The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-31
GROWTH OF OUR COMMERCE.
Commissioner Of Navigation O'Brien
Submits His Report.
INCREASE IN DOMESTIC SHIPPING.
Fears That TranS-Patifc Vessels Bearing the
American Flag Will Be Driven From
the Sea,
INCREASE IN DOMESTIC SHIPPING
Special TO THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3o.-E. c. OBrien,
Commissioner of Navigation, in his annual
report expresses the opinion that the ex-
clusion of foreign vessels from participa-
ton in our domestic and coastwise COM
merce. provided by the act of 1873, has
alone saved our shipbuildng and shipping
interests from ruin, and that in The absO-
lutely protected branch of our merchant
marine we have attained success in nauti-
cal affairs far surprising those Of any other
nation on the globe.
Referring to the shipping on the Great
Lakes the Commissioner notes an increase
in tonnage from I'll, ,269 tons in 1882 to
11S3, 5S2 tens in 1892. and says the lake
shipping now embraces fleet of large steam
vessels, models OF beauty and efficiency.
He says that while American steam nayga-
tiOn has been driven absolutely from the
transatlantic trade it survives on the Pacific
Ocean, first for the reason that the Amer-
can trans Pacific lines are able TO sustain
themselves through association with abso-
lutely protected steamer lines between New
York and San Fran cisco, and secondly,
owing to the benefit OF the protection which
arises from their association with the trans
continental railway lines.
Th Commissioner, however, calls atten-
danger on The Pacific and says that the fact
that the Dominion Government has en-
abled the Canadian Pacific Railway to con-
stIuct its line across the continent and
place on the Pacific ocean a line of steamers
which receive from the Canadian and Brit
ish Governments an annual subsidy of $780,
900, which is five times the amount
paid annually to the American steamers
carrying TO and from Asia mails which sew
eral times exceed in magnitude the mails
carried by the Canadian lines.
Tie total annual subvention 20 this CON-
hined Canadian and British Government line
of railroad and steam navigation amounts 10
about 100000 a year. Besides, the
Dominion Government has passed statute
allowing the Canadian Pacific 10 diserimin-
ate unjustly against American transpOrta-
ton lines, and, In order to make sure of Sc
curing the Asiatie trade, that Government
has imposed duty on tea and coffee when
imported into Canada from tie United
States. Commissioner O'Brien regards this
as au assault upon the dignity as we'll as
upon the commercial and shipping interests
of tie United States and as a protective
measure recommends the imposition of q
discriminating duty upon Asiatic goods
when imported into the United States from
Canada.
While the tonnage Of American-built
vessels employed in the protected domestic
trade oil the country has advanced the un-
protected foreign commerce branch of our
merchant marine has declined. He does not
regard the measures OF reilef a'ready
adopted as adequate to the restoration C.
the American shipping engaged in foreign
commerce. The Commissioner says the
adoption Of the policy proposed by the
House Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries for admitting foreign built vessels
to both our domestic and foreign trade
would inflct upon the ship building and
ship-ownDg interests a more severe blow
than was received from the Confederate
cruisers during tbe late war,