New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-23
COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN'S PRIDE.
III. SEES MORE GLORY FOR THE AMERICAN MEE-
CHANT MARINE.

HE SEES MORE GLORY FOR TIE AMERICAN MEE-
CHANT MARINE.
Commissioner Edward {. oBricn, Of inc D'r'p"
Of NAVIGATION, who was in attendance upon inc oere
monte, on the Ncw-York yesterday, sa!d last he"t
that they were 10 him inspiring object lesson vi
the patriotic impulses which were now nj "orh TO
lulding the merchant marine OF this country. In"
holsting OF our flag over the New-fork,' sald inc
commits ,loncr. pays homage to that rule OF p"bhc
p,i.y r,,a~ing the Amer cln ship With the FUND r
II our overnm, established n an presson o. their
patriotic zeal In favor Of the ind nience Of American
Industry. The ship was NJ the beginning ana ever
has been recognized symbol oil Ameri' an hh'ioi
atty and n such IL Is fitting that 1t snail De boh
physically and By ownership entirely American
Under the Inspirations Of this policy our maritime
shrrc.scs were for many years the tonshm'ht OF
the world. As time passed, however, the Ill Z lhcch-
possibilities Of internal development In this country
presented attractions 70 capital and enterprise 30
much greater than afforded un'cr the lmlta'h'
Of an unrestricted competition in the foreign trnie
that We were forced to Ie into naiiona! carry
Ing trade upon the ocean To other nations nu'
the art ~ shlphulldng with all its rcaled Industries
not only has survived but made great au'"'c'S'
oar domestic Carrying tradc-the largest anu most
remuncrltivc Of any nation on tn, globe-has from
tie beg inning been contnd cAclu ivtly to Am'rca
v,>scs and tho result has been that In point OF
architecture, di,sn speed scaworthines ard general
sailing and steam vessels employed along our
coast, and upon our lakes, bays, sounds and rivers
In that supreme test OF eXcollency In naval arcm-
tcc'ur-yacht bulding-wc have for nearly mar
century lcd the world The Wisdom OF our rer'eVcr-
aucc I'm the falth which has lei rs DURING al these
N,ars sand TO-. true Am cinSm IN the III intcn nee
Of an AmerG'a merchant marine Is vnd' ,t anu
attestod In The recent report OF me Hon liay y;
lcrr Of NaDama IN ms capady a Inarnn ,aus 81
u Representative In referring to IN, law OF
August 3, l-od. and subsequent acts, Will n reiulr3
that all our modern wa vessels SNAIL d. Ou r5a i, lo
niicf state,. and Of Am'ric9n material Chmtm nrl
Herbert said that the requirement was severe
but time la; proved IT to haze nHe O', Eo " law
of August D. l--G and subsequent acts. has
been home made throughout, and there Il NOT one on,
Of them that vii. not compare favoraby win u,e
best vessels 81 like Np' manufactured III othsr
countries during the same time. II may now , De
.hipyaris can turn out an unarmored vessel OF the
highest type Of excellence rs quickly as can b. done
In the Oldest shipyards OF Europe MIR. Herbert
reaches the climax Of his tribute 10 o'f American
maritime policy by declaring that since the year ear
i7-6 the price Of the materials entering INTO the
composition Of II modern ship has been reduced
fully onc-half. and the irice Of completed SNIP
"ThrSc last word, are printed in italics in the
pr",rinr The npri6tc bride Of the Chairman In the
all those multidudinous industries which contribute
S9n the dS % our s s admits s
lult ships under sharply defined conditions which pay
qmrlng that the vessels so admitted Shall be steam.
ships capable Of speed Of twenty knots mn hour
that they shall be- az the time Of their admission
actually employed In commerce between the United
states II foreign country that they shall be OF
tonnage not than 1000 that not less than
30 per centum Of their share Of capital shall be
ounrd hy citizens Of the United States; that their
owners shall bind themselves to build an equal amount
Of aggregate tonnage I'm the United States that tho
ship, so transferred the American flag shall not
rnengr In our coastwlsc or domestic trade, and that
they may at any time b. taken and used by the
United states Government armed cruisers or rs
transports for purposes upon payment TO their
ovncrs Of their fair actual valuc.''