New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-12
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
CAUSES OF ITS DECAY AND THE EFFORT
TO REVIVE tan OPPONENT OF
TIE PENDING BILL

Sir: 1t is great misfortune that conditions have
prevented the American people from maintaining
our former prominence maritime nation, ana
Il is for lack of enterprise. but of opportunity
The decay has taken place within the memory OF
many of us since the outbreak Of our Civil War
in 1851. and may face the facts and endeavor
10 discern the causes that have precipitated us
from the second rank to Great Britain to the fifth
rank below also the German, French and Nor
wegian.
The law of 1889 requiring American vessels 10
register foreign trade. in distinction from en-
rolment license for domestic or coastwise trade
or the fisheries has classified our foreign going
tonnage and enabled us 10 discern the growth OF
domestic tonnage since 1851 from 2,S3sS99 tons TO
sel75s0 tons in 1929 while the tonnage in foreign
trade has dwindled steadily from 6s24 tons to
ss722e tons This 10000 largely consists of
small and inferior classed vessels, as less than
10000 tons than LOCO tons under twenty
years Of age and first class available for oversee
commerce Great Britain has s0l vessels Of iron
Dr. steel Of Y 1896 40 tons. mostly OF steel In con-
lrast with building in Great Britain of 1900
200 to 10000 tons. there have been built in the
United States in 1929 steel sailing ships and
nineteen ocean propeller steamers, aggregating So
o7s tons
Our needs for ocean commerce have increased in
inverse ratio TO the diminished tonnage. the vol
nme of exports and imports in 1861 being $oS5Ooo0oO
and in 1929 sls07.000OO0.
CAUSE FOR CHAGRIN.
We may be proud of our ability to import $4,000
900 from foreign countries. and to export Of our
products and manufactures s11i3.000Ge0, but
must regard with chagrin the fact that 80 cent
% foreign commerce IS done by foreign flags
The Stars and Stripes were never rarely seen
IN the ports of the world in this last year This
IS not fancy picture; it is a reality.
Let US look without prejudice at the conditions
under which have almost ceased TO be mari
time nation. I am a Republican. and recognize
that under the protective policy Nation has
developed its industries and wealth, but there are
and ever must be, exceptions to all rules, and laws
sometimes outlive their usefulness One of these
j believe, is the law Of registry of 1888 Then the
foreign trade was in preponderance, and this law
allowed American citizens to register the foreign
built vessels they then owned, as well as those
built 70 be built in the United States for trade
between ports and foreign countries. and linn
tied the domestic and coastwise trade to vessels
built in the United States. enrolled or licensed.
The domestic commerce were able TO protect
and IL has been hardship procure vessels
from our builders for its conduct. but failed
protect our foreign commerce to benefit
sspnulioers nateIlag py the one law Which
trade between Atlantic ports and California had
required large and fast sailing ships and developed
Of the world. Between 1861 and 1865 some 100000
tons Of our registered vessels sold foreign
ers' and many Of the merchants, active ship own
ers, diverted their energies and capital to trans
q revival of wooden shipbuilding. but IT met new
and building in the United States almost ceased
while nile ENGLAND went on Increasing her tonnage
tramp steamships of 1900 to 6O0O tons register
and sailing ships OF 1900 to 900 tons register
England has thousands Of such. besides those
which in regular lines; have less than fifty.
This low condition needs but to be realized by
the American people to arouse them TO recreate our
merchant marine.
SUBSIDIES RECOMMENDED.
The Secretary of the Treasury has twice recon-
1nended in his annual reports that the people have
opportunity to buy in the cheapest market foreign
registry and foreign trade only; to be also obli-
gated to have built in this country within a term
or years a similar amount of tonnage; and that
10 inouce such recreation Of our merchant marine
increased cost of sailing under flag m
pared with foreigners The subsidy would also be
necessary TO revive our dead industry; and since
We now pay IN freights hundreds of millions of
dollars to owners of foreign vessels a subsidy will
produce abundant fruit IN keeping some of this
freight al home. A privilege to buy in the cheap
the requirement to buy vessels of protected
shipbuilders would deter purchasers we can only
know by having the opportunity l would like to
see this recommendation carried
The shipping bill which is now before Congress
Is not the sequence of recommendations of Score
rary Gage, but the outcome of several years
preparation Of our shipbuilders. in conjunction
with several companies which owned foreign built
vessels on January 1899, in foreign commerce
under foreign flags, which are to be allowed to
receive American registry.
Admitting these 100000 tons to registry yould
create orders for 800 600 tons of new ships I'm the
next five years. Other citizens have no oppor-
ftunity; even those who American built yes
4Eels TO register for subsidy must renoush the
Plight TO do coastWise trade and give bonds TO
Build one-fourth much new tonnage II is
fsnlppulioers measure, and the managers assert
tof the people or for the people will not produce
Ehe needed revival. and ought not to mass
Boston, Dec. g. 1899 HENRY W. PEABODY