The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-16

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Despite
the fact that there is no probability of
either this congress or the next pass
ing a free ship bill, the commissioner
of navigation, in his annual report
given to the press tonight, refers
prominently to the subject, and urges
the necessity for the passage of such
a measure. He invites attention to the
fact that our maritime rank on the
Pacific is now threatened by a new
rival, Japan, which has just estab-
lished a trans-Pacific steamship line to
the United States, and, with the CO.
operation OF American capital, is pre-
pairing to extend rapidly the service.
In 1850, the tonnage OF American YES
sells entering the United States from
the ports OF Asia and Oceanica, was
zSS, 3y5 tons, and and Of foreign vessels,
442, Psi tons. Fifteen years later, in 1898,
American tonnage had increased but
a trifle, to 30S, 4S1 tons, while the foreign
tonnage had leaped to 65I, 2O6 tons.
In his argument the commissioner
says: The large and profitable carry
ing trade, once conducted between
Asiatic and European ports by Ameri-
can vessels, which seldom entered
passed away. We have already seen
the American flag almost wholly disap-
pear from the mid-Atlantic, save as
borne by the mail steamers of the
American line, and the figures show
that the carrying trade of the Pacific
is slipping from u.s.
Before 1t is altogether lost, Com
missioner Chamberlain suggests that
congress inquire into the condition of
ransPacific transportation. Within
the last five years Japan's sea going
steel steamers have increased from 13
of 21,710 tons, to % of LOG, 3S1 tons. The
number of American steel and iron
steamers on the Pacific coast is 43 of
6S,625 tons.
Opposition is expressed at some
length TO the proposition found in Sen
ator Fryes bill now before congress, TO
impose 10 per cent additional discrim-
mating duties on all cargoes brought
into the United States by foreign yes
sells. 1t points out that for over 50
years the United States has followed
the policy of reciprocity in shipping,
and declares that every other maritime
nation of considerable rank has
adopted and now purSues the same
policy.
Our total imports for 1895 were
valued at $731 1863, 965, of which $3.50, $685.
362 were brought in foreign ships The
discriminating duty bill would" the
commissioner says, put an additional
charge of $50, 600 on our interna-
tional exchanges, based on the figures of
1890, an amount approximately equal
to our entire ocean freight bills on i'm
ports and exports"
In arguing against this tax the COM
missioner cites the enormous importa-
lions of tea and coffee, aggregating in
1895. SIPS, 100000 and points out that
the proposed levy would be a tax on
the consumers of those articles. OF the
coffee from Brazil, S54, 100000 came in
foreign vessels, and the proposed tax
would equal $500, 600, or sufficient, Mr..
Chamberlain says, in coffee alone 10
subsidize steamship lines including 25
steamers equal to the st. Louis or St
Paul, or a much larger number Of the
class required for South American.
Asiatic and African trade. Much of
the report is given to the consideration
of this one question, and the COM
missioner reaches the conclusion that
the policy of discrimination always
has been and always will be thwarted
by retaliation"