The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-24
MERCHANT MARINE.
Commission Listens to Opinions from
All Classes

New York May Z3.-The Merchant
marine commission. authorized by the
sfifty-eighth congress to consider and rec
ommend legislation for the development
OF the American merchant marine began
'sts session here today Senator Calm
ger of New Hampshire, is chairman of
the committee which is composed of men,
bers of both branches of congress. Invi-
tations had been sent to the chief ship
owners and builders of that port, to
marine engineers and even to the sailor
before the mast to appear before the
commission.
Senator Gallinger in opening the inquiry
pointed out that more than 80 per cent
of the foreign commerce of this country
is being carried in foreign ships and said
the commission will be fortunate if the
discussion here and elsewhere sheds such
light on the subject as will enable it to
recommend to congress legislation of a
remedial character Thomas Clyde of the
Clyde line, the first witness called. strong
ly advocated ship subsidy After deep
study of the problem he was convinced
that this was the best course to pursue.
He presented a chart showing the stand
ard OF the chief maritime nations of the
world. The United States stands at the
bottom. All the nations. he said. have
given aid of some sort to natural con-
ditions
Mr. Clyde said the United States must
pay the builders the difference in cost
of building and also enough TO enable
them TO operate the ships on account of
the much higher rate paid sailors under
the American flag.
c. B. Orcutt. president of the Newport
News Shipbuilding company, told the
commission that ships can be built in
England for 75 per cent less than they
can be built here The cause of this
difference, he asserted, was that 75 per
cent more is paid for labor in the yards
of this country than in Great Britain and
Mt the same time there is forty per cent
IN the cost of material in favor of the
English builders He said the protective
tariff was responsible for the difference
of cast in material In later statement,
however he corrected his estimate to
from 40 to- so per cent
Mr.. Orcutt said that while a few battle
ships had been built in American yards
for foreign countries. he was of the opin-
ion that they were not built at profit.
Lewis Nixon said builders in this coun-
try had been constructing too good ships
for American use. There is no demand
for the English tramp type of vessel in
this country. He said the cost of the
building here was greater than in Eng
land
Suppose you should take the duty off
all shipbuiding materials, do you think
that would be of zeneft? asked Senator
Lodge
You would have to take the tariff off
everything, because everything goes into
a ship. If We had free material and free
ships We should have TO have free labor,
too. bcause you recognize that labor is
protected as we'll
He said that foreig countries pay $26.-
900 in bounties Mr. Nixon was in
favor of diferential duties. "a
Rear Admiral Bowles. president of the
Fore river shipbunding company OF
Quincy. Mass. said that the only advan-
tage we have over English and Scotch
builders is in wood very little of which
is used in cargo carriers Steel plates
here are - per cent higher. The wages
here exceed thos il English yards by
from 80 10 60 pr cent.
'On July ], of last year. he continued.
81 made a list of the battleships and ar
mored cruisers building in this country
and England To my surprise l found
that the cost was the same here as in
England. Why? Ii the American builder
bid In a business way this would be i'm
possible. But there IS cut throat compe
htion 10 get the contracts for battleships.
There is not battleship building at a
price which the builder can afford"
Admiral Bowles said there are several
ways to set merchant marine and sug-
gestcd absolute free trade rs one of them
How about the cost Of labor?" asked
Senator Gsliger.
Labor" rejoined Admiral BowIes: 1T
Ia a horrid thought"
American labor would have to come
aown. Senator Lodge answered for Ad-
riral Bowles