Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-24
/
TALKED SHIPS AGAIN
Marine Commission Meets
Again Today.
CAUSES OF DECLINE
BATH YARDS CLOSED ON ACCOUNT
OF A SLUMP.
w. G. Sewall Has No Faith In "Free
Ships"-Proceedings Yes
terday Afternoon.
CAUSES OF DECLINE

NEW YORK, May 24-The merchant ma
rine commission appointed by the last Con-
gress to inquire into the causes of the de-
cline Of American shipping and suggest
remedial measures as a basis OF legislation
continued its hearing today.
william @. Sewall, representing the firm
of Arthur Sewall & Co. of Bath, Me-, which
has built some of the largest sail cargo-car-
rying ships in the world for the foreign
trade. said that his yard, which was es-
tablished in 1928. has been closed during
the last year because of dullness in the
shipbuilding industry.
He said he had no faith In free ships
that It is a distinctly un-American meas
ure Discriminating duties he did not favor
entirely Some bill granting bounty on
the basis of mileage and capacity with
some mail subsidy would be the best form.
It must, however, be liberal. he said.
Standardization Is not the only trouble.
continued Mr.. Sewall. Labor and material
are even greater factors in increased cost.
A merchant marine would open up the
markets of the world and secure the trans
portation of our products to our benefit
There are only few OF US left, SAID
Mr. Sewall, "and IL we are going TO keep
our yards open we must have government
assistance.
Mr.. Sewall made strong plea for the
sailing vessel which trains competent men
for the merchant marine. He SAID tnat ms
company has great difficulty in securing
officers for their ships.
Cheaper Building In England.
Yesterday afternoon C. B. circuit, presi-
dent OF the Newport News shipbuilding
Company, told the commission that ships
can be built In England for % per cent
less than they can be built here. The cause
of this difference, he asserted. was that 80
per cent more wages was paid In the yards
Of this country than In Great Britain. ana
at the same time there Is 40 per cent In
the cost of material in favor of the Enghsn
builders. He said. the protective tarin was
responsible for the difference In cost OF
material. In later statement, however,
he corrected his estimate to from 40 to %
per cent. Mr.. circuit said that while few
battle ships had been built in American
yards for foreign countries, he was OF the
He knew that American builders made ten
ders to both Russia and Japan, but al
though the bids were almost down to cost
they were rejected absolutely as too high
Otto Parsons. secretary of the Seaman's
Union told the commission that more than
600 barges and 167 lives were lost In 19O5
In the lakes and along the Atlantic coast.
He urged that these barges be rugged and
more competent seamen employed.
Cost Greater Here.
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 build
ing here was greater than in England.
Suppose you should take the duty of
all sbipbuildings materials, do you think
that would be of benefit?' 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 because you recognize that labor Is
protected as WELL"
He said that foreign countries pay $685.
100000 in bounttes.
Mr.. Nixon was In favor of differential
duties. This. to his mind would make
demand for American ships, because
through differentials. foreigners, as well as
ourselves. would be induced to ship in
Rear Admiral Bowles, president of the
Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Of
Quincy. Mass. said that the only advantage
we have over English and Scotch builders
is in wood, very little of which Is used In
cargo carriers. Steel plates here are 80
per cent higher. The wages here exceed
those In English yards by from 30 to 60
per cent.
ION July 1 Of last year." he continued.
II made list Of the battle ships and
armored cruisers building In this country
and England. To my surprise. I found that
the cost was the same here as in England
Why? II the American builder bid in q
business way this would be impossible. But
there has been cut-throat competition to get
the contracts for battle ships. There is not
battle ship building at a price where the
builders can afford. In the English yards
the ships are built at the same price as
In the navy yards"
Free Trade as Remedy.
Admiral Bowfes said there are several
ways to get a merchant marine and sug-
gested absolute free trade as one Of them.
How about the cost of laborr' asked
Senator Gallinger.
Labor reJoined Admiral Bowles. Its
a horrid thought
American labor would have to come
down." Senator Lodge answered for Ad-
miral Bowles.
Representative McDermott asked IL II IL
not fact that the price of steel rails
is absolutely maintained by the steel pool.
and the admiral replied:
II believe 1t Is So"
Admiral Bowles continued: IT believe
that 1t Is worth while to have a merchant
marine. and the cheapest and most direct
way to get It would be for the govern
ment to step in and eQuallze the cost Of
building ships, and then II should pay
bounty to the ship owner for the additional
cost of running the ships under American
laws This should operate for fixed period
SO that capital might be invited IN"
j. F. Craig of Toledo, Ohio western shin
builder. said that IL Congress gives the
shipbuilder something in the way OF SUBJ
sidies within ten years American builders
VIII be constructing ships for England