Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-11-24
NOTES OF sHIpP1Na.

sidy bill is 20 be rushed through Con-
greSS this winter follows close upon q
report that a shipbuilding trust is in
process of formation. All the leading
shiDyards of the United States. it is
stated are to enter the combination
about to be formed, with the result
that when the Hanna Payne bill! is
passed the trust will not only control
the prices Of ships in tits country. but
also receive 4 gratuity of several mill
lion dollars from the Federal treasury.
With the help of its enormous subsidy
the trust would be able 10 suppress
ali competitors. both in the building
and in the owning of ships. 1t would
have the great advantage of other
trusts. that it would be protected
abroad as we'll rs at home, and in the
cnastng trade its power TO control
rates. to the hurt Of trade. might easily
ha made supreme.
It IS evidently impolitic to announce
the formation of 4 shipbuilding trust
or do more than to prepare for its for
nation in advance of the enactment OF
the subsidy bill. and consequently we
are not surprised at deEals But if the
trust is not actually organized before
the enactment Of the subsidy bill will
it not. in obedience TO the same eco
nomic causes that bring other trusts
into existence. be organized Very soon
afterward? What is to prevent it?
The tariff and navigation laws Great,
mononolies enough; it IS the height of
legislative folly TO put 4 premium on
the formation Of another Of q Very OPP
pressive character by Offering it n sub
Sldy in advance. There is something
specially immoaeSt III the present de-
maud of the shipbuilders. a few vars
ago few ships were building. but at
present their yards are full of work
aud new orders are refused Their. is
accordingly at present no occasion to
promote shnbuillnS. It is proino,in:,
n i,, f,,lI
The Philadelphia Press. an ;ldvocata
Of ''protection' to shirbuiiders and
shipowners. drrrccatcS the formation
of a trust just now ami says: If the
shipyar;is are combined into n trust
any appeal 10 Congress for legislation
which might seem indirectly to help
that trust would be fruitless. The de-
mand for ships for the projected coast
Wise and lake trade is row sufficient
I" keep ail of our shipyartls busy. If
inc ShlpbuildsrS are Shortsight ell
enough I" 20 into Il trust they viii
not be called on to build any ships for
the foreign trade" Is there ~ scheme
t" squeeze tn" government? The Press
advises them that if they assume that
they can compel the government to pay
e&ccSSiN" prices for war vessels, they
are mistaken"
This leads the New York Journal of
Commerce to observe that ''1hc owners
ul ShipyardS cannot do better than to
cia champion ana defer the nrganiza-
ton of Il trust till after the 81. 900 900 a
year for 80 years has been voted. Once
that is done it cannot lie undunc, ana
tn" &hipbuiIdars can corner the market
ana collect the S9.00O0oO which the
shinowncrs suppose they are going to
!. Sct.'-Baltimore Sun.
OCEAN RECORD BROKEN.
The North German Lloyd steamship
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse arrived at
New York Tuesday from Southampton
and Cherbours, having established a
new western record of days, II honrs
and - minutes. The best previous
westward record from Chcrbourg
Breakwatcr 5 days j hours and So
minutes, was also held by the Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse. Ry her last per
Torrance the vessel clipped just II min
utes from her own record. The daily
runs We're rs follows: ;iSS 5AS, 552. $50.
552 and 475 miles. making Il total Of
3,.o50 nautical miles.
III" Kaiser Wilhelm made an avera gc
u speed OF 22.19 knots an hour. and be
:si.!es holding the Westward record She
also holds the eastward record to Ply
mouth, having made the trip in days,
Is hours and 10 minutes, With an hour
" average of PIG knOts.-Thc German
liner also holds the record from New
York to outhanpton5 days. II hours
ana s minutes. She passed the Cher
hourg Brea>Waler at 1920 o'clock last
-c.,,l,. lIn,,,, ,;m,..l ; ','l
TunuG,,- ,,,n,.n i1,,.
-. .. .."..
During the month of October English
builders put into the water % steam
ships of SO lH4 tons gross against %
vessels Of about 9$.l4o tons gross in
September: ~ vessels Of about $500;
tons gross in October last year and Il
vessels Of about A6. 49, tons gross in