The San Francisco call., 1903-12-29
COMMERCE WITHOUT STRIFE.

7 Asst June the Maritime Association of the port of
| New York appointed a committee investigate
- the decline of American shipping in the foreign
carrying trade of the country report upon best
means of promoting the industry The committee has
submitted its report the President and the facts
disclosed show condition of affairs by no means
credabe to either patriotism reputation
for business sagacity
The facts disclosed by the investigation are briefly
summarized thus: We find that despite the quadruping
of foreign tonnage under register has
declined from 24o6S94 tons in 1861 873235 in
1902, and that while American vessels carried 72I per
cent of exports in 1861 they carried but GO per
in 1902"
The extent to which shipbuildng industry has
declined by of the sweeping of our merchant
marine from the deep may be estimated the
statement in the report of the committee that the nves
tigation undertaken "at time when American
ship building is in of unprecedented stagnation
when not single steamship has been contracted
for in American shipyard for nearly three years"
The report goes to say:
I'VE find that American vessels engaging in our ocean
trade to-day compelled meet a more serious and
destructive competition than before largely
through the vast subsidies and bountes that foreign
Governments paying to their merchant ships
We realize that the purposes for which these subsidies
and bountes paid to their merchant ships by foreign
Governments chiefly military order that there shall
be available auxiliary cruisers scouts transports col
ers, supply ships and such other vessels with their
trained and experienced officers and men, as are essen
al to the of the Government in time of war. And
further realize that the unprecedentedy low freight
rates resulting from these subsidies and bounes re-
ceved by foreign merchant ships render successful and
profitable competition the part of unprotected vessels
built in the United States and ohcered and manned by
citizens absolutely impossible"
Referring to President Rooseve1ts recommendation
that the Secretary of the Navy the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor and the Postmaster General be in
n a,,tbo
investigate ways and for promoting our merchant
marine the committee recalls the interesting fact that
under the administration of Washington Congress asked
that Jefferson, who then Secretary of State prepare
report the privileges and restrictions of the com
of the United States The report made by Jef-
situation to-day. Among other things he said:
"If particular nations grasp at undue shares of our
commerce, and more especially if they seize on the
of the United States them into aiment
for their strength and withdraw them entirely from
the support of those to whom they belong defensive
and protective become necessary the part
of the nation whose maritime resources are thus in
vaded, it will be dsarmed of its deense its produc-
tons will be at the mercy of the nation which has pos
essed itself exclusively of the of carrying them
and its policies will be influenced by those who com
mand its commerce If lose the seamen and artists
whom it employs lose the present means of
marine defense and time will be requisite to raise ND
others when disgrace and losses shall bring home to our
feelings the disgrace of having abandoned them"
Jefferson is renowned among of his time as far
sighted statesman. More clearly than any one else of
high station he foresaw the coming greatness of the
Union and the difficulties that would perplex its people
Rarely, however he far-sighted than when he
those words Indeed they appear almost like
a prophecy Our commerce has been made to serve as
the support of the merchant marine of other nations
who have grasped at undue shares of commerce We
have country deprived of the merchant fleets
that should be rightly counted among its maritime de-
fenses The situation is such to call for the mme-
diate earnest attention of Congress and the matter
should be taken up at the present session.