The Portland daily press., 1895-01-15
FAVOR FREE SHIPPING.
Capt. Deering Led, the Beard Of
Trade Followed.
HE ATTACKED THE RESOLUTION
AGAINST FREE SHIPS.

None Rose to Its Defense But WV. Merrill,
Who Presented 1.-THE Vote I6 to IS
Rather Rough on Bath-The Institute
of Instructions Queer Conditions
Compliments to Mr.. Reed-Mr. Jordan's
Plan of Flooding Back Cove.
There was an attendance OF ABOUT
fifty at the annua meeting of the Board
of Trade, Monday afternoon. The name
of Philip H. Borden was voted upon and
be was elected to membership.
The chief topic of interest and discus
sion was the resolution presented by Mr..
WV, Merrill, of the firm of j. 5. Wins
low & Co., ship brokers, which reads as
follows:
Whereas, The State of Maine was the
pioneer state in ship building, ana ZOE
MANY wears built one-half the tonnage ot
the United States and up 20 the war Oh
the Rebellion, her citizens owned more
than one-nalf Of the sailing vessels ton
mage of the whole country, and OF tHe
90 400 51-g5ths tons built in Maine IN
1868. GO. $50 81 -95ths tons was solo TO IoIo
eien countries that year, ana n 700
there was owned in the State OF Malhe
fine feet of 1856 fishing vessels or an ag
1repate of O.774 tons costing million
ssnd a half dollars, and not only giving
emnloyment to 522S men. but thereby
furnishing a good school for that mum
her of men Immediately available Tor
the navy of the country IN case OF ener-
gency, and
Whereas. The condition OF our snip
of
attention of the Board OF Irade ZOE ule
past several years, and now to improve
it's conditions, and restore to the state SO
importapt an Interest as that OF snip
building. has been the source 81 much
consideration and anxiety with us mem
beers. though with some DIVERSITY oI
opinion. both as regards the substltu-
tion of iron for wooden vessels, and
the policy of admitting foreign pu1l'
vessels to American registry; but. the
nreyajling sentiment has been IN TaVoT
of wooden vessels for coasting trade, ana
always positively opposed toenteftalhiLg
the theory of admitting foreign built
ships to American registers on any
terms, believing that American snip
builders can favorably compeIe WIZ s ang
foreign country in building GOOD ana
speedy ships, either of wood or iron, ana
that it is of vital Importance to give TO
this country again its former rank as
maritime power, that-it be done through
A American built ships, therefore.
Resolved, That the Board OF Trace
of Portland, Maine. hereby process aess
providing for the free admission to
American registry of ships built In fof-
eion countries or in any country, III con-
trolled and owned wholly or in part by
aliens, l1ailing from foreigniporb OF SAIL
ing under foreign flag, as un-Amerlcan,
unpatriotic and unjust to an Important
American Industry fully able 20 compete
with any other nation in supplying ships
and vessels of the best class for the pus-
mess of the country, or the wants OF tine
government as demands may require;
and be it further
Resolved. That copies of this action OF
the Board of Trade be sent to mem oers
of Congress from this state and that they
are hereby requested TO use their lnhu7
ence against the passage CT the Dill
named.
After the reading of this resolution,
Hon. John W. Deering rose to speak IN
opposition and made long and earnest
convincing speech, SO convincing in fact
that he carried his point and the Board
voted / 6 to Is against the passage OF the
resolution.
Capt. Deering said that this country
is the only one thar does not give it's
citizens the right to buy ships and put
them under their own flag.
When he came to Portland in 1866, he
had given up the sea. He always liked
the profession but gave it up because he
believed that the end of the deep-water
commerce was at end.
After he came here he was interested
in eighteen large ships built in this dis
trict, and lost heavily thereby.
If in 1857 the present laws had been
wiped out our country would have been
the superior of Great Britain upon the
seas. But steamers have replaced the
wooden vessels. What has been the re-
suit? We couldn't build them and we
couldn't buy them. Had those iron
tramp stemers been bought by our citi-
zsns, we should have had the repairing
of them and should have built others
upon their model, and should have riv-
allied England upon the seas.
There is no other way in the world to
re-estabIish the American carrying trade
except by purchasing the iron vessels
from England. Had we been allowed to
purchase those ships we should have had
merchant marine that would have en-
ployed thousands of Americans. 81
And SO we go along to the present
time. These laws do not prevent Amer
leans from buying foreign ships, but
they must sail them under foreign flags
Right here in this first district has been
bought magnificent steel ship of $500
tons. Every dollar in ner is owed right
here in this district of Portland, vet she
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.