New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-07
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
COMMISSIONER BATESS NEW WORK.

COMMISSIONER ia lESS NEW WYNN
ANERlHGAHT o M4R SED r TH SirfS ~ %sn
Bates. $40. PIP. 40 Boston and New-iork' housh-
ton, Miffiin d Co.
This Is a very valuable and comprehensive WORK.
written by one has spent fifty years In the STUDY
of sips and navigation. In early lie the author WIS
the editor of the only magazine In the United states
devoted 10 the interests of shpbuildng, engineering
naviratIon and commerce; subsequently he was man
acer OF the Inland Lloyds Register ana Ch''u suites
Commissioner Of Navigation; and by business expert
ence official service and prolonged study OF the snip
ming question: ne IS preemneny qualihed ior "ritns
an exhaustive volume the American marine iie mas
produced merely the best but practically inc o'S
work on this subject. 1t Is a branch oi literature
which has been completely neglected mat only d
few pamphlets Congressional reports ana iue1uVe es-
saws bearing upon shipping question can be iouho
4, tho n,hlic libraries II debates In Congress ana
much of the writing for the press on the American
commercial marine have been ildigcsted 1t has been
because there was no standard work OF hi"mins
quality dealing with the HISTORICAL coni"ei'ia''
economic and political phases OF the subject since 'e
publication OF Dr. Wharon's digest oil American vi
plomacy there has been marked development Oh III
telIgencc In the discussion Of International quesuon
IN Congress and by the press. The publication OF 'nis
mastery exposition OF the causes OF 'he oe'n". ,'
American shipping In the foreign 'raoe ''' '
fall TO exert a similar educational influence
The four opening chapters relate to the >duon''
the nag the utility Of maritime pursuits anu VIZ
progrcss ~ naval arts The fifth chapter m'oiNco
comparison of American and British naVsa'ioh
laws and introduces the controversial poi''o'' Vi Va"
work II reveals the duality OF the h"ieI'''" '
fem bv which the c0asiing and river ana iaHe n'''"
Is protected ard TIE fleet In foreign service
N compe,l,lon under free trade conditions IL also
contrasts the original nnd the existing Iruah sSS
,oms and demonstrates that the marine has oech
systematically protected by subsidy. subvcnuon IN
surancc discrimination and other mercal'he Po'.'
since TIE passage OF the reciprocity ana iicc sup
laws OF 1s40. The author contehds 'h't wv ~
,o,orcv n, the modern system OF British ship pro
lection has depended greatly on the inatohuo" anu
fai,ur. OF the American Congress To couh'erac' "'
eo,r wont Of interest In the great arena whehcc
ENGLAND has drawn her wealth and power mas oeeh
n codsend 10 all her people, but misfortune " ~
ownp The evolution OF British maiitime po"c' "
explained with lucidity and comprehensive kho"'cuse
in the following chapter. great stress bene 'a'u i
I,ords' inspection policy and the undcrwr'hs SsN'e"'
by which the shipping of all other countries Is "''
eliminated against and underrated. ,
Tho noxt three chapters devoted 10 the e"iN
,,nninr policy Of the United States under wm'h ,'
nrosperitv OF the commercial marine was pr"'"o "
genuine protective measures: 10 the subsequent
cline Of shipping interests under the fice-uauc '''
time arran Cements made between 1919 ana LOW az"
To the effects Of the Civil War and OF the conunu"
- maritime recprocity or free trade on the hgh seas
rbese chap,ers are accompanied by luminous status icl
exhibits which involve complete exposure oi '"o
ncpular faacy that the marine has oecihc" oe'""'o
n has been "protcctcd TO DEATH ihe io'e''0
the truth: American shipping In foreign tiaoe mas
declined from sheer lack of protection and from the
continuance OF essentially free-iade condoh-' "neio'
.s tho coastnc and inland marines. which have beeh
nrotec,ed from the beginning. have steadily prospereu
The precise effects tariff legislation are SHOWN III
another admirably written chapter and the free ''aae
fallacy that the tariff has driven the nag iro'i' '"o
.e.s is punctnr-d The eleventh and twelfth chap
tere dealing with free ships and unity OF III
terest IN shipbullding and shipowning' are among
,he strongest portons the work. and also the most
important In view Of the legislation now penang
IN Congress. The argument. when briefly cohoeiseu
runs IN this wise: shipping In me foreign 'raie
prospercd along with that In domestic trade whle
both kinds Of tonnage had protection: under mari
time reciprocity free trade In foreign freiehung'
shpowninc has declined and the shpbilding INDUSTRY
has been maintained solely through the prosperity
OF the coastwse trade. from which pro'ecnon WAS o'
withdrawn; to give up the substance OF American snip
building for the shadow OF owning foregnbuiit SHIPS
under present conditions of competition would DC 10
complete the maritime degradation Of the United
States and to reduce the country TO state OF aolect
dependence upon British shipbuildcrs as well as snip
owners.
The remainder OF this volume is occupied win com
parisons OF the dcsirabilify and seaworthncSs OF
British and American ships; with an exposiuoh OF
British insurance protection and Of the marine In
surance business Of the United states ana with me
discussion of various technical questions and OF inc
most practical methods of promoting the revival
OF American shipping interests. Indeed there Is not
branch OF this great National controversy "mch
Is neglected or passed over in silence The au'hor'
wlilc an Onspoken controvcrsialst with an uheom-
promising habit of MIND, is not theorlst WHO soTts
and combines his facts for the purpose Of proving
his case He is IL laboIouS investigator who believes
that facts are arguments. and that when PinhN
stated carry their logic with them Ills volume
Is storehouse Of Information upon which future
investigators will draw without restraint MI friends
NJ American shippinc interests are under pressing
obligations to him for preparing this carefully dcesei
volume for public enlightenment