The sun., 1904-12-17
The Plan for Upbuilding Our Mer-
chant Marine.

1t may be remembered that President
ROOSEVELT in the annual message sent
TO the Fifty-eighth Congress in Decem-
Ter, 1908, directed attention to the alarm
ing decline OF our mercantile marine, and
urged the creation Of commission for
the purpose of investigating and repors-
ing to the Congress at its next session
what legislation is needed for the revival
of the American merchant navy. All
sections of the country are represented
on the Commission, which was appointed
on April %, 1901, in pursuance Of the
Presidents recommendation. and which,
by the way. consists OF six Republicans
and four Democrats. There probably
has never been more ey haustive inquiry
than was made by this Commission dur
ing the summer, and the conclusions at
which they have arrived have been en-
bodied in bill which, according to our
Washington correspondent, is likely to
&c reported before the holidays.
This project differs materially from
that set forth in the Hanna-Frye bill,
which failed Ito become law. In the
first place, II offers no premium for speed,
the aim being to stimulate the construc-
tion of cargo carriers rather than OF
ocean greyhounds. In this particular
the trainers Of the measure are following
the Presidents advice, who in the mes
sage to which we have referred expressed
the opinion that lines Of cargo ships would
prove of even more utility than fast mail
lines, except 80 far as the latter could be
depended on to furnish swift auxiliary
cruisers in time of war. He added that
the establishment OF new lines Of cargo
ships to South America and Asia would
signaly promote the expansion Of our
commerce. Keeping in view the Presi-
dents suggestion about cargo carriers.
the Commission has provided bounties
for sailing vessels as well as steamships.
four cents per ton per year being payable
to the former and FIVE cents TO the latter.
1t is TO he noted. in the second place,
that one OF the main purposes kept in
mind by the Commission was to avoid
imposing any direct tax upon the Treas
ury In order to meet the expenditures
authorized by the bill. To that end 1t |.
provided that the sums appropriated
shall be secured partly by diverting
profits accruing from foreign mail car
rage, which now amount to about $780,
600, and partly by increasing the tonnage
tax and port charges levied on foreign
ships 1t is computed that about three
million dollars year will be procurable
in this second way, although the new
port charges recommended are lower
than those Of France and other maritime
Powers and but slightly higher thar
those of Great Britain.
A very important feature OF this bill
is a provision for the establishment OF q
naval reserve, certain proportion oi
q which must be carried on American
vessels engaged in foreign trade. As In
ducements to enter this reserve. every
superior officer serving therein is to bt
paid from $50 to 500 per year, while
minor officers will receive from $50 to so
and able bodied seamen SIS per year
1t Is by the creation OF this naval reserv'
and by the other incentives to tn
rebuilding Of our merchant marine tina
the Commission hopes to revive tina
sea habit" which before the civil wa
We possessed in such a phenomena
degree, but which, were it not for ou
lake, river and coastwise commerce, woult
now be almost extinct.
The secretary Of the Commission, Mr.
W. L. MARVIN. lately pointed out in tn
Rspier OF Rep,evs what q priceless pos
lesson in timp Of need is that virile quail
Unknown as the sea habit Never sino
France and England fought for martini