The times., 1900-12-24
AGAINST HANNA'S BILL
Statistical Ammunition Being Gath
cred by the Opposition.
Senator Teller Ready to Present
Strong Array of Facts and Figures
Setting Forth the Endcavor of
Grcat Britain to ParaIyze the
Merchant Marine of America.

Merchant Marine of America
The opponents of the Hanna Ship Sub.
sidy bill are gathering stores of statisti.
cal ammunition to be used against tkt
bounty measure. Mr.. Teller has had pre-
pared and will present to the Senate il
a speech, should the bill ever get to the
fore, statement entitled, "Our Ship
ping Impotency," in which is set fortt
the story of British endeavors to par.
alyZe American power on the sea. The
statement is one of the most exhaustive
merchant marine, and was compiled BY
William A. Bates, n. A.
In opening. Mr.. Teller says:
Great Britain's active antagonism
toward the shipping of America, begin
ming before the war for independence and
coming down to the present time, has
been so natural and persistent that an
impression of its injustice has not deep
ly entered the public mind. But for faith
full history many wrongs would be for
gotten.
view, to cripple or suppress the shipping
power of a rising State deserves only
meritorious mention. From the stand
point of the victim, however. such work
looks execrable. The ruin of our marine
by the Vaccinations of any foreign peo-
pie having the power is, of course. great
iy our own fault; nevertheless the rival
or enemy accomplishing the wreck By
unfairness, fraud, or violence should be
held to his moral responsibility"
history of British shipping from the
reign of Alfred the Great to that of Vic
toria is then given together with an ac-
count of the early days of American mer-
chant marine. The various treaties and
messages are reproduced, and in each case
an instance of British greed is cited
unGer the heading of ''Lloyd's Register"
a number of charges are made against the
great British firm. AS an instance of the
absolute power of this company and The
use of it 10 kill American shipping in
terests the following is cited:
In 1850 the British act of 1s49. per-
mitting the naturalization of foreign
built vessels came into force It has been
assumed by some that the British began
Immediately the purchase of our peer
less vessels, but they did not, owing to
veto applied by Lloyd's inspectors This
was effected by an artful misinterpreta-
demaed locust wood for treenails-no bet
ter eAisting-for high-elass ships, COM
pelling any British owner wishing to avail
himself of the 'free-ship' act by buying
American-built vessels 10 wholly retree-
nail them with English oak or submit TO
a low insurance class in Lloyd's Regis
ter. The substitution required would cost
about 20 per cent of the price cf a new
vessel This arbitrary and unfair inspec-
tion lasted until 1854, when rules for iron
shipbuilding were first made"
Lloyd's is made the subject of num-
Der OF serious charges, as follows:
II may be supposed cur Government
has been unadvised OF the impositions OF
the Lloyds. This is not the case Our
consuls abroad have often reported upon
the situation. We viii quote from a SIN
gle letter of United States Consul Morcy.
OF Ceylon, written over ten years ago:
To my knowledge. for period OF twelve wears.
ana m great n,essufe even to the present day.
beautiful and staBch American vessels have been
unemployed IN foreign ports, accepted OF
freishts loo low 70 much more than pay expenses.
while crank Old foreign craft. just at the tail
end OF higb-ciass and prone 10 damaging
their csIgoes, have loaded FOR the United state,
at high rates with cargo bought with American
money American orders and siu,Dly on the
plea that being classed Loyd's the rates Of
INSURANCE were largely in their favor
How much our own merchants were to blame
for this. inasnuci as they allowed their goods to
De insured IN foreign Offices instead OF their own.
am not prepared TO say; hut l know that as soon
as invoices began 10 contain the clause 'InsIr-
ance provided for in America our ships were
sometimes able to pick up some Of these freights.
Such reports as that of Consul Morey
have never been good reading for Lloyd's
clientage. How TO manage their suppress
sion was not clear. Finally a bright idea
came before Lloyd's committee IL was
TO enter a wedge for the control of ap-
pointments of American consuls. Begin
ming with the ports of Great Britain and
Ireland The following letter of Lloyds
is Of record in our State Department:
(seal Of Lloyd's) Lloyd's, Nov l.. 1882.
SIR: / instructed by the Committee Of
I4oyds 70 inform you that at every port in the
United Kingdom and other countries OF the world
there Is stationed Lloyd's agent. These Lloyd's
agents are selected for their respectability and
commercial capacity by committee consisting
not only of members Of Lloyd's but also of the
representatives, Of the marine insurance companies
of London, as well of the shipoWners' Associa-
ton and the underwriters associations OF Cl9s-
gov.
1t is thus believed that the amount Of experi.
ence and knowledge Of the committee answer
that lloyd's agents selected are most respect
able and capable in every way.
am accordingly TO suggest 10 YOU that in
making the appointment OF consular or vice con-
sular officers at the various ports Of Great Britain
and ireland II might possibly be desirable that
Nheh All olnef Claims are equal preference
should be given TO i Lloyd's agent; and ! am to
say that should you see your way 70 the adoption
Of this suggestion the Committee of Lloyd's. in
case OF any application 10 them, will be most
Happy TO afford you oonfdentially the most com
plete information in their power with regard to
any OF their agents respecting whom you might
wish to enquire.
/ am, sir. your obedient servant
HENRY VI. H0ZIER, Secretary
To Consul General for the United States
SO Old Broad Street, z. c.
when il is known that only members of
Lloyd's are allowed the benefits. protec-
tion, and information furnished daily by
agents appointed for the purpose; and
that British Consuls are allowed to serve
as these agents, and also for the British |
navigation companies: and that a remDer
of Parliament Is always the chairman of
Lioyd's, the artfulness of the suggestion |
contained in the foregoing letter may be |
appreciated. The Lloyd's were even then /
heading of our ships.
Anyway. the suggestion did not take. |
Stops the Cough
and Works OF the Cold.
Laxative R5g..aa lrinfue srat1a+e rura q o11l 4