The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-11

Marine Cnn he Made Available In
Time of War.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1o-Prominent
representatives Of American shipping
interests were heard today by the
house committee on merchant marine
and fisheries. relative to the measure
introduced in the senate by Mr.. Han
ma, and In the house by Mr.. Payne
10 promote the commerce and increase
the foreign trade Of the United States
and to provide auxiliary cruisers.
transports and seamen FOR government
use when necessary"
The main feature of the measure is
graded subsidy to American ships.
based on tonnage and service. Among
those present were ex-senator Ed
munds. Of Vermont, who appeared for
the shipping interests; President c. A.
Griscom, Of the International Nayiga-
ton company; Commissioner of Navi-
cation Chamberlain, Edward r. Sher-
wood, secretary of the Philadelphia
Maritime Exchange; Arthur Sewall, of
Maine, and President Hyde, of the
Bath Iron Works.
Mr. Edmunds made the opening
statement, appearing in behalf of ship
builders and ship owners, the great
majority Of them Americans. Foreign
posed to this measure said Mr.. Ed
munds, and 1t was possible. he added.
that some Of the great railroad lines
felt that an increase in the water car
rying trade mitigated against them.
Throughout his twenty-five years of
service in the senate he had sought
to secure some such aid to shipping.
Trade follows the flag, said Mr.. Ed
munds. Once the American ships and
the American flag appeared at any
point In South America or South AZ
rica, or any other place on the globe.
the commercial man and his salesman
followed with his American goods.
Mr.. Edmunds said events of recent
months had shown in particular the
value Of carrying our trade to the far
East. The largest opening for the sur
plus products Of people like our own,
he said, fs in Eastern Asia, above tho
tropics. Below the tropics the people
needed little food, clothing, ETC.. that
We produce. But above the tropics
IN Northern China and Southern Asia,
thickly populated BY industrious and
Intelligent people, forming a vast mar
ket for our products. It was Of the
utmost Importance to our people that
| this market should not be so neglected
| that It would pass under the control
| OF the other producing nations.
| Mr. Handy asked if the lines of for
| eign ships operated by the Standard
OIL company would get the subsidy I'M
DER the proposed act
| Mr. chamberlain. commissioner of
navigation, said the measure was so
framed as to leave out those ships.
| Frederick K. Black, of the Norfolk
& Western railway, stated If this bill
was passed his road expected to es-
| tabhsh a new line Of steamers with
| southern points. This would overcome
| the difficulty his company now ex-
| perienced in getting Virginia coal to
| South American points. The line
| would run as far south as the River
Plate, with side line up the Amazon.
MIR. Firth, representing the Lake
! Carriers association, appeared before
| tho committee. He said his people did
not want the bill applied to them, but
| they did want the laws so improved
| that 1t would be possible to build ships
| In this country and sail them under
| the American flag. Hundreds Of mil
| lions Of dollars are yearly lost to this
| country under the present system. If
ocean steamers built and owned In
this country were carrying this trade,
| the whole country would be benefited.
and the lake vessels would get their
| share. Our merchant marine has been
! disappearing year by year, and unless
| some such compensation as that pro-
vided in the bill Is given to ship own
| ers, American ships will no longer
exist. It is the purpose of the bill, he
| declared, to make ships receiving a
subsidy available In time Of war and
| In making such preparation for war
| there should be no politics.