Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-09
10 AID OUR SHIPPING.
6Ith Board Of Trade Endorses a Gill Drafted
Tor that Purpose.

Bath. Me. Feb. S--The annual meet
day evening. was one Of the most inn
portant held for some months The
draft pill which Bath people think will
increase our shipping, was presented
Monday night, and before its adoption
there was much discussion, every
member but one of the board favorng
il. and that one in his speech said he
was opposed to all legislation where
hounties were to be given. He is
Democrat and locally known a free
trader.
Following the passage of the bill as
drafted. the board voted that Presi-
dent Rogers be q committee to confer
With the presidents of the boards of
trades of Portland, Rockland and Ban
gor urging them to formulate, if pos
sihle, bill in the line Of the one pre-
scented Monday night, which will rep
resent the general sentiment of Maine
shipbuilders and shipoWners, 10 he re-
ported at the annual meeting Of the
state Board of Trade. soon to be held.
The following is Il copy of the pro-
posed bill which was drafted by Col.
T.. G. Plummer. secretary of the Bath
board:
A bill To restore American shipping
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representative in Congress
assembled:
Section /. All vessels of whatever
nationality. engaged in the foreign
carrying trade shall pay, a tax of 30
cents per ton whenever entering port
of the United states.
Section IT, At the close of each fiscal
wear the commissioner of navigation
shall ascertain the amount of tonnage
lax thus collected: also the amount of
American tonnage engaged in the for
.isn carrying trade during that year,
and shall therefrom calculate the
amount per mile which the receipts
from such tonnage dues will suffice To
pay American vessels engaged in the
foreign carrying trade during this year,
and this amount snail be reported to
the several collectors of customs and
he published in the annual report of
the commissioner of navigation.
Section Ill. All American vessels.
regardless Of size OF method of propui-
sion. shall be entitled To share in this
sailing fund which shall be paid ae-
cordinG to the net tonnage of. and tn"
distance covered by such craft Whe,'
sailing to or from this country with
cargo distances to be computed on
direct courses. the same rate Ia l." pald
10 all classes of vessels.
Section IN. no steamer shall pa
more than two. and no sailing craft
more than one. tonnage tax during any
calendar month.
Section V. Vessels built under GOV
eminent inspection and fitted for us:
as cruisers. shall he paid upon two
thirds of their gross tonnage
Section VI All steamers receiving
an additional sailing bounty as naval
reserve craft. shall carry apprentices
as may be required by the secretary nf
The navy, and the engineers and chief
officers of such vessels shall be menu
hers of the naval reserve.
Section VII Sailing bounties accru-
ing under this act shall BE- payable to
1he managed owners of such craft by
the collector of customs at the nome
port of the vessel at the expiration oI
each fiscal year, or, in case OF loss,
upon presentation of proof as tn the
character OF. and the number Of miles
sailed by such vessel, upon certified
vouches duly sworn to by the captain
and first officer at the end of each
voyage performed.
This act shall take effect when ap-
proved.