The San Francisco call., 1899-08-24
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COMMUNICATIONS
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AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING.

ITO the Editor of The Call-Sir: The
article in this mornings issue of your
valuable paper anent the Hanna
Payne shipping bill, and the state
ments attributed to the Commissioner of
Navigation should demonstrate to the
most casual observer that this bill is not
the bugaboo its preiudced and unthnk-
ing opponents would have the public be-
lieve ii to be. That the controlling prln-
ciples OF the measure are laid along cor
rect lines cannot be successfully denied.
The capitalist. the farmer, the mechanic,
artisan and laborer, in fact all classes Of
citizens in the United States are directly
affected by the progress or otherwise of
our shipping industry. The skeplc may
ask why all classes are thus affected,
but if he stopped TO think for moment
the answer would dawn upon him. We
are a great producing nation. we feed the
hungry Of other nations with our farm
products, and we are crowding the
markets of the world with our surplus
manufactures, and yet while this is ad-
mittedly true, nearly all our export trade
is carried in foreign bottoms and always
will be while we pursue our present
course. We are thus finding profitable
employment for the capital and labor of
other countries TO the exclusion and
shameless neglect of our own.
of our laws or the genius of our people
as a progressive commercial nation.
While We are quick and enterprising in
most things, yet in this one instance We
are sadly lacking, Notwithstanding the
object lesson taught US by the great com
mercial nations Of the world, who for
years have given substantial encourage
ment TO their merchant marine. Too long
have our shipping interests been cruelty
neglected. No other interest or industry
has been permitted to languish and al
n g
sistance which has been accorded to other
industries of infinitely less Importance.
The argument that American pluck and
enterprise are equal to any and al
emergencies wille not suffice. Private
enterprise, be it ever so energetic and
willing, cannot successfully compete IN
carrying freight and passengers with
heavily subsidized lines.
Thus it is that the American ship
builder is forced 10 retire. 1t is foolish
and unreasonable to expect men to build
and man vessels and run them at a loss
as they certainly are when brought into
active competition with the government
assisted vessels of other nations.
No more just or meritoriouS measure
than the Hanna-Payne bill has engaged
the attention Of Congress during the past
twenty-five years. The passage of this
bill means the profitable employment of
both capital and labor. 1t will give an
unprecedented impetus to one of our most
important but sadly neglected industries.
1t will cheaper ocean fares and freights,
and re-establish our flag and long lost
prestige on the seas as great and grow
ing commercial nation. II Will thrill the
heart Of ever American who goes abroad
to see the flag of his country proudly
floating in the breeze, waving its pro-
tecting folds from many mastheads in
the ports of the world.
AS we are undoubtedly going to have
magnificent navy, a splendid and efficient
merchant marine is the best possible re-
cruiting ground from which to obtain
man-o war smen. No amount of spe
cious argument can wipe out this fact.
England depends upon her merchant yes
sells to supply her navy with trained and
competent sailors, but we cannot offer
such essentials to our navy except we