The Portland daily press., 1895-01-15

to Boston to take command OF line
ship, owned by Americans but sailing
under the Hawaiian flag. u
Captain Deering read from the New
YORK Journal of Commerce an article in
regard to American shipping under for
eign flags. In 1898 not bushel of grain
was carried out of New York under
American flags. But the Red Star line
of steamers, which are owned by Ameri-
cans. but sailed under the Belgian flag.
carried out hundreds of thousands of
bushels. There were further state
ments to show that the great bulk of
grain carried out of New York is in
steamers owned by Americans, but for
hidden by our laws to fly the American
flag
The present laws DO not have the in
tended effect of inducing the building
of vessels in American ship yards. Its
an acknowledged Efact that we can't
build these steamers and you woE'J let
us buy them. But it is certainly a TACT
in regard to English steamers. that the
immense fleets have been built up with
GQ6 OIL uuO VI GILL HoShH1NAS ~ 1850
land that began the business.
If this bill for free shipping is to pass,
these ships owned by Americans, but
sailed under foreign flags will be sailed
under the American flag and become
wholly. manned by Americans. They
will be repaired in American ship yards
and we shall learn how to build them.
In closing he said: II don't want to
see the Portland Board of Trade stultify
themselves by endorsing any such reso-
luton as has been presented here today.
/ offer an amendment that the resolu-
ton be laid upon the table.
President Winslow read the resolution
again and then Mr.. Merrill, who present.
ed the resolution and seemed TO be quite
alone in defending it from the ATTACKS
of Capt. Deering, rose to reply.
He said that this matter was brought
before he Board by the action of citi-
zens of Bath, who desired an expression
from Portland insopposition to the free
ship bill. He took exceptions to the re-
marks of Capt. Deering that it is not for
the Board of Trade to NEEDLE with this
matter. I think that it is. If this Or
ganization is of any Importance what
ever, it should go on record in such an
important matter. Capt. Deering has a
right to his belief that that bill ought
not be defeated.
He read statement in regard to the
situation in the latter part of the last
century, showing that American ships
were built cheaper than fore ign, but
could not compete with them. because
the labor of operating the latter was
cheaper. Therefore Congress put dis
eliminating duty upon foreign vessels
and so per cent of the commerce was
carried in American bottoms. He spoke
further to the effect that if protection
was good then. it is now. He also spoke
of the great value to American LABOR of
the ships that were built by the Cramps.
through government subsidy, and de-
clared that there is no industry that
spreads about money SO much and
makes comm unitfes SO prosperous as
that of ship building.
Capt. Deering wished to say that if
these ships are transferred and placed
under our flag, they will be repaired
here and thereby we shall learn to build
them and thus Will come about the very
thing that Mr.. Merrill desires.
"And / believe from my heart that If
this bill is passed in the course of fif-
teen years, ironeand steel ships will be
building in allof our ship yards. We
can beat them every time as soon as
we get our work in. but we've got to
learn how.o ste
EsNobody seconded Capt. behring's
amendment and he withdrew it.
The vote was then taken upon the res
olution and it was defeated by vote
of 16 to Is. There were more than Shir-
ry-one present, SO that some did not
vote.
The following. reports were then read
and approved:
Secretary Richs Report.
Secretary Rich reports fourteen meetings
of the managers, five of the generalboard.
two of the Board of Manufacturers, and
five IF special committee meetings held the
ouet to the State Board last March. There
were 2S members admitted, and these died:
Nelson Tenney, Joseph A. King. EXPIRES.
George w. Woodman, Seth B. Hersey. and
George f. Thurston, and in addition, Frank
lin j, Rollins. r. o. Connant, John f. Ran
dali and Ira p. harrington from the Mer-
chants Exchange.
There are 366 members on the rolls.
e. e. rr,d
ments The Exchange has l57 members on
its rolls, subscription receipts Sl,lo0.0o
making S2,25S.75 total receipts. There have
been large numbers of visitors, especially
tourists seeking information to whom many
documents have been furnished giving
valuable information in regard to the city
and it's resorts, and the citizens of Portland
should take great pains in supporting such
valuable work. plea is made to our citi-
zeus to come forward and contribute to the
Board of Trade SO that our industries may
nor languish and business pass by our doors
10 seeh a home in the West. The only way
to do this is by wholesale cooperation on
the part of every citizen. The American
Institute of instruction, number of Com
manderies. of Knights, remplar, on their
way to the great Boston conclaye, and
L., cooiafias wiI11 visit P0rt1a nd this