The sun., 1900-12-22
ENGLAND HURT ON THE SEA,
so CHARLES II. CRAMP DECLARES TO
THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
He Says Now Is Americas Opportunity to Re-
store Her Merchant Marine -Boer War Has
Dealt Ensland's shipping u Great Blow
Germany Has Jumped In Room for Us.

PHILADELPHIA. Dec 81 Charles II Cramp.
President Of the Cramp Ship Building Com
pany testified to-day before the United states
Industrial Commission. which for several days
has been taking testimony at the Manutac-
turcr's Club. MIR. Cramp gave n review OF the
shipping industry Of this country and l>
present condition He favored the pas
sage Of the Hanna subsidy bill saying That
now was the opportunity for the nlted
States to take hold and compete for the trade
which Great Britain had lost through the
war with the Beers, In reply To n query
Of Mr. kennedy, MIR. Cramp made emphatic
denial Of the story from London. England.
that his firm. with the Midyale Steel COM
pany had sold out TO TIE \ickersMayim
Company. lie read In this connection his
statement issued several days ago,
Speaking of the Ship Subsidy bill Mr.. Cramp
said that he was sure that the great steam
ship companies of Europe are sending enor-
nous sums OF money here to defeat the meas
ure now pending In Congress. Other oppo-
sition TO the bill. he said was being fostered
by the transcontnentsl railroad companies.
The Western railro ads are the greatest
looters of the public treasury this country
has ever h ad TO contend with" he said. Their
land grants were grabs. and now for fear
that the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad may benefit
by the subsidy they are opposing IL in every
manner possible because they are not pro-
vded Tor IN II.
1t is the opinion OF Mr. Cramp that the
American merchant marine cannot be re-
habilitated without subsidies He had been
on mary committees to suggest remedy
for the decadsnce Of the ship ing trade Of
the country. and many reports have been
made but nothing done, He said the big
vessels were not the only ones that would be
carriers were provided for lie was also of
the opinion that limited number Of foreign
controlled vessels. il built in American ship
yards. should be admitted TO American register
free
MIR Cramr condemned the competitive
mernSant merSSa 9' Slippers fhsre % said
foolish competition in Great Britain. Tie
men who can build boats are known End they
he paws the price: II he does not pay the price
he, does not get the boat That plan will be
1ollowed hd by our sn bnn IN ~ ,b
70 be awarded to the lowest bidder There
il no use competing with bicycle maker or
any other man who thinks he can build
How about Government contracts'' asked
oh that's different" replied Mr. Cramp.
The wards in the world that are equipped
10 build first class battleship can be counted
Sa have the earnsd nsGT that al to bd
boat Il an expensive operation and one ex-
pcrience Is usually enou gh for them"
In reply 10 question Mr. Cramp said II
cost more to build ship in the I nited states
than in Europe. but that after IL was built il
was better structure than the foreign made
vessel Mr.. Cramp said that Germany was
in control Of the greater par OF the commerce
Of the North Atlantic This he attributed
to the Boer wal. which he said was tho greatest
disturber of interoccanic transportation In
the history Of the world
Emperor william" he said. "is quick to
take advantage Of n nations weakness when
IL will advance Germany's interests, and
when he saw Great Britain rohhing her mer-
chant fleets TO send To South Africa as trans
ports and coiers he stepped into the gap
and supplied the vessels for commerce. IL
Is a mistake to use merchantmen for trans
ports and colliers When these vessels can
be returned To their former use they will
be out Of date. their type is rapidly becon1-
ing obsolete and their value will be chiefly
as coasters
1T is now Americas chance to build up
a merchant marine and commerce of the
seas. OF course England will always have
10 be considered in maritime ahairs. but
America is just beginning 10 realize its op-
portunity. In q short time both England
and Germany will have to come to the United
States for their raw material TO build ships,
and in that sense America VIII then be a
controlling factor in the shipping Of the
world