New-York tribune., 1905-01-05

showing that 1903 the light dues collected in the
United Kingdom amounted to $2.74O9SO. while the
expenses Of the British lighthouse establishment
were $249020; in the United States tonnage tax
ceipts in 1903 were Sss5S41 while the expenses Of
the lighthouse establishment were S45SS1O5. 1t IS
not the purpose of the commission. however to
raise through tonnage taxes amount sufficient
to meet the entire cost of the lighthouse establish
meat The commission believes that Sc 100000 is
not unreasonable contribution on the part Of
vessels in the foreign trade toward the mainten-
ance of the national lighthouse. buoy and beacon
system, which, doubtless, will cost about s. 900
this year. Rates proposed In the bill have Keen
adjusted so TO produce that sum as nearly as
may be-
AS to the cost of the proposed legislation the
commission says the average of the annual retain
crJ for officers and Of the naval vount teers
would be close 10 $50 each, and it is probable that
in the first year not than three thousand
naval volunteers could be enrolled and qualified.
As to the subventiOns for the ships themselves the
total registered gross tonnage of United States
stecm ana sail, June 30. 1904. was SSSs2S tons
eligible 70 receive subventions and summarizes the
cost of the proposed legislation exclusive of mail
subventon, from July l. 1905. June So 1906 as
follows:
oo1 Annga! retainers to nagaI vog4tsers 6 600 t5o
II PEST tons at twelve months rate of $ per ton.
AQIS3o0; 10 10000 tons OF square-rlSged sailing yes
sells al nine months of s. per ton 500 0G0: to
1Gr0O0 tons of squarergged sailing vessels at six
gross tons of registered schooners at six months
rate OF $2 30 ton. $75o09; $1,000 of deep
ton S2oG665 Total s. 500 " y pe
The maximum subventions required for the
thorized amount 10 S2665000 Assuming that the few
vice viii be diverted from their present use the
commission estimates that 40 Jot more @ than onefourth
probability be expended on the new mail routes n
rst % Year S rom July j. @ to june 5 1867 tSF fo foT
naval retainers sqgbyentons and mail subventions,
all included. would therefore be:
MsTai & sa6Tensi6ns TSSe5 Ga q9I Of
Total. SSOdo oO0
Through the operation of several large foreign
built vessels as transports, il is declared by the
commission this government is directly and power
fully contributing to the decline Of American mer-
chant shipping on the Pacific Ocean Issue is taken
with the War Department the question as TO
whether q saving to the government has resulted
from the operation in time Of peace Of lines Of
foreign built craft. The report says:
To all the members OF the commission who visited
the Pacific Coast this procedure Of the War Depart
true that in his recent annual report the Quarter
sS9s Ss for the transport service as compared with
the rates which commercial steamers would have
SasheF due Fadleai di6aTsh:s e Boo6ssPag
and the Quartermaster's Department.
Discontinuance OF the transport service
measure OF economy and sure and acceptable en-
couragement TO American trade and navigation
the Pacific Ocean IS urged by the commission.
IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED.
In closing the commission urges the need OF i'm
mediate relief for the American merchant marine.
saying:
If the passage Of the legislation proposed by the
commission IS postponed 10 the next session or
Congress. a condition already desperate VIII nave
become still more desperate The time 70 act Is
now The commission has prepared a conservative
measure aiming TO achieve its purpose at a mimi
mum cost. fair to all sections and interests, and
directed especially 10 the strengthening or the na-
lional defence and tho extension OF American COM
merce 10 new and distant markets. The comu1s-
sion can reason why a cautious measure or
this kind making large immediate draft upon
the national revenues. cannot be passed az the
present session OF Congress-
With an possible emphasis. therefore. the COM
mission recommends that the bill which will be
reDorted from the commission and introduced into
Inc two houses of Congress. be taken up promptly.
and after reasonable debate advanced 70 enact
ment.
Between FrieRds.-Tom-Mss Dimpleton gave me