The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-16
MERCHANT MARINE
MEAs URE DOOMED.
Bill Will Be Introduced by Com.
mission, but Opposed in
/. Congress.
BY wv. Jermane. :

81 Washington, Dec. l6.-It is practi-
eally settled that. a bill prepared by the
commission appointed to- examine mer-
chant marine matters will be introduced
IN both houses of congress next Monday.
The bill indicates that the commission
has designed to accomplish three re-
suits. & s
&. The first is to. establish = naval re-
serve, to furnish thes basis Of a force to
be used to fill vacancies among enlisted
men of the navy. The navy is now short
at least 5000 men for ships already
constructed. This bill endeavors to
form body Of sailors and marines for
use In equipping the navy and for ma
rlne defenses. 5.--.:;.x. -
The second object of. the bill will be
to amend the postal law of 1891 by
line to South America and the, orient.
For several years past the yearly profit
to the United States on foreign postal
business has been nearly + $2,500,000;
that is to say, the revenues derived
from foreign postage and mails has
been nearly $5,O00,000, and the expense
has been about $2,50O,O00.s The theory
OF the bill is that revenues derived on
the sea should be expended on the sea
for the improvement Of the postal sys-
tenn and for the establishment of addi-
tlOnal postal routes under the control
Of the United States.
The third object Of the bill is to en-
courage freightage in American vessels
and the building of American freight
ers, both sail and steam,
No Direct Appropriation.
It is understood that no direct ap.
preparation from the treasury will be
asked for these purposes. The present
| tonnage taxes on all vessels entering
| the ports Of the United States from for
eign ports will be increased from {
cents per ton to 8 and 16 cents per ton
and this Increased revenue is to be de-
voted to building up freighting vessels
in the United States engaged in foreign
| trade. The fast vessels will not be in
cluded in the scope of the bill.
| The democratic members of the com
mission are understood to be in favor
Of the first two objects. of the bill, but
they oppose the third. - They will
recommend instead "a system of differ
entail discriminating duties in favor OF
| goods imported in American vessels. This
will probably insure prolonged debate
in the senate, and defeat all. Legislation
at this session Of congress- <>,.T,.
,. .@- Where Bill Fails. Il.
AS to the practical effects of the bill
those who are familiar with the subject
say that it will not benefit, shipping OF
the Atlantic coast and very little en-
couragement or assistance will be af
forded to vessels on, the Pacific.
Vessels sailing from Pacific ports
such as the Hill vessels from Seattl,
and the Pacific Mail steamships from
San Francisco, will derive such benefi
as they can from, the second provision
of the bill-the increased ocean posta
facilities. - -
The maximum, of speed Of vessels whic]
will come under the third provision O.
!; the bill ia: eight or ten knots, and it i
will. take advantage OF The pastal pro
vision, for the reason that the exaction
4 preliminary to, aecepaance2o of postal con
! tracts will be heavyK yiOne will, be TIL
Requirement that q Considerable proper
Etion Of the crew shall be American, an,
it is doubtful if any of the established
companies will care to assume response
bilities which will involve an increas
of expenditures as great as the revenue
derived from the carrying of mails
The mail-carrying contracts will be lei
under the law, after competitive bid
. ding. so that if any company, wants
ing charges to the. bone, and for tina
j, reason neither the Hill company nor tn
this business.
Real Beneficiaries.
The real benefciaries of the bill wi
be the steamship lines running frol
New Orleans to South America and t
oriental ports from ports on the Gul
of Mexico. But the Representatives c
these interests in congress are. all den
F. OcratS who are KICKING AGAINST TIL
subsidy provision, and that adds to tn
difficulty of passing the measure whic
3 the commission has prepared.
Taking it all together, the commi
sion has spent an entire summer in hal
work, the net result of which is bi
: that nobody wants particularly, and or
3 that has little show of becoming a lay