The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-11-16
NAVIGATION.
The Report OF the Commissioners In which
Legislation Is Recommended.

Legislation is Recommended.
Washington. Nov. 15.-Thc report OF
the commissioner OF navigation for
1896, after referring tn the necessity
for the passage OF a free ship bill.
states that our maratlme rank ON the
Pacific Is now contested by new RI
val. Japan. which by liberal and pro-
gressive laws has established Trans
Pacific steamship line to the United
States and with coopera ton of American
capital is preparing 10 extend the SER
vice. In 1850 the tonnage of American
vessels entering the United states
from the ports Of Asia and Oceanica
was 2s5.J95 tons. and of foreign vessels
Az, ,25l tons. In 1895 the American ton
mage entering was 30s,4Sl tons. foreign
tonnage 657 206 tons. The large and
profitable carrying trade once conduct
ed between Asiatic and European
ports by American vessels. which sell
dom entered American ports. has al
most entirely passed away. We have
already seen the American flag, the
commissioner says. almost wholly DIS
appear from the mid-Atlautlc save as
borne by the mail steamers Of the
American lin, and the figures pre-
sented tended to show that the carry =
ping from us.
Before IL is altogether lost, Commis-
sioner ChambC rIaln suggests that CON
gress inquire into the conditions OF
Trans-Pacific transportation. For con
troll of this trade the United States en-
joys obvious natural advantages.
Within the last five years Japan's sea-
going steel steamers have Increased
from - Of T,70l tons To 81 OF llb.Ssl
tons. The number of American st6 FL
and iron steamers on the Pacific coast
is 45 of 6S.625 tons. The reports rec
ommeDds immediate extension Of the
act of 1892. under which the steamships
New York and Paris were admitted to
American register and the steamships
st. Louis and ST. Paul were built In
the United States.
The report opposes at length the
proposition to impose 10 per cent. addi-
tional discriminating duties on all car
goes brought into the United States by
foreign vessels. II points out that for
more than so years the United States
has followed the policy Of reciprocity
in shipping. Every other maratme
nation Of considerable rank has adopt
ed and now pursues the same policy
our total imports for 1895 were valued
at s72l. .969, ,96j. Of which $3.50. .53S. .362 was
brought in foreign vessels. The dis
elimination duty bill would put an ad-
ditioEal charge Of S59. 100000 on our in
tern1tlonal exchanges. based on thf
figures for 1895, an amount approx
mattly equal To our entire ocean
freight bills on imports and exports
In 1895 we imported $9j.00O0O0 of cof-
fee. u which S6O.000,OO0 came from
Brazil. At least nipe-tenths Of the
$50. 900 O00 Of coffee imported into he
country from Brazil. S5i 0OO,eoO. came
In foreign vessels.
The report quotes articles from ouI
treaties with 25 principal nations In
the world. all Of which IL Is contended
must be abrugated az the expense oi
disturbance OF our ti1de relations with
the world. II the policy OF discrimt
mating tariff is 10 be adopted by tbs
United States. The report also favors
the enactment of the omnlbus bills re-
lating to navigation and TO American
seamen In the form fRVoribly reported
by the senate committee on commerce.
at the last session .rafhNr than in ms
| form in which these bills passed tbs
| house Of representatives II reneW'
tn argument N the repea al ~ c"mpul
s1ry pilCtape on coastwise sailing YES
sells and points cut that congress hn'
| sYent more than S97. 100000 in improve
ments OF IL harhurS at which compui
s0ry pilotage Is still eXart,-d from 10
nestle sailing vessels. By the aboh