The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-02

1
| of $50 100000 annually. The extra COM
| pensatiOn that is provided for this same
! class of vessel, 1t is pointed out, is merely
sufficient in amount TO equalze the adyan-
tages enjoyed by the foreign rivals Of pros
| peetive high-speed American vessels.
When the maximum sum of nine million
dollars has been expended. under the bill,
in any one year. it is pointed out that
! should additional vessels then come in pro
rata reductions are made in the compensa-
! tion paid to all yesselc in order to keep
within the limit fixed. and to give all ves-
! sells compensation CT equal amount, ac-
eording TO their size and speed.
II is expected that some 340. 900 tons of
I ioTeiGn-built vessels now owned or build
/ ing for American citizens will be admit
ted TO American register under the terms
| of this bill. their owners being required
to build equal tonnage in the United
States before receiving any compensa-
| tion. Only one-half the amount of COM
pensation provided for American vessels
is paid to foreign vessels so admitted.
And all such vessels are excluded from
our coastwise trade. 1t is required that
all vessels receiving compensation shall be
CT the highest class at all times. Vessels
in existence are only permitted to enjoy
the compensation for ten years, while all
new vessels are to receive compensation
fer twenty years.
The provisions of the bill from every
point OF view" says the report, "are over
whelmingly in favor of new and more yes
sells, more shipyards. and greater facili-
ties for ocean transportation"
Criticism Answered.
While deemed unnecessary. the report
states. a provision has been inserted un-
der which a vessel cannot receive full
compensation unless She carries one-half
of cargo. This completely answers crit
icism to the effect that vessel might run
under the bill for the compensation given
without carrying cargo. AS to the great
er cost OF constructing vessels abroad and
in the United States. the actual facts are
given as to contracts recently made. The
International Navigation Company con-
tracted few months ago for two vessels
TO be constructed in Great Britain and two
similar vessels in the United States. The
price in the United States was $50 per
gross ton more than the price asked at
Clydebank, Scotland. The difference
amounts to from Is to % per cent higher
in this country. The same company had
to pay SIS per gross ton more for con-
structing the St. Louis and the st. Paul
in the United States than was charged for
similar vessels built in Scotland
The rates of wages paid in the European
y
than one-half the rates paid in the United
States. The committee states that when
shipbuilding yards have been sufficiently
developed and have work enough to keep
them going all the time, the cost of con-
structing ships in the United States will
be reduced. AS ii is now the shipyards on
the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts have had
practically no work outside the construc-
tion Of vessels for the coasting trade and
for the Navy and other branches Of the
Government service. The growth of ship
building in the United States would give
employment to a vast army of men in the
shipyards and in the iron, steel. and other
industries connected with shipbuilding.
This army of men would consume farm
and other products. SO that the benefit
would extend to every class of persons in
the United States, while at the same time
the new ships would open foreign markets
and increase Our exports. and thus furnish
still more employment for all OF our peo-
pie. The committee says:
As the most promising field for the future de-
velopment of markets for agricultural pro-
ducts is northern and temperate Asia. the com
mittee believes that grain fields and cotton
plantations will gain in greater proportion from
the enactment of the law than the scaboard ship
building and ship-owning States.
The slower Vessels the Best Paid.
Computations are given showing the ex-
act amount vessels OF various rates of speed |
would get under the bill, as compared
with the cost OF operating them. These |
conclusiveiy show that the |
slower vessels will get higher net CON- !
pensation under the bill than the fast |
steamships. A twenty -one-knot ship max |
ing 8,2c0 miles per annum would get. over |
,lN1 tl,s.o ~ 81
Of it. net compensation under the bill of |
s22, ,932, while a ten-knot ship, making |
i2. 900 knots per annum, or less than half J
the distance of the fast ship would re- |
ceive a net compensation over the cost and |
the handling of the coal OF $15, 120 per an |
mum.
The fast steamships receive the lowest |
net compensation under the BILL COM
putation is given as to the amounts that |
tank vessels such as are used by the |
Standard Oil Company. would receive in |
IL admitted to American reg |
stry under the bill. These vessels carry |
ing oil can take only an outward cargo, |
and as they are foreign built they would, |
because of carrying cargo one way. re-
ceiye only % per cent of the compensation /
allowed under the bill. They would have |
to comply with the American laws as to |
American officers, and that at least % per |
cent of their crew should be An erican |
and other provisions which would /
so increase the cost Of operation over that
Of running under a foreign flag. as they
10 now, that they would necessarily lose
money by the change. In addition, they
would have to double their tonnage in the
United States. Hence. there is no possi-
,ility whatever, even IL the law admitted Of
I. according to the committee, that tank
q a m |
proposed law.
An interesting table is given of the
axact amount which foreign steamships,
4 running under the operations of this !
dill. would receive and the amounts they |
now get from their respective Govern
nents. 1t is shown that six British steam
ship lines. the Peninsular and Oriental,
running to Asia and Australia: the Orient
and Pacific Steam Navigation Company.
running to Australia; the ID. Currie and
Union Steamship Company running to
Africa; the Royal Mail Company. running
10 the West Indies; the Canadian Pacific
Line, running to Asia, and the Cunard and
White Star Lines. running TO the United
States, altogether received, in subsidy and
nail pay, from the British Government last
year SO. 900. i66. II they had been paid
according to the rates fixed in the bill re-
ported by the committee, for trayersing
he identical routes, they would have been
entitled to $3.50, ,9S2, or s32S, ,534 less than
hey actually received from the British
Hence, when this bill be-
,omes a law, American steamships run
hing under II will receive less compensa-
ion from the United States Government
han those respective British lines are now
'eeeiving from their Government. to say
nothing of the tremendous advantage the
British ships have because of lower wages,
over cost OF operation, and the employ
nent of Lascars and other such cheap
abor for service as sailors. That is proof