The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-01-23
SHIPPING PROMOTION BILL.

says that an duttl &c <1Li1C4 4NclL4 NNNt~Al
feet would mean the saving TO this
country of 800 600, 900 a year, which
now goes to build up the commercial
} power and naval strength of Europe
mission that the naval subventions Of
fered in the proposed bill are not boun-
/ ties outright or mere commercial sub
Sides but are distinctly based on i'm
portant public services to be given by
the ships and ship owners that receive
them. Not dollar is proposed to be
added to the expenditures for any of
the five esta blished contract ocean mail
lines. With the exception of certain
new routes to be established and new
requirement as to naval volunteers, the
present ocean mail act is not proposed
to be amended. The commission takes
issue with the War Department on the
question of whether a saving to the
Government has resulted from the OPP
Grafton, in time of peace, of lines OF
foreign built craft in the army trans
port service. a discontinuance of the
transport service is urged, the report
in this regard saying:
ITO all members of the commission
who visited the Pacific Coast this pro-
cedure of the War Department appear
ed to be absolutely indefensible. 1t is
true that in his recent annual report
the quartermaster general of the army
figures out profit of 1896, 236 for the
transport service as compared with the
rates which commercial steamers
would have charged, but this profit, as
a radical difference in bookkeeping
methods. between commercial steam
ship companies and the quartermaster'
department.
OF eleven sections the bill contains.
the first provides for creating a force
of naval volunteers capable of service
ir time of war. The Secretary of the
Navy and the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor are directed to make an en-
rollment of officers and men, now aud
hereafter employed in American mer-
chant and deep-sea fishing vessels, who
shall receive an annual retainer at The
end of each year
The second section provides for sub
sides as follows, payable after July /,
1906, per gross registered ton in each
case to vessels engaged in the foreign
trade and in deep-sea fisheries: Yes
sells so engaged twelve months, includ-
ing time for annual or extraordinary
repairs, s.; nine months or over, 81;
six months Or over $3.50. In the third
section it is provided that vessels re-
ceiving the subvention may be taken
by the United States, at a fair compen-
sation, for national defense ana any
public purpose; also that on the Post
master Generals requirement the yes
sells shall carry the mails free of
charge, that one-sixth of the crews
and that when possible repairs be
made in the United States.
Contracts under the third section are
by the fourth provided to be for one
all subventions, however, being limited
to a period of ten years Sections fifth Z
and sixth direct the Postmaster Cen
eral to enter into contracts. for not less
than five nor more than ten years. for
the carrying of mails in steamships
built and registered in the United {
States, between ports of the United
States and foreign ports.
Rates affecting the Pacific Coast are
as follows: Pacific Coast ports, via
to Japan, China and the Phil
ippines, sixteen knots speed, monthly
service, $780, 600; fortnightly $780, 900;
Pacific Coast port to Japan, China and
the Philippines, thirteen knots speed. ,
service, $4,000; fortnightly, /
100000; Pacific Coast port to Mexico,
Central America and the Isthmus of
Panama, twelve knots speed, fort
nightly service, $120. 900.
The tonnage tax on foreign vessels
entered in United States ports is pro-
vided for in section eight, as follows:
That a duty of cents per net ton, ;
not to exceed in the aggregate so cents Y
per net ton in any one year, is hereby
imposed at each entry by sea on all
vessels which shall be entered in any
port of the United States from any Cor
eign port or place in North America, |
Central America, the West India Is
lands, the Bahama Islands, the Ber-
muda Islands, the coast of South .
bordering on the Caribbean {
Sea or Newfoundland; and a duty of
Is cents per net ton, not to exceed in
the aggregate $3.50 per net ton in any
one year. is hereby imposed at each
entry by sea on all vessels which shall ,
be entered in any port of the United :