The Portland daily press., 1899-01-11

| Way for Restoration Of Americas
shipping--Arthur sewan and Mr.
Hyde Among Those Before Co mmit-
tee.
Washington, January 10.-Prominent
representatives OF American shipping in
terests were heard today by she House
committee on merchant marine and
fisheries relative to the measure intro
duced in the Senate by Mr.. Hanna, and
in the House by Mr. Payne. "to 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 q
graded subsidy to American ships based
on tonnage and service. Among those
present were ex-senator Edmunds Of Yer
mont, who appeared for the shipping in
terests: President c. A. Griscom Of the
International Navigation company; Com
missioner of Navigation Chamberlain,
Edward r. Sherwood, secretary of the
Philadelphia Maritime Exchange; Arthur
Sewall of Maine and President Hyde of
the Bath Iron Works.
Mr.. Edmunds made the opening state
ment appearing In behalf of shipbuilders
and ship owners, the great majority OF
them Americans Foreign ship interests
were naturally opposed to this measure
and 1t was possible he added that some of
the great lines ielt that an in crease 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 discriminating duties,
but a careful Examination OF our treaties
had satisfied him that there were many
difficulties IN the way OF carrying out
this plan. 1t would require the abroga-
tion of many treaties and this would be
followed by retaliation from many foreign
countries He next dealt with the plan
of free ships as means of stimulating
shipping. This was based on getting
fort tign built ships and giving them an
American registry but MIR. Edmunds
pointed out that the cheaper first cost of
the ship abroad was offset by the extra
cost after the ships were under American
registry. Moreover, he said. going abroad
for ships meant the abandonment of
Am rioan shipyards SO that in time of
emergency there would be no shipyards to
turn to. baving urged the futility OF
other plans. MIR, Edmunds argued that
the measure WAS the most practical means
Of reviving American shipping and with
1t extending American commerce. Trade
followed the flag, said MIR. Edmunds
Once tine American ship. and the Ameri
can flag appeared at any point In South
America or South Africa, or any other
place on the globe, the commercial man
and his salesman followed with American
goois
MIR. Edmunds said events Of reo.nt
-. a L.. .l....u .l....
of carrying our trade to the fal east.
The largest opening for the surplus
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, eto., that we
produce. But above the tropics there was
"a great stretch of country in Norther n
China and Southern Russia, thickly |
populated by industries and intelligent
people forming vast market for our |
produ uots. 1t was OF the utmost importance
TO our people TINT this market should not |
so be neglected that 1t would pass under |
the control of other producing countries. |
If we let the grass grow under our feet u
hundred difficulties would arise in gain |
ing foothold in this vast market. The
man who waited was the man who lost. |
The carrying of our products to foreign |
countries, was, MIR. Edmunds said, the |
key note to this proposed measure. He
the earnest hope that Congress |
would act so that this revival of Amerl-
can shipping might begin during the |
coming summer. Once begun he was
that it would be demonstrated |
that we were the IN asteTs of the trade of
the globe. MIR. EdmunCs suggested q
number of amendments to the bill based |
on the experience Of the shipping interest
but not changing the essential features
Handy of Delaware, author |
Of the pending ''tree ship" bill, oues-
toned MIR. Edmunds, MIR Grlscom and |
Mr. Chamberlain on various shipping |
questions. MIR. Griscom said In response |
TO inquiries that the basis of the present |
bill was to eqUalize the extra cost of pro- |
du"ing and operating In American ship |
as against the producing and operating |
Of the foreign ship. 10 another question he |
replied that his line was recei wing $3.50, 900 |
nnuer tho present law for main |
tanning regular mail service under the |
A u erican flag.
Mr. Handy asked II the lines of foreign |
ships operated by the standard OIL com.
pany. would get the proposed subsidy |
unuer the pending bill MIR. Chamber
ain, commissioners of navigation said the |
measure was 30 framed as TO leave out |
these ships
President kimball of the Norfolk and /
Western Railroad company stated that II |
this bill WAS passed his line expected to |
.stablish u new line of steamers to South |
A merioan ports. This would overcome |
the troull le the company now experienced |
n carrying Virginia coal to Sou b |
americl The proposed line would ru 81
ar sou as the Tlver Platte, with size /
line up the Amhzon President Search ( |
he National Manufacturers association OF |
ha Ssatn 10 ha dc