The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10

eign trade such ships as are described in
| the bill within five years from the time
| of the contract, and in that case II gives
| such new built vessels the same rights 10
| compensation already described in respect
OF existing vessels. and puts such new
| vessels in all respects under the same re-
quirements. And 1t provides for slid
ing scale of reduced compensation as the
'' is Il then provides Svid S for the case of
change Of ownership of the vessels un-
der contract securing to the United
states all is rights IL such vsf.s Gases IS no Of
class Al.
Sec. 8 Provides for reduced compensa-
| tion from time TO time, and for adjust
ing the same in connection with clause
Sec. i. Provides for the withdrawn of
| vessels under contract, and for those
which may be lost, etc. and the substi-
/ tuition OF another American vessel in her
| place. OF at least equal class, capacity
Sec s. Provides that no vessel shall be
entitled to compensation unless at least
| one-fourth OF her crew shall be citizens
| their intention to be such, and provides
for obtaining seamen in emergencies.
Sec. 6. Provides a strict test of the
Sec I. Provides for limited bounty
| to vessels engaged in the deep sea fisher
Sec. s. Provides for limited bounty for
| the crews of such deep sea fishing YES
| sells.
These two sections following the good
| old-time policy Of the United States and
| the present policy OF several foreign mar
| itime nations, look TO increasing the num-
| her OF citizens of the United States who
| shall be capable of and always available
for service when our government snail
need them. This is most important pro-
| vision, when we consider the existing po-
| ltical and maritime conditions among the
| principal nations of the world. 1t need
not be enlarged upon.
| Sec. 9. This Is a section OF exclusion
| from the right to make contracts and re-
| ceive the compensations provided On the
| bill.
IL covers vessels not engaged in trade.
| This includes private yachts and other yes
| sells not constructed or probably well ca
| pable Of entering into the foreign trade
| OF the United States intended to be pro-
| NOTED by the bill, vessels employed in the
| coastwise trade. and vessels when carry
| passengers or cargo which passengers and
cargo could not have been carried by
foreign vessel. and also fisheries vessels.
This last exclusion does not apply to the
| special provisions named In sections ]. Z,
| 10 and IL II also excludes any vessel car
| rying what Is really domestic commerce
| between the Atlantic and Pacific ports by
means, of transshipment at the istnm9 i.
| ted to American registry under section
| 4l36 OF the Revised Statutes This exclu-
| sion Ia intended to prevent foreign wreck
| from having the benefit of the bill. 1t
| has been found that considerable abuses
| have already taken place under that sec
| ton.
| 1t excludes vessel owned by a citizen
| of the United States which is not entitled.
| under section 4l31 of the Revised Statutes
| to the privileges of regular American
| vessel This means that If vessel own
| ed by citizen of the United States Is not
| offcered as required by that section OF the
| Revised Statutes. she shall not be entitled
| to any of the benefits of the bill.
| 1t excludes vessels trading to nearby
| foreign ports. 1t excludes vessel on q
| voyage less than one-half the whole
| sea between one of our ports and for
| eign port. Both of these aforementioned
exclusions are designed to prevent ID, eva a.,
| sions of the great purposes OF the bill in
| aiding our really ocean foreign trade.
| Sec. 10, Provides for granting Ameri-
| can registers under specific and carefully
| guarded limitations. First, to such for
| eign-buit steamships are We're on January
| |, 1900. engaged in established freight or
| passenger business from a port of the
| United states to a foreign port. and which
| must be of the first class as to quality and
seaworthiness. and which must have then
| been actually owned by American citizens
| and really representing American capital
| to the extent of at least majority inter-
| est therein. and this includes such Ameri-
| can owneIs---p ana capi.al as may be IN
| form, as foreign laws provide, of for
| egn corporation in which the majority in
| terest was. at the time named. really and
| truly American This permission is con-
| obtaining the whole title to such foreign
| built vessels, and proving TO the satisfac-
| ton of the secretary of the treasury that
| Ii has been done. Second, the section,
| upon the same policy affecting tie first
| clause just cited, authorizes an American
| registry TO similarly owned foreign-built
| steamships were actually under con-
| struction on the same LIST of January, 1900.
| and winch shall. when completed be of
| the first class in quality and seaworthi-
| ness as before mentioned; and this clause
| provides that this ownership of an inter-
| est In such vessels In the course of con-
| struction must have been an original own
| ershlp and interest, and not one that pos
slhly might be transferred to American
citizens in view of the passage OF this
| bill.
The considerations which led the com
| mttee 10 recommend the admission OF
| these American owned and constructed
| foreign vessels already built, and those
under construction as described. were
| built and are building in foreign ship
| yards, and are sailing and must sail UNI
der foreign flags II this measure shall not
pass. because the cost Of foreign con-
sruction was and Is so very much less
than the cost of construction In our own
yards. and because the cost OF operating
under a foreign nag was and is so very
much less than under our own flag and
so. In order to carry on far as they
could their American trade with foreign
ports In competition with vessels under
| foreign Hays they were compelled ia
resort 70 the foreign building OF their YES
-els and compelled. under our navigation
| idWh 70 run tnsm under foreign days.
and also compelled 10 do so on account
Of the difference in expense. as has been
stated.
This limited and carefully guarded pro-
vision for the admission % these foreign
built ships IL conditioned So that the own
crs OF such admitted foreign vessels ana
build in the United states ami apply for
registration thereof new steam vessels II
an asgresate tonnage at least To the
whole tonnage OF such foreign built ves-
sells so registered. and that these newly
euilt vessels shall ha Of the frst-class AS
respects quality and seaWorthiuess And
these conditions require careful examlna-
| ton BY the secretary Of the treasury 10
secure perfect compliance with the re-
| quifements X Is also provided that these
! newly Amcricnn-hullt vessels shall not
engage tn the eo8S,ing trade rs Is also
! provided IN respect of the foreign ones
| admitted
SCI II Provides FOR the inspection a.
ihc ADMITTED foreign built vessels and for
! their exclusion from the coasting and So-
nestle trade NJ tho United states inglud.
| iDg That between the Atlantic ana Pa. re
| coast ports Il may he proper 20 repeat
/ iR THIS connection that tho foreign Built
| vessels so Rdmittci arr only 20 receive
! rnF-ha1f "a