interests Of their respective districts
There are few intelligent men in Congress VINO 90
not realize that the free ship scheme, which the op
poncnts of the bill arc trying to club 20 kill
the measure is the favOrtc dream of the most absolute
and extreme cetIadcrs who not only willing, bu
anxious 10 surrender the American carrying trade u
control The fact is not forgotten that when Mr.
Cleveland President the Postmaster General, with
his approval, refused to cXpcnd appropriation MADE
by Democratic House and a Republican Senate for
the transportation Of the foreign mails of the Ihted
States under the American flag.
Among the Republican Representatives who are op
posed to the Tonnage bill. il, Mr. Hopkins Of illinois
who intends to speak against ii, the ground that the
cost will amount TO Sl5O.OOO.000 in nineteen years
Mr. Hopkins to-day said 10 TRIBUNE correspondent
that he had deduccd these hgL"eS from the
estimates of the Commissioner of Navigation which
amount to a total of only $f7,16G,O00 for the lirs'
ten years or an average Of Si,7lS,O0O year
In other words Mr. Hopkins, who frankly admits thai
ne Knows nothing about the subject. except in theo
retical way mutplieS by two the estimates maze oE
an expert Of lifelong experience, whose estimates aio
approved by nearly every man In the country whoso
judgment is based upon practical knowledge ana OK
perience That the estimates Of the Commissioner OF
Navigation are extremely liberal is shown oy his letter
dated January l, 1891, to Chairman Farquhar OF tho
Committee Merchant Marine. To begin with' they
include conditions either of which would tend
10 stimulate shpbulding in the United states; First
"a policy OF PanAmerican reciprocity OF trade ana
TRANSPORTATION: second the completion Of the
Nicaragua Canal within the next five year. In the
letter referred to the Commissioner of Navigation says
The total of AL sizes OF sailing vessels lat wear in
the foreign trade 72030 tons. OF this tie portion
eligible for pavment amounted 10 800 900 tons and
the remainder Of ineligible vessels To 364 $50 tons
Tie total of the steam was 1976 $50 tons the eligible
being $4,000 tons and the ineligible for bounty earln5
From the table it appears hat the steam fleet might
increase from 10000 10 91"ooO tons Of hIStcla,N
shipping the greater part Of il in ten years time In
Cludfng the vessels of second and third CLASSES The az
gregate steam tonnage would amount To- liz; ~.
gain Of 3D. per cent in the period. With such a rate
of gain in steam it could NOT be expected that the ,
feet would hold its own, beginning me perlCI WIN
$4,000 tons and closing with 10000 tons. The de
cline is nearly 13 per cent bn ne Old ships wGuiG DC
nearly replaced with new Includine second ana ihrd
class tonnage, the sail feet might increase sShtly
There might be built 10000 tons of sail and ZOOS,
600 tons of steam total Of 12ls,0oO ton Of snip
ping the foreign trade in the course Of the period
There might also be 75ol3 tons OF SAIL ana 1870
tons Of steam or total OF l26,oJO IONS repaired lol
maintenance Of class in the same Tune. ne I9t Oh
building and repairing might amount 70 l'44'0o IONS
in the period - , ,,,,, , ur,t,. o.
pecally of iron steel steam Tonnage some OF II Oh
great power and speed. could not be accomplished by
the wards and shops now engaged Ia me S DG
OF mechanics set at work 10 turn ont NE tonnage tuI
estimated for. At The opening OF the Nlca'asna oaa
we should be prepared with steamers Tor large Ih
crease Of trade. east and west through that
channel. have estimated for The ouiGhg
ana repairing in 1896 Of $4,000 tons Ihal
IS 1Oi 600 tons more metal steam tonnage than was
turned out for ocean service in the past year when
he period have estimated for the building Of 10000
tons Of metal steamers, or nearly three times me
launch Of last year, mostly for cGdStw,e trade The
steam tonnage of wood and metal built last car i)r
all sca-gOing trades WAS only 81 900 tors when our
n aEf the eI %tm %gV am5ant Of Hanc coast steam
tonnage turned out was $1,000 t0na IN 70,,' -, !,
Prom these facts il NAV be judges that u would be
impossible to more steam tonnage than havc
estimated table even If we doubled me number
Mechanic G S, in III" three Years time it viii IS fortunate
II do much for our counirys gJod. II We
shall succeed h. 6pdlue up Deei Of steam and IN
absolute though not our relative standing on me
sea beor. the would be practically restored. II
we had these fleets now We would carry 80 pcr cent
Of foreign which has more than doubled
In thirty years PAST.