The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-26
MORTON v|EW'0
MERCHANT MARINE:
Secretary Declares American
Owners and Sailors Must
be Given Equality.
THE OPINION OF OTHERS Err
Usher Says Department Is Dis
posed to Favor Naval!
III Premiums.
THE OPINION OF OTHERS
t.sseid ps,nloossy xa>

t'ssaid psasIoossv 6a)
WASHINGTON, November 25.-The
Merchant Marine Commission. composed
OF five representatives Of each house OF
Congresa, resumed It's session to-day.
The Navy Department was represented
BY secretary Morton, Captain Usher,
Captain Alfred r. Mahan (retilcd), Rear
Admiral Stephen y. Luce (retircd), and
Ecar-Admiral p. F Harrington COM
mandant Of tho navy-nard at Norfolk.
Representing the Postoffcc Department
was w. S. Hallenberger. second assistant
postmaster general.
Representative Parker, OF New Jersey,
spoke briefly, contend.ng that In order
to get Americans to go to sea, better
wages must be offered. and that there
should DO O. graded service with pros.
motion.
Morton Speaks.
Secretary Morton followed. His view
of the relation OF the government TO the
merchant marine in the foreign trade,
was that 1t was simply question OF
competition. It WILL be necessary. no de-
clnrcd. In some way, 10 recognize the
mail contracts, the subsidies, the bon .ses
and the premiums OF Germany, Englad
ad other coutrics. The Amer can owner.
4 OF sca-going crafts and the American
sailor he said. must be given equality
In all respects, II they are not to DO
handicapped BY foreign competition.
Rear-Admiral Luce favored subs d es as
a means OF building UP the merchant
arine al
WI Captain Mnhan said that American ship
ping should be encouraged to como into
existence and to compete withssthc car
rying trade OF the world. He suggested
: that one way to form the nucleus OF a
large. trained naval service would be TO
develop the foreign shipping trade and
after that to reserve It to- American sea-
men.
Rear-Admiral Harrington favored the
building Of steel ships. he said that the
laws pr the United States should be.
changed so as TO permit the merchants
Z OF this country TO run American ships
as cheaply as foreign owners can run
them Just as the controlling principle
In the composition and construction OF the
American navy is determined by the
constitution OF foreign fleets, he ssld
just 50 In commercial rivalry this coun-
try must abandon means which have
failed and seek new Implements which
will meet the measures OF foreign COM
peutors. ia
Naval Premiums.
Captair Usher, speaking for the Bureau
& Of Navigation OF the navy, said that the
Navy Department was not disposed to
/, suggest nay plan which looked to me
encourag ement OF the merchant marine
through subsidies for speed mileage or
n,all-car1ying vessels but was disposed to
favor naval premiums upon ships to be.
built ara which fulfill certain naval re-
quirements.
Eugene n. Chamberlain. commissioner
OF navigation, said that the I'm pos ton OF
G a tIt,1 n lou
result dlsastrously to- tn etrade OF this
country through retaliatory action by
this countries affected.
Mr.. Chamberlain said he favored the
granting OF subsidies as q proposition OF
national defense.
Mr.. ShallGnberger did not believe mail
service act alone would benefit more
than a limited portion OF the American
shipping. There must be some legislative
! action which Will gve to this country the
selection Of at least one line OF steamers
to each OF the principal ports OF the
world, 100 E s5 s.st5S5