The record-union., 1896-11-16
FREE SHIP BILL NEEDED.
BY THE COrlrlIS-
SIONER OF NAVIGATION.
How the Ocean Trade of the United
States is Gradually Slipping
Away From Us.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15-Despite
the fact that there IS no probability of
Congress passing a free ship bill, the
Commissioner of Navigation in his an
nual report given to the press tonight,
refers prominently to the subject and
urges the necessity for the passage OF
such 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-
lshed a transpacific steamship line to
the United States, and with the Coop
GRAFTON of American capital is prepar-
ing to extend rapidly the service.
In 1880 the tonnage of American YES
sells entering the United States from
the ports of Asia and Oceanica was
2S3.395 tons, and of foreign vessels
Az, 231 tons. Fifteen years later. in
1898, American tonnage had increased
but a trifie, to 30S4S1 tons, while the
foreign tonnage had leaped to 657 .206
tons. In his argument the commits
sioner says: THE large and profita-
bic carrying trade, once conducted be-
tween Asiatic and European ports by
American vessels which seldom entered
Americna ports, has almost entirely
passed away. We have already seen
the American flag almost wholly dis
appear from the mid-Atlantic save as
borne by the mail steamships of the
American Line. and the figures show
that the carrying trade of the Pacific
is slipping from us.
Before it is altogether lost, Com
missioner Chamberlain suggests that
Congress inquire into the condition Of
transpacific transportation. Within the
last five years Japan's sea-going steel
steamships have increased from thir-
teen of PHO tons. to twenty-three of
6l ,3s3 tons. The number of American
steel and iron steamships on the Pa
cifc is forty-three of s.265 tons
Opposition is expressed at some
length to the proposition found in SEN
ator Frye's bin 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 eighty
years the United States have followed
the policy of reciprocity in shipping,
and declares that every other maritime
nation Of considerable rank has
NNHffNSN anu itoN PhASusS the SAINT
policy.
Our total imports for 1895 were val
ued at 1871 ,969. .9G3. of which S590. .53S. :
f62 were brought in foreign ships. The
discriminating duty bill would the
commissioner says, put an additional
charge Of S39, 100000 on our interna-
tional charges. based on the figures of
Is9U, an amount approximately equal
To cur entire ocean freight bills on i'm
ports and exports"
In arguing against this tax the COM
missioner cites the enormous importa-
tious of tea and coffee, aggregating in
1899 S12o,Uoo. 900. and points out that
the proposed tax would be tax on the
consumer of those articles OF coffee
from Brazil SJ4 100000 came in foreign
vessels and the proposed tax would
equal So4ooOh, or sufficient. Mr.
Chamberlain says, in coffee alone, TO
subsidize steamship lines. including
twenty-five steamships 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 con-
sideration of this one question and the
commissioner reaches the conclusion
that the policy of discrimination al
ways has been and always will be
thwarted by retaliation