Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-10-31
NAUTICAL AFFAIRS.
Annual Report Of Commissioner OF
Navigation O'Brien.


WAsuuSuroS, ID. c., Oct. 30.-E. @.
O'Brien, commissioner OF navigation,
In his annual report, expresses his
opinion that the exclusion Of foreign
vessels from participation In our DO.
nestle and coaBtwise commerce pro.
vided by an act Of 1873 has alone saved
our shipbuilding and shipping interests
from ruin and that In the absolutely
perfected branch OF our merchant
marine we have attained success In
nautical affairs far surprising those OF
any other nation on the globe. Re.
ierring to shipping on the great lakes
the commissioner notes an increase In
tonnage from 1909 tons in 1852 to
l,lS3,bS2 tons In 1897, and says 1t now
embraces fleet OF large steam vessels
models OF beauty and efficiency. He
says while American steam navigation
was absolutely driven from trans.At.
lantic trade II survived on the Pacific
ocean; first for the reason that Amerl.
can trans. Pacific lines are able to sus.
tain themselves through association
with an absolutely protected steamer
line between New York and San
Francisco and the benefit OF the pro-
lection which arises from their associa.
ton with trans.continental railway
line.
The commissioner, however, calls
attention TO what he regards as
threaten ming danger on the Pacific, and
says the fact is that the Dominion gov.
eminent has enabled the Canadian
Pacific Railway to construct It's lines
across the continent and place on tho
Pacific ocean line OF steamers which
receives from the Canadian ana
British governments an annual
subsidy OF 100000, which Is five
times the amount paid annually to
A merlcRn steamers carrying 10 and
from Asia; which several times ex-
ceeds In magnitude the mails carried
by tho Canadian lines. The total
annual subventiop TO this combined
Canadian and British government
line Of railroad and steam navigation
amounts to about $40, 100000. Besides,
the Dominion government has passed
statute in terms allowing the
Canadian Pacific to discriminate un-
justly against the American trans.
portation lines, and IN order to make
sure OF securing the Asiatic trade OF
that government, imposed u duty ON
tea and coffee when imported into
thHulh from tuo " ulltu pUtth.
Commissioner O'BTien regards all
this M mn assault upon the dignity rs
we'll M upon the commercial and
shipping interests Of the United States,
anu us protective measure recon-
mends the imposition OF q discriminate
ing duty upon Asiatic goods when i'm.
ported into the United States from
Canada. While the tonnage OF
American built vessels employed In
the protected domestic trade OF the
country has advanced, the unprotected
foreign commerce branch OF our
merchant marine has declined. He
does not regard the measures OF relief
already adopted as adequate to the
restoration OF American shipping en-.
gagged In foreign commerce.
The commissioner says the adoption
Of the policy proposed by the House
committee OF merchants marine and
fisheries for admitting foreign built
vessels TO both our domestic ana
foreign trade would intiict upon ship.
building and ship.owning interests q
more severe blow than It received from
the Confederate cruisers during the
late war.