The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-05-12
Ships and Shipping.


Census Bureau has issued bulle-
tin on the subject of transportation by
water except canals, in the United States
for the year 1889. The bulletin shows
that the transportation fleet Of the United
States at the beginning of 1890, with the
exception noted, numbered %, $40 steam
sailing vessel and unrigged craft, whose
gross tonnage was I, $50, 676 tons, and
whose estimated commercial value stood
at S215, 069, 296. 1t also shows that dur
ing the preceding year the freight move
ment by the whole operating American
mercantile fleet amounted to ~, 10. 423
tons of all commodities, and that the
number of persons of all classes employed
to make up the ordinary or complement
tary crews of all operating vessels of the
United States, exclusive of pleasure craft
on the Atlantic coast and Gulf OF Mexico,
numbered 1O6. 436, and that the total
amount paid out in wages was $50, SCI ,3O3.
IN BEHALF OF AMERICAN SAILORS. 1t
undoubtedly is a fact that the Secretary
Of the Navy has given notice ''that none
but American citizens shall be hereafter
appointed to places in our navy yards,
and that such aliens as may be already
employed there shall be required to pro
cure papers of naturalization. These
foreign born citizens will have no right to
declare that this policy is Of the know
nothing character. 1t is nothing OF the
sort. Any foreign born citizen who has
become a citizen OF the United States. or
who has even taken the first step TO be-
come citizen. will be as welcome TO en-
ployment in the Nav Yard as native
born citizen. But Secretary Tracy, the
quality of whose Amcrcanism is well
known, has determined that the time has
come that those who receive the mo-ey
of the United States shall be citizens of
the United States. The Secretary of the
Treasury has determined upon a like pol
icy, to the effect that only seamen who
are American citizens shall hereafter be
employed on lake vessels flying the United
States flag. This will exclude those sea
men who are of Canadian citizenship.
There are American citizens enough who
are able and ready to build and command
all of the ships of the navy and all other
ships entitled to carry the American flag.
NOT \ NFREE SNIP" NlcroEY. The
National House of Representatives is
not the absurd Fithian scheme, but a very
different measure. 1t applies solely to the
Inman and international Company. and
provides for an American registry for the
two great ocean greyhollnds, lily OF Paris
and City of New York. But the condi-
lions attached to the bill are such as are
calculated to rob it of all value in the
eyes of rabid free ship" shouterS like
tithian and other Southern and Western
Democratic Congressman. whose mari
time knowledge briefly relates to tlatboats
and prairie schouners. For it is provided
that the bill shall not take effect until the
lnman company has two large steamships
of equal size under construction in Amer
lea. This is the last thing that our polit-
zeal free ships theorists would wish.
Their sole aim and object is the free adj
mission of foreign built crafts to Ameri-
can registry. regardless of the effect upon
native shipbuilders though we believe
they do magnanimously suggest that our
great shipyards could still find occupation
as repair shops" With the City of New
York, the City Of Paris and the two new
American steamers. the Inman Company
would have four first class ships. and
would be imposition to put in bid for IN
ocean mail contract. This is the appal-
ent purpose. For the Inman managers
could not afford to give up their fat Brit
ISL subsidy. as they would have to do if
they put their TWO ships under the Amer
lean flag, unless an American subsidy
were forthcoming. The measure was not
debated at any great length in the House
1t will probably receive q more careful
scrutiny in the Senate. Boston journal.