Speech #500148371

So far as it will have that effect. that. of course. is a good argument. but so far as the strengthening of the naval power of this country is concerned. I believe every vote. every action of mine has shown that I am disposed to do whatever can be done to give us an efficient Navy and to give us useful. and active. and experienced. and trained seamen. and to that end during the last session of Congress. on account of representations made from the fishing interest of our northeastern coast. which the Senate will doubtless remember. I proposed the following in a bill which was referred to the Committee on Commerce: That from and after three months from the passage of this act the officers and at least threefourths of the crews of any merchant vessel belonging to citizens of the United States engaged in the transportation of merchandise or passengers. or both. to or from any foreign country or between the States. and all fishing vessels owned by citizens of the United States and engaged in fishingin waters outside of the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. and all whaling vessels belonging to citizens of the United States and pursuing their vocation in waters outside of the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. shall be either nativeborn or -naturalized citizens of the United States: Provided. That this act shall only apply to whaling vessels which leave the ports of the United States after its passage. I introduced that bill for the purpose of training American seamen and to stop the process of American capital training Canadian seamen. and I did it because of representations coming from those interested in American seamen. If we really desire to train American seamen in the business of fishing. let us adopt provisions that require the owners of these vessels to put at least threefourths of Americans. either naturalized or native. on board. That would go far to meet the case. and would be of infinitely more advantage in improving the naval school and giving seafaring employment to our people than anything contained in the provisions of this bill will do. So it seems to me that on fair consideration the amendment offered by the Senator from Kansas ought to be adopted. and when adopted that we ought also to go back to paragraph 267 and strike out all after the word "pickled." That will make the bill in this respect fair and just.