Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-06

" NV astk st@t -
eligible for naval volunteer service,
II Is therefore manifest that shipown.
ors must not only be encouraged to
employ these naval volunteers. but
encouraged to build more ships to de-
yelop an increased naval service, as
well AZ 10 advance the interests OF
commerce"
Tho proposed rate OF IS per gross
ton. the commission says, ~ unqucs'
tionabIy sufficient to .equaiize condi'
lions for American sat vessels as
against foreign sail vessels, save In
tho case OF the heavily subsidized
fleet Of France. II is declared also
that this rate IL sufficient 10 equal
ize conditions for American cargo
steamers. save in exceptional In.
stances, but IL Is admitted without
controversy that the naval subyention
will not, OF itself, encourage the
building OF swift and expensive steam
ships. II Is the judgment Of the com
mission that In the restoration OF
the American merchant marine II Is
the useful. Woodworking ship OF steam
and sail which should have the first
and friendliest considt rniion. The
reason assigned for this Is that the
American people In the main. are pro
ducers OF bulky commodities. so far
as q their export commerce,
II Is strongly emphasized by the
commission that the naval subycn-
tons offered IN the proposed bill are
not bountics outright or mere com
mercial subsidies. but are distinctly
based on important public services u
be given by the ships and ship own
ers that receive them. Az to the
constitutionality and ~expediency Of
such guarded s~ubventions It ia said
there can DO no question whatever. IN
the light OF the example OF the fish
cries s~ubvcntions given TO both yes
sells and men FOR prospective nava
service by the fathers Of the republic
and continued by their immediate sue
ccssors
In the proposed bill not one dollal
Is added 10 the expenditures for an,
ono OF the five established contrac
ocean mall lines. The present ocar
mail act Is not amended except as u
certain specific new routes TO be os
tabllshed and the new requirement al
to naval volunteers, The ~ireduced
compensation under the mall law o
1891 was insufficient to establish con
tract mail lines TO the greater coun
tries Of South America. 10 Contra
America, to Africa or 10 the Orienl
and the commission recommends II
the proposed bill a substantial In
crease OF compensation on certain
specified routes where American
steam service will be most likely Il
increase the foreign markets fol
American merchandise. Az d rule
the ten new ocean mall routes specl
fled must be created from the be
ginning not only tho lines, but ih'
ships themselves.
The last feature OF the proposes
bill " . plan to Increase tho tonnag,
taxes on all vessels. American AM
foreign. now entering our ports i
tho foreign trade. The commission
says the present rates Of tonnag,
taxes In the United States are lowel
than those Of the principal maritime
nations. The original purpose OF sucl
charges was to provide d fund foi
lighting tho coast for the benefit O
shipping. A comparison IL made
showing that In 1903 the light dues
collected In the United Kingdom
amounted to 50. 4 $50 while the ex
penses OF the British light house es
Enlistment were q ,497, 900. In I'll,
United States tonnage tax receipts Ii
1908 were $751;, s4l. while the expenses
OF the light house establishment were
$4.53s. i05. 1t IL not the purpose Of thu
commission, however. to raise through
tonnage taxes an amount sufficient Il
meet the entire cost Of the Lighthouse,
establishment.
The commission believes that III,
sum OF $3.00o.0 900 Is not an unreasona
BILE contribution on the part Of YES
sells in the foreign trade toward th'
maintenance Of the national light
house. buoy aud beacon system
which doubtless. this year will cos
about $4,000. 900. Rates proposed II
the bill have been adjusted so as Il
produce as nearly as may be to thai
sum.
As 10 the cost Of the proposed leg
islstion the commission says the aver
age Of the annua. retainers for off
cers and seamen Of the naval yolun
feers would be close 10 $50 each and
that IL Is probable that in the first
year no more than 5000 naval volun
teers could be enrolled and qualified