Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-25
DIR SHIPPING.
lanes J. Hill Gives Idea OF
Remedial Legislation.
Strongly in Favor Ofwhat Might Be
Called Export Bounty
M r seual CT Bath Has No Faith in
Free Ships. 49,.

liicnt Of the Northern securities
.,d of the Great Northern Rail
,nncarcd, this afternoon. as
.oss before the Merchant Marine
l..a,,ission. the joint congressional
,,,ittce. which is investigating the
o,,scs Of the decline of American ship
ling in order to suggest measures for
,cmcdial legislation.
.Thn first thing necessary" said Mr..
rIiIv lis to create a desire in the people
If this country to own ships. If there
&c = profit in it, people will engage in
II If 4 loss, it is Il question how long
people will stick.
Il have been in the transportation
tueInrss AL my life. Our conditions on
th. high seas, as a nation, seem hard
70 meet. on land, in spite of high
rates of labor, the United States has
been able to work out system with
out an equal.
WHY we are not able to do this on
the high seas, is not clear to me ana
believe that no amount of direct DO
muses. will build it into life worth
living.
Il have had experience in building
two ships-the largest freight carriers
in the world-and | don't want any
,orc | would rather undertake 10
build 1000 miles Of railway than two
ships. 1t has taken four years instead
Of two, what through strikes and other
delays.
our business on the Pacific coast
is very hard; we have to compete with
al nations and they are lighting very
hard for The Oriental trade.
Il don't think you'll make much Of
Il success of buying Il merchant ma
Giic; it won't stay with you You must
ret people interested, but there does
not seem to be much disposition on the
part Of the people to 20 into shipping.
Il hope our ships will get along; but
they are really IN incident to our rail-
read interests. 50 as to dispose of the
surplus product raised along our lines.
If any one would take the ships off
our hands ana operate them we should
I've glad"
doesn't England pay subsidies"
asked Senator Lodge.
Only postal; none at all to her
traiups"
Ir answer to question of Repre-
sentative McDcrmott. Mr. Hill said
that his two big ships cost IS To 80 per
'cut. more to build here than abroad.
a,l'ling: "Rcsidcs, we have very few
sailors even on pleasure ships" ~
Mr.. MrDcrrnctt pressed the question
Of governmental aid 49, t.a
"i;ut Is the government able to go
far cnough?" asked Mr.. IfILfs.
lie said he lived in Minnesota. about
aS far froll the sci as lie could. II
in. h. fn In
section. competing with SO cert labor
Of IN" Argentine. to compel him to
:!,nf" his burden.
ii y,U will admit foreign ships
free" continued Mr.. IIill. you will get
a merchant marin" quickly.
How are we going to get back a
i1rrChant H.arnc"" asked Mr.. McDcr-
n,uti.
Il will tell you my own views. If
you are willing to put Il tonnage tax
on al thlt goes to Il foreign market,
'trrythinE that went out of the coun
i'N. even to Few markets, | think you
would get the SHIPS
Then your remedy" asked Mr.. Nc
l'rrm"u. is an export bounty"
Yes; that is it,"
You seem to he very -pcSsimistic
oyer the outlook" said Senator CALM
ser.
That is because have looked at it
from a purely business standpoint. !
built those two ships simply as Il reg
ul1;"r to try the experiment.
There arc only two courses open:
"itl'"r IN export bounty or government
assistance which would rise into very
large figures
Then you are convinced that We
snail have to give some sort of gov
crntncnt aid or go out Of busincss?"
asked Senator Lodge
Exactly. If you fix limit of 10
Nc3rs an the subsidies the favored
party must ndkc the cost of his plant
IN 10 years. otherwise we will Sc 1t
To tn" other fellow"
How much do you think would he
required for subsidy" asked Senator
Mallory
oh. about $40. 600. 900 or $4,000 900
would get 4 lot of tonnage. You might
tAfe II out of the river and harbor bill.
hut tell You the great big navigation
Is SrinG to be on steel rails.
Harvey &. talkins of this city. a
mHmh'r "f tn" 41st Congress- tho sur
WING member of Il committees of tn"
ti"uS" which investigated the same
subject told the commission that in
MS opinion. the best action that could
"e taken To pass tho ship subsidy bill.
WA. .. !'ewall, representing the firm
=" Arthur Scwall Il Co. of Bath. Nc.
winch HIS built some of the largest
E'h carrying ships in the world Tor
'l'' foreign trade. said that his yard
Nhl' N was established in 1923 has been
,'S'd during the past year because OF
uuiih"Ss in the shiphuilding industry
4 ne Slid he had no faith in free ships
u ,'''' SUI an idea is Il distinctly I'M
American measure. Discriminating
,u''h he did not favor entirely. Son. >
''il granting bounty on the basis of
'ii!'Ge am! capacity with some mail
Subsidy will loo tho host fnr,,,