The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-02
OUR MERCHANT MARINE
MIR. FRYE'S REPORT ON THE SEN
ATE SHIPPING MEASURE.
Dill That Es Intended to Promote the
Ocean Carrying Trade mt n Cost
of $9,OOO,OOO a Year.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The report
prepared by Senator Frye on the shipping
bill reported by the committee on COM
merce of the Senate was made public to-
day. The report begins by asserting 'the
self-evident value of a national merchant
marine" explains and deplores our most
entire dependence on foreign shipping for
our ocean carrying, suggests the danger of
reliance upon the merchant ships of other
nations which may become involved In
war. the possible complete exclusion of
American exports from their regular for
points out that the wholesale transfer of
the tonnage of beIligerent nation to a
neutral flag would unquestionably involve
such shipping in difficulties, seizures and
detentions. The British-Boer war has ma
terially reduced our means of transpor-
tation and embarrassed our ocean mail
service. The humiliation of our reliance
upon foreign vessels bought and char
tered during our war with Spain is re-
ferred to, and the broad ground Is taken
that under those sections of the Consti-
tuition which empower Congress to provide
for the common defense and general well
fare is found the highest authority for
the promotion of our merchant marine.
Three prime reasons are given for the de-
cline of the American shipping in the for
eign trade. namely, the greater cost Of
building ships in the United States than
elsewhere; the greater cost of operating
American as compared with foreign ships;
and causes based on foreign legislative
encouragement The suggestion that this
situation may be overcome by the free
admission of foreign built ships to Ameri-
can register is met by pointing out that
If such admission were unconditional 1t
would result in destroying existing Ameri-
can shipyards on the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts.
All competent authorities, the report
states, agree that this bill, If enacted, will
involve a large increase In the American
merchant marine. The passage of this
BILL II is claimed would probably effect
reduction of S25.0OO000 a year In ocean
rates on American commerce, through the
additional shipping and the competition
that would be created. Foreign opposi-
tion," the report says, "is being concen-
trated upon the bill, because foreign ship
ping interests clearly see that they will be
seriously injured by the replacing of Amer
lean for the foreign vessels now in our
foreign trade.
1.-THE maximum annual expenditures are
fixed at 100000 in the bill. About 81. 500 900
is now being paid by American ships under
normal conditions for carrying our mails,
a sum which should be deducted from the
additional expense of the operation of
this bill About 100000 additional tons of
new shipping, approximately 900 and
occupying several years i'm its construc-
ton, would have to be built in the United
States, If this bill is passed, before the
maximum expenditure of 100000 could be
reached. 1t is expected that some $4,000
tons Of foreign built vessels now owned
or building for American citizens will be
admitted to American register under the
terms of this bill their owners being re-
States before receiving any compensation.
1.-THE provisions of the bill from every
point of view" adds the report: ''are
overwhelmingly In favor of new and more
vessels, more shipyards and greater facil-
tiles for ocean transportation. While
.eemed unnecessary, provision has been
inserted that a vessel cannot receive
full compensation unless she carries one
half of a cargo. This" says the report,
completely answers criticism to Lac effect
that vessel might run under the bill for
the compensation given without carrying
a cargo.
Using field for the future development of
our markets for agricultural products is
northern and temperate Asia, the commit
tee believes that our grain fields and cot
ton plantations Will gain In greater pro-
portion for the enactment OF the law than
the seaboard ship building and ship own
| ing States"
Computations are given showing the
exact amount vessels of various rates OF
speed would get under the bill compared
with the cost Of operating them. q
knot ship making s.. 200 miles per annum.
would get, over and above the cost of coal
and the handling of Ii. net compensation
under the bill of 81, 932, while a 10 knot
| ship, making 1900 knots per annum or
| less than half the distance of the fast
ship, would receive a net compensation
over the cost and the handling OF the coal
| OF $15120 per annum. The fast steamships
receive the lowest net compensation under
| the bill. A computation is given as TO the
amounts that tank vessels, such as are
| used by the Standard Oil Company, would
receive in compensation IL admitted 70
| American registry under the bill. These
vessels, carrying oil, can only take an out
ward cargo. and as they are foreign built,
| they would. because OF carrying cargo
| one way receive only Is per cent. of the
| compensation allowed under the bill.