The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
SHIPPING.
Granting, Of Subsidies
To Merchant
MARINE DISCUSSED.
Hearing Before the House
Committee Begins.

Washington, Jan. 10-Prominent rep
resentatives Of American shipping in
terests were heard today by the House
| committee on merchant marine and
| fisheries relative to the measure in
| PRODUCED in the Senate by Mr.. Hanna
and in the House by Mr.. Payne, ito
promote the commerce and increase the
| foreign trade of the United States, and
to provide auxiliary cruisers, transports
and seamen for government use, when
necessary"
The main feature of the measure is
a graded subsidy to American ships
based on tonnage and service.
Among those present We're ex-Sena-
tor Edmunds Of Vermont, who appeared
for the shipping interests; President
C. A. Griscom Of the International Nav
igation Company; Commissioner of
Navigation Chamberlain. Edward r.
Sherwood, secretary of the Philadelphia
Marine Exchange Arthur sewall of
Maine, and President Hyde Of the Bath
iron works,
Mr.. Edmunds made the opening
statement appearing in behalf of ship
builders and ship owners. The great
majority of the American-foreign ship
interests were naturally opposed to this
measure, said Mr.. Edmunds, and it was
| possible he added, that some of the
great railroad lines felt that an increase
in the water carrying trade initiated
against them. Throughout his 20 years
of service in the Senate he had sought
TO secure some such aid to shipping.
One mode of doing this was by dis
eliminating duties, but a careful ex-
animation of our treaties had salts
fed him that there were many difficult
ties in the way of carrying out this
plan.
II would require the abrogation of
many treaties, and this would be fol-
lowed generalization from many foreign
countries. He next dealt with the plan
of free ships" as means OF stimulat-
ing shipping. This was based on get
ting foreign built ships and giving them
an American registry, but Mr. Edmunds
pointed out that the cheaper first cost
of ships abroad was offset by the extra
cost after the ships are under Ameri-
can registry.
Moreover, he said, going abroad for
ships meant the abandonment of Amer
loan shipyards so that in time of emeT-
gency there would be no shipyards to
turn to. Having urged the futiltty of
other plans, Mr.. Edmunds argued that
the measure was the most practical
means of reViving American shipping
and with it extending American COM
merce. Trade followed the flag, said Mr.,
IGdmunds. Once the American ship and
American flag appeared at any point IN
South America or South Africa, or any
l r1a ft1a oears-
cial man and his salesman follow with
American goods.
Mr.. Edmunds said events of recent
months had shown in particular the
; value of carrying our trade to the far
east The largest opening for the sur
plus products of people like our own,
he said, was in eastern Asia, above the
tropics. Below the tropics the people
needed little of the food, clothing, etc,
that we produce. But above the trop-
les there was great stretch Of country
In northern China and southern Rus
STA, thickly populated by industrious
and intelligent people forming vast
market for our products; it was Of the
utmost Importance to cur people this
market should not be so neglected that
it would pass under the control of other
producing nations.
Representative Handy Of Delaware,
author OF the pending free shipping
bill, questioned Mr.. Bdmunds, Mr..
: Qriscom and Mr.. Chamberlain on Yari-
Gus shipping questions. Mr.. Grseom
said in response to inquiries that the
basis Of the present bill was to equalize
the extra cost of producing and oper-
ating an American ship, as against the
producing and operating of the foreign
ship. Mr.. Handy asked IL the lines of
foreign ships operated by the Stand
ard Oil Company would get the pro-
, posed subsidy under the pending bill.
: Mr.. Chamberlain, commissioner OF
: navigation, said the measure was so
framed as to leave out these ships.
: President Search Of the National
: Manufacturers Association of the
United States spoke on the needs OF
restoring the American flag to the seas.
He said our manufacturers were
greatly hampered by not having the
ships to carry their goods abroad. Mr.
Griscom said his company was 0,00O
worse off by running the New York,
Paris, st. Paul and st. Louis under the
American flag than it would be if the
ships were under the British flag.
r. ]. Firth, representing the Lake
7 Carriers Association, Appeared before
the committee. He said that his people
did not care to have the bin apply to
them but that they did want The ocean
trade improved by making il possible
/ to build ships in this country and sail
them under the American flag. Hun
dreds Of thousands Of dollars, he said,
We're yearly being lost to this country
under the present system rf ocean
4 steamers built and owned in this Coun-
7 try were carrying the trade, the whole
country would be benefited and the
= lake vessels would get their share. II
: was the purpose of the bill, he de-
( clared to make ships receiving a sub
| sidy available in time of war. and in
making such preparation for war there
should be no politics.
Mr.. Sewall OF Maine said he did not
? wish to have the bill regarded as 4
: benefit for the ship building and owner,
but as national benefit We had all
the elements to take the trade, he said
we had the supplies, but the trade was
in the hands of others, and we would
/ have to spend money to secure ii, II
belitted the matter TO go into figures
in regard to the question. 1t should be
: a national question. 1t wrs absolutely
| necessary to preserve this country. &c
{ have a merchant marine This was the
first time, he said, that all the shipping
? interests had come together, and the!
= now agreed that the bill unoer consid.
I GRAFTON was the only thing chat wou.d
; save the merchant marine.
1 The committee adjourned at AZ