The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-11-26

A r. Smith. commissioner Of ,he
Merchant Marine League Of the Unit
ed States. was a visitor in the city
yesterday. He came to Pensacola for
the purpose OF comforting with the
officers of the Chamber Of Commerce
with a view to scouting the endorse
ment OF The Chamber Of the bill pro
posed by the Merchant Marine Com
mission OF Congress-. Of which Sena-
tor Mallory is a member and which
81 viii be remembered held a session
in this city about a year ago.
The report Of this commission was
unanimous on all points but one, and
that is the subention of $500 per
gnoss registered ton for each vessel
which has been engaged il the foreign
trade by sea or the deep sea fisheries
for the period Of twelve months
Three members of the commission op-
pose this feature on constitutional
grounds. These dissenting members
are Senator Mallory OF Florida, Rep
resentative SpiEht of Mississippi and
Representative McDearman of New
Jersey. They suggest in lieu Of the
provision objected to that the govern
ment 90 back TO its early police of dis
eliminating duties against imports
transported in other than American
bottoms. under which system Ameri-
can shipping thirved ga the halcyon
days Of the long ago.
In conversation with a representa-
tive Of The Journal on yesterday, Mr..
smith expressed I'D as his poinion, rep
resenting the organized maritime in
i terests Of the country. that this policy
would be nOn-enective now, for the
reason that more than twO-thirds of
f our imports are on nOn-admitable mer-
chandise Tn addition TO this Objec-
ton IS another serious obstacle in
the way Of the successful operation of
F the plan proposed by the minority of
I the commission, J. e.. it would require
the abr0gation OF thirty odd CONNER
/ cal treaties now I'm operation.
Summarizing the features Of the bin
T recommended by the commission Mr..
smith stated It's provision tn the fol
/ lowing terse terms.
First it provides for a national
naval reserve of 10000
Secondly. it makes provision for the
f establishment Of ten new steamship
lines, three from Atlantic ports. four
4 rom Calf ports and three from Pa
f cifc ports. The Gulf steamers are
Z 10 ply between the Cult ports and
Brazil Cuba, Central America and
+ Mexico, respectively. The Atlantic
4 steamers are 20 run to Africa, Brazil.
4 Argentine Republic and Uruguay. re
! spectively- the Pacific lines are to
+ operate between the United States and
+ Japan, China and the Philippines, one
! line monthly and another fortnightly.
( The third line to be 20 Mexico. Cen
4 tral America and the Isthmus of Pan
ANA
The service from the Gulf ports to
/ Brazil is 20 be monthly: to Cuba.
/ semi-weekly; to Central America and
I Mexico. semi-weekly.
The third feature is a substantial
/ increase ln tonnage taxes levied on
/ foreign vessels.
lne fourth feature provides a b0un-
I ~ ot s. per gross registered ton Der
Z ) ear Tor vessels built on REGISTERED ia
+ the United States. such bounty. how
( ever, being limited TO a life of ten
I years.
According to mr. smith. the subsi-
dies 90 be paid the steamship lines
I provided for wiz not be a burden on
T the government for the reason thar
the receipts OF ocean portage are fig
urea at S2.50o0o0 a year more than
the cost
Ar smith regards the bin as q most
important one, On fact an invaluable
measure Of national defense. since n
would foster merchant marine that
4 would AFFORD number OF American
I lIen-Cl-Wor Id event of any disturb
ance. And on this point. he ouo+as
I Thomas jefferson. then Secretary al
state. who in 1898. in a report 10 Con
/ Eress said.
our navigation involves stiIl high-
Z or considerations. As a branch uf fn-
I custry j is valuable. but as s resource
I o. defense essential
It's value. as a branch of Industry
is enhanced by the dependence Of So
many other branches on it In time,