The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-02
COHES As HlJ)RITY REPORT
REPRESENTATIVE GROSVENOR,
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,
OUTLINES ITS PROVISIONS
INCREASE OF THE SEA POWER
The Desire Is Particularly to Bring
Into Existence Quickly an
American Fleet Of Mer-
chant Vessels.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-Representa-
tive GrosvenOr, of Ohio, chairman of the
house committee on merchant marine
and fisheries, presented to the house yes
terday the amended shipping bill and the
report in its support by the majority of
the committee, constituting all the Re-
publican members. The report says In
part:
Our abundant natural resources and
our industrious and increasing popula-
ton make it of great value to increase
the means of proiitably disposing of our
surplus productions, and, as our export
trade is increased, so will be home con-
sumption and employment.
"Our exporting competitors have for
long time been devoting themselves to
increasing their export trade and getting
possession of markets. Africa is an eX-
ample Of the methods pursued of parti-
tioning territory or recognizing spheres
of influence, Eastern Asia being even
tually designed to receive similar treat
ment."
China" the report continues, may be
left open to fair and equal competition
with respect Of trade with the United
States in which event the committee be-
largest, fields for the trade and commerce
of other nations will be open to those
possessing the facilities of taking ad-
vantage of opportunity"
FIRST IN THE FIELD.
The nation first in the field with its
own productions and its own means of
transportation" will achieve the largest
success, for which reason China must
remove the barriers which now almost
el rely exclude foreign intercourse"
Other parts of the world in which our
commerce holds so small a share would
repay particular study.
TIE need of abundant establishments
for the construction, docking and repair
ing of ships, IAN adequate navy and
great fleet Of merchant vessels all in
readiness for any eXigency, Is asserted
by the report to be "a self-evfdent propo-
sition." On these grounds other nations
have fortified themselves by increasing
their sea power in all of the ways re-
ferred to, with the double object Of
Strengthening their facilities and power
for carrying on foreign commerce"
After giving the statistics on the ex-
tent of tonnage the world over, the cost
of ship building, wages, ETC., Mr.. Gros-
venOr's report sums UP 1.-The cardinal pur-
poses of the bill'' as follows:
PURPOSES OF THE BILL.
and no doubt under existing conditions
the only possible way-in bringing to the
greatest extent possible our own foreign
trade back into our own hands, and thus
saving to our country certainly more
\ than $l0O.COO,0O transportation money an
nually, which now goes to increase the
wealth of other nations.
20 To greatly increase the eXporta-
lion and sale Of all kinds of our super
abundant productions, and especially in
the vast regions of Eastern Asia, evil
benuy very soon to be opened to the
trade of the world. This is a trade that
The. nation best prepared to engage in
will necessarily get the greater proper
eCn of by its own ships under it's own
dag, and with its own postal facilities
lnd its own commercial -esta aDlishments
Tor the disposal Of its productions
3. To bring into existence at the ear
hest possible time a great American fleet
pf merchant vessels, built by our own
labor, as a most necessary means of ma
honal aid and national safety in times
anteTnatonal war or other, disturb
happily not small, even now.
"a To increase the number of its cit
lzens who will be educated in seafarng
work, and who will thus have the skill
and be better able to defend the honor
Pnd interests Of our country on the seas
howeVer suddenly the occasion may hap
pen.
''5 That the bill, we think, will. If the
proposed compensation is large enough,
accomplish these great and important
Gen. Grosvenor's report concludes:
WILL TAKE TIME
1T will, of course take a considerable
time TO reach the desired end but the
sooner the policy is entered upon the
sooner and easier Will be its ACCOMPLISH
ment.
The means proposed are open to the
capital the enterprise and the skill Of all
our citizens alike and on equal terms.
There is no ground for any form of mo-
nopoly. There is absolute safety to the
treasury in the fact that no payment can
be made until in each and for each voy-
age the work is actually performed As
We have before stated, it is certain that
TO vessel, great or SMALL fast or slow, in
the list can afford to make a single voy-
age without also having a large COM
mercial business income from the same
voyage, and in doing which commercial
business she IS fulfilling one of the grelt
purposes of the bill.
In view of the foregoing considerations
WSs earnestly recommend the speedy pass
age of the bill"
The bill and amendments have been
made public heretofore The antitrust
amendment is slightly changed, so fhat
In case of a combination those partici-
pating in it are excluded from the benc-
fits of the bill instead of the previous
plan, which would have operated alike
against those in and out of the combina-
ton.