The sun., 1900-04-02
TO PROMOTE FOREIGN TRADE
General GrOsvenOr's Merchant
Marine Bill, as Amended,
Meets With Favor.
FOR GREAT NATIONAL OBJECTS
Commerce to be Promoted, Foreign
Tn sde Increased and Auxiliary
Cruisers, Transports and
Scamen for Govern
ment Use.
fosA The SUMS Regular Correspondent. ,

Froa Tke suns Regular correspondent
Washington, April General CHARLES
III. Grosvenor.the chairman OF the Wouse
Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries on Saturday filed with the
House the amended shipping bill IA. r
64) and the report in its fayor which has
the approval of the ten Republican
members of his committee.
Gen. Grosvenor's, report opens by
stating the object of the bill, which is
Ito promote the commerce and increase
the foreign trade of the United States,
and to provide auxiliary cruisers, trans
ports and seamen for government use
when necessary" 1t states that all per-
sons interested or who had desired to be
heard had been given the opportunity.
Our old.time and our present position
in commercial affairs aud our changed
relations and duties in other parts Of the
world was shown. There was no differ
ence OF opinion among those who had
appeared before the committee Sin re-
gard to the high desirability of some
effective legislative actien for the pro-
motion of the great national objects re.
\ ferred to in toe preamble OF the BILL"
Methods alone arouse differences.
Our abundant natural resources and
our industrious and increasing popula-
tion make it of great value to increase
the means OF profitably disposing of our
surplus productions, and as our export
trade is increased SO will be home con-
sumption and employment.
RI Our exporting competitors have for a
long time been devoting themselves to
increasing their export trade and getting
possession of markets. Africa, says the
report, is an example of the methods
pursued OF partitioning territory, or
recognizing spheres OF ofinfiuence," pcss-
bly, Eastern Asia being eventually des-
tined to receive similar treatment.
"China," the committee says, "may
a be left open to fair and equal competl-
tion with respect of trade with the
United States" in which event the COM
mittee believes Zone OF the largest. if not
\ he lsTg 49,, fields for the trade and COM
\ merce vi otner nations, will be open to
n those possessing the facilities tor taking
advantage of opportunity"
Tue nation first in the field with its
fown productions and its own means oi
Transportation" will achieve the largest
success, for which reason China must re-
move the brrriers which now almost en-
tirely exclude foreign intercourse. I'm
this connection the special attention o.
the House is called IT, the Bureau O
Statistics special monographs on Com
mercia Africa" Commercial Japan
aud "CJmmerclal China" Other part
OF the world in which our commerce
holds so small share would repay par
tlcnlar study.
The need of abundant establishment
Y for the construction, docking and repair
NJ log of shiLs, ian adequ ate navy" ane
~ ,Ieat fleet of merchant vessels" al
raa6inaoo far nyi 10 Of
a. "self-evident proposition" Our re
cent experience has abundsntly demon
\ s,raied this. On these grounds othe
nations have fortified themselves by in
creasing their sea power in all Of th
ways referred TO, With the double objec
of strengthening their facilities an,
power for carrying on foreign com
merce," the activity of other nation
Ia these respects being well disclose'
in the recent reports OF our Commits
sioner of Navigation and our Consula
Reports.
E Gene al Grosvenor's report gives table
showing our sea:oing sail and steam ton
mage, in comparison with those of tn
principal maritime nations. In sail Gres
Britain has declined As per cent. sine
/, 1894; the United States has declined
per cent Norway has retained station
IS 1
France GA, and all other nations 26 pc
cent, the average for all being the sam
as that for the United States.
In steam seagoing tonnage, sine
1874, the table shows there has every
where been an increase, the followin
percentages showing it's magnitude: Grea
Britain, 3ll; United States 68; France
200; Germany, 693: Spain, 275; Italy, 39t
b Holland, 800; Russia, 430; Norway, 1,al(
"A and all others, excepting Japan, 504
Japan's statistics only go back on
decada. during which her increase ha
been 3S2 per cent. There was an averae
increase in the sea-going steam tonnae
OF all nations OF 1856 per cent. since 1873
The cummnttee's analysis of this tab
states: 1T appears, then, that with OIL
.erest population, industry, resources, an
enterprise, We stand at the very foot
the column
Our own share of our owa foreig
carving, it is shown, has diminishe
from 26 per cent. to s 0 per cent. du
ing the last quarter OF a century.
References to the last report of I'll
Commissioner of Navigation are made
indicate where tables may be foun
showing list of the vessels now undt
foreign flags that are owned by America
citizens, and the 40 foreign vessels
12e,Sl8 tons purchased by our Govern
ment before the commencement of I'll
Spanish war. The report states: ''Ha
the war continued for another year, {
had it occurred with any stronger powe
n. tae condition of the United States, i
: respect of the supply of auxiliary al DIS
y IT military operations, would have BET
<of the most serious character"
The American vessels permanently re
istered for foreign trade are shown
Ia number 954 Of 500 364; tons, and furth
w Continued ON Page rb..e G.