New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-02

SENATOR FRYE ON HIS PLAN FOR BUILD
ING UP AN AMERICAN MER-
CHANT MARINE.

Washington March 1.-The report prepared by
Senator Frye the Shipping bill reported by
the Committee Commerce of the Senate was
made public to-day. The report begins by assert
ing the value Of National merchant marine ex-
plains and deplores the almost entire dependence
OF the United States foreign shipping for ocean
carrying suggests the danger Of reliance on the
merchant ships Of other nations which may be-
come involved in war, the possible complete ex-
clusion of American exports from their regular
foreign markets IN such contingency. and points
out that the wholesale transfer of the tonnage of
a belligerent nation to a neutral flag would I'M
Questionaby involve such shipping In difficulties
seizures and detentions The British Boer
has materially reduced means Of transportation
and embarrassed ocean mall service The hu-
initiation OF reliance foreign vessels bought
and chartered in the with Spain is referred
to- and the broad ground is taken that under those
sections Of the Constitution which empower Con-
gress to provide for the common defence and gen.
era welfare found the highest authority for the
promotion Of merchant marine.
Tho decrease in American shipping since 1869 Is
shown. In that year the value OF imports carried
American vessels $685., $685. III and foreign yes
sells $5O64s20 OLE In 1889 American vessels carried
$3.50 COS and foreign vessels s06 S6075, the per-
centage in 1869 for American vessels being as1 and
In 1899 only SO.
Three principal reasons are given for tho decline
Of American shipping in the foreign trade. namely:
First-The greater cost OF building ships in the
United States than elsewhere.
Second-The greater cost OF operating American
compared with foreign ships.
Third-Causes based on foreign legislative en-
couragement.
The suggestion that this situation may be over
come by the free admission OF foreign built ships
to American register is met by pointing out that II
such admission were unconditional II would result
in destroying existing American shipyards on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Senator Frye says;
AS vessels can be built cheaper abroad than in
the United States owing to lower wages tnere, a
unquestionably demonstrated by the tesum s
taken by the committee the free admission or IoI
eign ships would prevent any ships for the foTelgh
the United states unless wages were reduced the
foreign level Hence the free admlsSlon OF 1IeS4
Ing or else the Wholesale reduction OF wages IN
American shpyards and the allied industries con-
nected with shpbuilding.
REDUCTION OF OCEAN RATES PREDICTED
All competent authorities the report states. agree
that this bill IL enacted VIII cause large increase
in the American merchant marine The passage OF
this bill. 1t. is asserted. would probably erect e
reduction of So. CO., 900 year in ocean rates on
American commerce. through the additional ship
ping and the competition that would be created
Foreign opposition" Mr.. Frye says. lis being con-
centrated upon the blII because foreign shipping
interests clearly that they will be seriously IN
tured by the replacing Of American Tor the IoIe'sn
vessels now in foreign trade.
The maximum annual expenditures are liked at
$1,000 in the bill About s5oo.O00 is now being
paid TO American ships under normal conditions
for carrying malls, sum which shouid De ue-
Quoted from the additional expense Of the operation
Of this bill About four hundred thousand addt-
tonal tons OF shipping. costing approximately
100000 and occupying several years in its con
tFGeson this u BIN Is passed before the maximGm
expenditure OF 50 5000 could be reached"
steamships of twelve knots speed and over is also
deliberately explained II being pointed out t9at
route is possible, as is the case with special sub
routes and the same compensatons are open 10
all wro care TO put on ships or lines There are
only Sci seagoine screw steamships IN the world
to-day that come within the size and speed con
and o. tfesS twenty-five are protected by the
coasting laws OF the United States, while the re-
upward OF 500 10000 annually. The extra compen-
satlon provided for this same class OF vessel is
merely sufficient 10 equaliZe the advantages en-
joyed by the foreign rivals OF prospective high
It is expected that about $1,000 tons OF foreign
bu!lt vessels now owned or building for American
citizens Will be admitted 70 American register under
the terms OF this bill. their owners being required
10 build equal tonnage in the United States before
The provisions of the bill from every point of
favor Of new and more vessels. shipyards. and
greater facilities for ocean transportation. While
under which a vessel cannot receive fun compen-
This. says the report completely answers criticism
TO the effect that vessel might under the
cargo ''''N
BENEFITS TO AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
The rates Of wages paid in the European yards
are shown 10 be average less than oue-half
the rates paid in the United States The report
haaS that when shtpbuildlng yards have been
Sufhclently developed and have work enough 10
Keep them going all the time cost or con-
struct!nE ships in the United States will be re-
G9uced The growth OF shipbuildng in the United
states would give employment to a vast army OF
men In the shipyards and in the iron other
most promising field for the future DEVELOPMENT
OF our markets for agricultural products northern
ana temperate Asia, the committee believes that
our gram ne!ds and cotton plantations will gain in
Ereater proportion rom tho enactment Of the law
IGhan the seaooard shipbuilding and ship owning
Computations are given showing the exact
amount vessels OF various rates Of speed would get
uhder the DILL as compared with the cost OF opera-
ing them twenty-one knot ship making IS 200
or coal and the handling OF II a net CONDENSATION
under the Dill or S22932. while knot ship maxi
ing 4-'WO Knots a year, less than half the dis
lance or the fast ship, would receive net com
over the cost and the handling of the coal
OF solD year The fast steamships receive the
lowest net compensation under the bill. A compl-
laton is given as to the amounts that tank vessels
such as are used b" the Standard OIL COMPANY
would receive If admitted to American registry
under the bill. These vessels, CARRYING oil car
only take an outward cargo and as they are for
eign built. they would. because of Carving cargo
one way, receive only % per cent OF the
ton allowed under the bill '"
me report goes into the details OF the bill at
data concerning shipping Various other methods
or restoring the merchant marine are discussed
ana the conclusion ts drawn that the present meas
ure Is the only practical method that could he de-
vised ~ iu "e ue-
NO CONFIRMATION FOR TANK STEAMERS. |
Washington. March / CSpeciaN -Cbatrr,a, c..