The San Francisco call., 1898-12-08
ID INCREASE OUR
 SHIPPING TRADE Merchant Marine Needs
 Enlarging. SEVERAL PLANS SUGGESTED COMMISSIONER CHAMBERLAIN's
 REPORT. Advocates Extending Direct Govern ment Aid to Vessels Built
 in the United
 States.
COMMISSIONER CHAMBERLAIN's
 REPORT.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-The annual report of Navigation Commissioner Chamberlain is devoted mainly to sta tistics and facts in support of the project for the creation of the American merchant marine, recommended by Secretary Gage. Following are ex- tracts:
 Excluding the great lakes, practically shut off by Niagara Falls from foreign competition, the tonnage of vessels en- tered and cleared at seaports of the United States in foreign trade for 1897 comprised 7,24S, ,625 tons American and 32 632 ,419 tons foreign shipping. In over sea navigation to foreign ports more than 1900 miles distant, American shipping amounted to only 2,o6S. .656 tons, compared with 27 ,41S,026 tons foreign.
 Only three practical courses, at the present time, are open to the United States:
 First-We may retain our laws un- changed, ignore national navigation and continue to rely on vessels under foreign flags for the transportation O. our ex- ports and imports.
 Second-We may permit foreign built vessels to register under the American flag, ship crews abroad and increase na- tional navigation.
 Third-We may extend direct Gov ernment aid to vessels built in the United States and thus increase both national navigation and national ship-building.
 is suggested to a very great extent by our new relations to the rest, of the world, which expects the United States to become maritime power. For the first time we now hold and shall doubt less permanently hold inhabited terri tory beyond the limit of the North
 Largely through indifference we have lost the share in trans-Atlantic naviga- tion which was once ours. The grow ping away from us Excluding Hawaii. entries and clearances from Asia and Oceanica at ports of the United States ican shipping. and in 1Ss7 to only 22l 4Sss from 4s1 PAP tons to s24,72O tons.
 Foreign nations are Skillfully following the policy of government aid to develop their navigation in the Pacific. Toward steamship lines to the east coast of Asia alone Great Britain last ,1 year ano contribu- ny. s4sO 900; Spain QS96l. s416,O00 Russia, $405, 900; Austria, $306,0Oo, and Italy. s277, 900. The United States paid only $40000 to rates. We have deluded ourselves into the belief that the Pacific trade will be- come ours without taking ordinary pre- cautions to meet competition.
 We must take steps for the qualified ad- mission of foreign ships to American reg ister in order to enter immediately into aCtlVG competition LOT ASldllC lTdQe
 It will require at least eighteen months to build the vessels of over 5000 tons and sixteen knots, now needed to meet new conditions in the Pacific
 A relaxation of the registry law was necessary to establish our transatlantic line, and similar relaxation is now nec- essary to meet conditions on the Pacific.
 The restriction of trade between the United States and Hawaii to American vessels is even more important. Of that trade 30 per cent is already carried on by American vessels and over 10 per cent of the remainder by Hawaiian vessels which will doubtless be admitted to American registry by Congress. American vessels now leaving in ballast are sufficient to supply the transportation requirements of the islands if foreign vessels are with drawn Almost the entire value of the annexation of Hawaii to the development of American navigation in the Pacific is tension of our boundaries, bringing us from 1900 to 2000 miles nearer the markets of Asia and Australia. The opposition of British and German interests to the prop osition is anticipated in the line of their consistent policy of subsidies to develop their shipping on the Pacific. The re- strictions proposed, however, are in strict accord with our national policy and with our treaties and do not interfere with the existing trade relations
 A revision of the tonnage tax laws is proposed and the report also considers legislation for the improvement of American seamen. pilotage charges, seaworthinesS of vessels, allotment of wages and other matters.