The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10
The Need and the Remedy.

ne Need ana the kennedy.
The Post-Intelligencer lays before it's
readers this morning the facts present
ed by the house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries. In recommending
the amended shipping bill, together with
complete summary of the provisions
OF that important measure. 1t Is Of such
great interest to the commerce of this
section as to warrant the space II oc-
cupies. The public mind Is full of the
terms OF the original or senate BILL and
OF the criticisms that were offered upon
Il Justly. 1t Is important to note the
changes which have made this substan-
TALLY a new measure and conformed it
to the national need.
The necessity OF some legislation TO
build up our merchant marine Is seen
on the face OF the statistics. The sail
tonnage of all nations has declined, with
the substitution of steam as a motive
power Thi. change is Inevitable where
commerce demands speed and certainty
In transportation. But the steam ton
mage Of the United states shows a
growth of but 6s per cent. In the last
twenty years. while Great Brit
ain has increased 81 per cent, France
200. Germany 69s and Russia 430 "Our
own share of our own carrying trade
has diminished from eel per cent. 20
SO per cent. in the last quarter OF a
| century" our average construction OF
ocean steamships, most OF them for the
coasting trade only. has been Fl 900 tons
per year for the last ten years. while
that OF Great Britain has averaged seS.-
oOc tons FOR the same period.
This is explained by the great differ
ence In cost OF construction and Of OPP
Grafton In this country as compared with
/ others However much American cap
| ital may wish 20 so into this occupa-
| uon, It must consider the business prop
| osItion. It must face a compel ltlon
| which has been thus far too severe 70
be met successfully. Cost OF construe-
| ton In Great Britain Is from 20 70 IS
| Per cent less than In the United states.
/ and other foreign countries have stul
! grea ter advantage. Cost OF operation Is
shown by carefully compiled statistics
/ so be from 20 10 - per cent. greater IN
/ der the American flag This is an In
/ equality ot conditions that must be rem
/ cdled before We eau hope o. control any
considerable share not merely OF the
! worlds carrying trade. bat u our own.
/ The oNl which has been framed to ac-
complsh this purpose. 10 add 70 tho
/ American merchant marine. 20 enable
ships Go b. operated without loss and 70
/ assure the government u an ample ra-
/ source % naval auxiliary cruisers and
/ transports in case q war considers the
I requirements and the claims of an Soc
tlons It appyoprlatss in the aggregate
/ S)ot0.ooo a year for twenty years. 10 Do
I distributed as subsidy for the encour-
asemeut 81 commerce and the promo
I ton OK shjpbuudlng. OF this total 80 Fer
/ Gent. is assigned 10 the Pacific trade.
SO that NOT less than s2.1oo 5o3 win be
! expended for the direct beneat OF the
carrying trade between Paclnc ports
and Che orient This is the feature q
I most interest to our people
We have not space 70 comment at
,g,wth ttr,r, tina humorous ,,rf,t5lst ,-,. s
the bill, which can be studied as they
are summarized in our news columns.
The subsidy is apportioued upon a slid
the scale according to speed ana ton