The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10
AMENDED SHIPPING BILL.
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE
BY THE COMMITTEE.
Figures Showing the Amount of Sea-
Going Tonnage, the Cost of ship
building I'm Different Countries

WASHINGTON. April s.-Gen. Charles
II. Grosvenor, the chairman Of the house
committee on merchant marine and fish
cries, recently filed with the house the
amended shipping bill and the report in
It's favor which has the approval OF the
ten Republican members OF his committee.
Gen. Grosvenor's report gives tables
showing our seagoing sall and steam ton
mage, in comparison with those OF the
principal maritime nations. In sail Great
Britain has declined IS per cent since
1874: the United States has declined 40
per cent. Norway has remained station
airy, Italy has declined So Germany 10.
France c., and all other nations Is per
cent. the average for all being the same
as that for the United States.
In steam seaEoing tonnage, since 1874,
the table shows that there has everywhere
been an Increase. the following percent
ages showing It's magnitude: Great Brit
ain. al; United States. 6s; France, 200;
Germany, 600. Spain, 275; Italy, 395: Hol-
land, 800: Russia. $50; Norway, lao, and
all others. excepting Japan, Di Japan's
statistics only go back one decade, during
which her Increase has been 3s2 per cent.
There was an average increase in the sea-
going steam tonnage OF all nations OF 1856
per cent. since 1874 The committees
analysis of this table states: at appears,
then. that with our great population. in
dustry, resources and enterprise we stand
Mt the very foot OF the column
Our own share OF our own foreign carry
Ing, Il III shown, has diminished from 26l
per cent to SO per cent. during the last
quarter Of century.
References 70 the last report Of the COM
missioner of navigation are made 10 indi-
cate where tables may lie found showing a
list OF the vessels now under foreign flags
that are owned by American citizens and
the forty foreign vessels OF l2G.sls tons
purchased by our government before the
commencement OF the Spanish war The
report states: Had the war continued
for another year, or had II occurred with
any stronger power. the condition OF the
United states. In respect OF the supply of
auxiliary aids to our military operations
would have been OF the most serious char
acter."
The American vessels permanently reg
istered for foreign trade are shown to
numlDr 1884, OF 56a,3Gi tons. and further
details on this point are indicated as being
In the commissioner OF navigations re-
port, the pages In all such references being
named.
Gen Grosvenor's report shows that dur
Ing 1893 there were seventy-nine sail and
steam vessels. of &io7 tons, built in the
United States for foreign trade
Our average annua, construction Of
ocean steamships (mos. all OF which
We're Tor our coastwise trade) for ten years
past has been only 2iOo tons per year.
compared with the British average con-
struction OF $4,000 tons yer year.
Cost Of shipbuiIdinw.
The cost Of shipbuding. II IL stated.
Is IN Great Britain at least 90 and prob
ably averages q. per cent lower than
VI the United states. as shown by the
evidence OF those who appeared at the
hearings In both the house and senate
committees having the bill In charge Mr.
Griscom, for instance president OF the
International Navigation Company. states
That no could have had the St Louis and
the st Paul built for 81 100 GO less money
IN Great Britain than they did coat in
tho United States. In that connection II
was shown that the cost OF duplicatiny
In the United States the British buiIt
steamship Masconoma ranged between
$4,000 and tga,ooo. her cost in Great Rrit-
ain delivered new In July, 1893. having
been $4,000. Low grade ships. SAYS the
Grossenor report, cost more 10 build In
.ue Chl'ea states proport!onately than
the high grade.
Mr.. Thomas Clyde is quoted as having
MAGE the following statement to the
committee:
The elements OF tho cost OF OCEAN,
transportatten are three; First. the cost
OF the vessel; second. tho cost OF tho
maintenance OF the vessel and tho tbtrI
mo cost of operating the vessel II As.
the difference OF tho sum of thasa eta-
menta under the American fag ana tho
sum OF them under the foreign rac that ~
the bill" -
That people will buy whore shlps are
phih cheapest r. obvious. and this ac-
counts SAYS tho committee FOR the fact
thar Great Britain practically monopouzes
the building OF the worlds ocean tonnage.
Notwithstanding our possession Of the on
er-S. skill eamtnl. shiphuillins material
hSrhors, shipyards and machinery for
building the ocean trade ships The cost
OF ahtpouiiiins and operation. however.
as esll he shown later. does not COM
prcherd all Of the uostac Giles to our sue.
ee'~s A. maritime power. the aid given
ny other nations To their ships constitute
Ing an important factor
operating Expense.
Passing from differences IN cost Of con.
Sructiug ships here and abroad 60 the
cost % th~ir operation. the COMMITTEES
nnds that the average wages paii to
American seamen on sailing vessels cross.
ing the Atlantic d. So and to pritish
scamen. 50 per month. on long voyages
from tho raciac coast 60 Great Rrtiain
American wages were from SIS TO yeV ana
hritth 81 IS io tt& por month. on such
voyages American boatswains r,..c. wing
81 70 - Hnf British from sla44 20 sgt 7o
SO that 10 appears on tho whole the
AhtAAfHH NWAt@ on s4llilNE NeAaEG Were
somewhat less than three faurths IA.
American ~3At@' On passenger steam.
s.ua@U's 3pNil Nluruusuun 5u ui stly.
- suo0iod 1aglo aej mo IssIri NtlusfIs
Sluo ole@ slassaN uraIism, IN saw /.
tho crew, such as afemou tt.mmers cal
p@s@crs. ctc, the American wages were
$40 thc British average H~U,s Just al~su,
onc-hslf the American pay Tables civ.
ing these comparisons ip detail. ana watch
are extended GO German. French Dut-s
ana Norwexian vesssrls are cited ia .ht
report 81 thc commissions - NAVIGATION
table 10 quoted that shows She aetna
wage expenses Oh Ave dlNr.eut steam.
ships. % about the Same slaf. under a,
many different fass. 10 DO as (aloNs pei
month
American vessel .s,...-......... ..... s. g,s +.
iGittsh vessel OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 81 81
German vessel ..... ............ sat Z
Dutch vessel .. ...-............ SD IS
NorNcgiAn vessel ............. r,1 -
These statistics have been ,updrurl
the repor; states rs the Statements ma 8,