New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-20
THE COMMERCE COMMISSION.
scopr AND NATURE OF THE INQUIRY
TO BE CONDUCTED.
THE DECLINE OF THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN
COMMERCE At THIS PoRT-vlEws OF
CHAIRMAN SCHIERCN

In
.-rr,erce commission by the Governor. BY the
80 of the act this commission Is empowered 10
vo,,ire into The commerce OF New-fork the cause
:. &c decline and the means OF It's revival II Is
s,-ec,ed 10 form summary OF conclusions 10 be
Ss,.ed from the examination. and TO suggest such
,,o,,on ms deemed advisable The commission
. .,u,red 10 present its final report to the Legs
$50 on or before January Is and TO present
49, with such bills may he necessary 10 carry
w.. ofect the changes deemed advisable
,,5e- the provision directing the a?poin nent 10
do within thirty days after the passage OF
-, Governor Black named the Ave Com
toners Charles A. Schieren. former Mayor OF
,.otlvn. Andrew II. Green former Controller or
.a.,york: Christopher c. Shayne. president OF the
v1rcbants and Manufacturers Board of Trade
,jurb Kelly former president Of the Maritime En-
.,onco and Alexander II. Smith, Editor OF Sea
-" a Journal devoted to shipping interests,
"a secretary Of the Executive Canal Committee
While the Commission has not yet formally or
oa,izcd owing to the absence of some OF the mem
- from the city. exMayor Scheren. who was
r,,oed al the head OF the Commission. has been
creed upon as chairman. and Mr.. Smith Will prob
by he the secretary. as he has served In that
oonac,,v in several organize tons for the promotion
NJ he maritime and commercial interests or this
nor. The Commission will hold It's first regular
meeting early IN September. and VIII then take up
,ts work as II was found TO be impossible 10 get it
under way in the heated term. In the four months
,afore sc report must be made 20 the Legislature
,bero will be time for inquirng into the especially
rrouinent causes which have contributed 10 the
decline Of the commerce at tho chief port OF the
country for considering such remedies as haVc
beer or may be suggested. and the embodiment "I
practical conclusions in such form as may bes'
hiring about the changes which will restore the
former conditions of prosperity.
GOVERNOR BLACKS VIEWS
The especial interest Of Governor Black In the
subject was expressed by him at the annual dinner
OF the Chamber OF Commerce In 1897. when ne spoke
with reference 10 the decline or the commerce Va
this port He called attention to the marked ana
steady falling off In the figures showing the amount
% trade at the port of New-York. There was
time when nearly seven-tenths Of the imports and
exports OF this country were handled at New-l orK
he said and now they had diminished below one
half while Boston had nearly doubled hers IN 'he
last thirty years. The Governor also said
The commerce Of New-York has been larger than
that o. all other ports in the country combined IL
a.. been and is the foundaGn OF e Nor Than any
other city. control the raffc coming from ane
snG IRON ,e ponuaion Steadily ncrensng she
has sat here surrounded by railroads and rivers s
and the ocean. and seen the main source vi "e'
power and glory constantly decline
The Governor was greatly impressed by tho
existing state Of things that he called attention 70
the subject in his annual message 10 the Les's-
lature in the course OF which he said;
The commerce Of New-York Is not increasing as
yapdly as that Of orrer p.rnr from nv" Conditions
which she cannot overcome. The conditions which
hold her back seem TO be neither natural nor gen,
eia,, civ has been checked and discouraged
ty too narrow policy prevailing theT. win 'cie,
vni,cv should be corrected no matter whether II Is
nursiled by the city by individuals. MIL
IONS ID in NewYork Nth National sanction and
millions more should he expended no" IN ha ,g bsrher
But this National aspeSt canno Ss nf when
ciaim ibcirs This State should opcn such facilities
in New-York Harbor as will draw ara aGGIin M
6ate every pound OF con'hsr oSy for such pur-
pose would be repaid enfod in peeunisry retSrns
iect or careiessness in dealing with this su61es
would NeTYGrs q s,s,es ard might put the
Whole Country al disadvantage with canada
In conclusion. the Governor recommended the
necessary action 10 create Commission. and the
LEGISLATURE carried out the suggestion
Meanwhile the Chamber Of Commerce had taken
Nm the subject and the Committee on iiarhors and
SHINING presented report TO the Chamber upon
tie diversion Of trade from the port OF New orN'
early in February II treated especially OF the
d,rerentials allowed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission In railroad rates between his port ana
others which had much do with the change in
the current - trade and the need Of deepening tho
channels leading from the ocean TO New-fork Bay.
The resolutions submitted TO and adopted by the
Chamber OF Commerce as the result OF tho Work
OF the committee set forth sympathy with the
eNor, made by members OF the Produce Exchange
N obtain 4 correction OF the injury done by the
dinerent.als IN rates OF freight TO fhilaceIphia'
Baltimore and Newport News from western points
and Joined IN the request TO have them aoohsheo'
urged the speedy adoption Of measures for the
deepening and widening OF the channels from the
ocean 10 this port so as to accommodate al all
stages OF tide the increased demand for additional
depth Of water and expressed the opinion that the
enlargement Of the Erie Canal would be or eX-
ceedingly great value
# lh 10
Investigation Of the existing state Of things ana
the tendency shown in the last few years Is APP
parent from: a fe~ figures third of a century
ago the commerce o. the port OF New-Iork was ~
per cen, Of the total Of the Nation. Now u ~
eight years It averagol thirds of that of the
sn,re e9 ~ aytrse s Of for the last
light Years the average would have been $lZv,-
DrS The foreign commerce Of this county have
doubled Kn' the foTesn 1sS q. , in,i
OF Boston has increased by more than $500" ~, a
year, tina, OF Galveston by $780, ana IRON from
TO s23JDc,D last year. This CITY has lost IN tn:
P 5si ssdT d a ans onehsf that Of Boston
q! the Increase in the commerce OF the country
e @ Syf5 per- eSs xe@o ses cent
and New-York only Ga per cent The foreign con- on
The annual average for he eigh,een year, snHe
that time has been sG7 so3.tN falling or OF about
age annual Increase in tho foreign commerce OF
the country for the same period has been *Nvu"n
II Sew-York had secured her fair proportion OF this
she would have had annual Increase or S'U0V'
instead OF an average decrease in excess OF this
amount
ONE CAUSE OF THE DECLINE.
One great cause OF this decline has been found 70
be the excessive terminal charges on grain at
Buffalo and at this port. II has been shown that
these charges can be reduced SO as 10 effect a
saving Of 81 Os "A ton. which would mean an enor-
nous sum in the course OF each year. and the i'm
in . n
tails allowed by the railroad companies has had
much 10 DO with the diversion OF Inc grain trade
10 other ports. These and other matters viii IAN
within the scope OF the inquiry by the Commission.
Ex-Mayor' SchiereE said recently;
The subject IL one OF great importance, and We
pYopose 10 give T. the most careful consideration
and a. liberate Judgment. We shall bring 10 light