The Washington times., 1905-01-04
SEA MILITIA AND
MERCHANT MARINE
CREATED BY BILL
Gallinger Presents Re-
port of Commission
in the Senate.
RETAINER FOR SEAMEN
4
Convention for Ships-B6th
Subject to Call Of
President.
RETAINER FOR SEAMEN

The report of the Merchant Marine
Commission was presented in the Senate
this afternoon by its chairman. Mr.. Gal
/ linger.
He requested that TO- goo copies be print
ed for the use of the(SenaSe. Both SEN
ators cockreil and Gorman objected on
the ground that such printing could not
be authorized EXCEPT by special resoiu-
ton.
Mr. Gallinger {aecepted this view and
withdrew his request
me reporT represents the work Of
inquiry in progress since March %.
iso4- representative Grosvenor pre-
sented th9 same report In the House.
1t covers Isl printed pages
i New Kind of Bill.
Whil9 the opposition which arose to
i the Fr6e-Hanna ship-subsidy bill sew
eraI years ago is apt to manifest it
self atgain in some degree. it is thought
that I the comprehensfveness of the
worE done by the commission in an en-
tfref summers labor In all sections Of
thef country will have weight in win
nlzg support for the bill which the
qfmmission has drawn and introduced
M both houses.
| Z The new bill is unlike any shipping
lGegislation heretofore framed. The
1keynote of the new measure is half
I naval. half commercial, as the title i'm
plies:
"A bill to promote the national de-
: fense, to create a force of naval vol
d unteers, to establish American ocean
n mail lines to foreign markets. to pro-
mote commerce. and to provide reve-
nue. from tonnage
4 A Sea Militia.
: In the first paragraph th4 bill creates
/, what the United States now almost alto
: gether lachs-sea militia composed of the
skilled officers and men of American
8 merchart ships and deep-sea fishing yes
:, sels-a force holding the same relation
I to the regular navy that is held toward
: the regular army by the State militia or
It National Guard. Although there is a
s small so-called naval militia now, It's
members are almost entirely !andsmen.
The new force is TO be made up of pro-
fessional sailors capable Of serving in
any sea and Il any cline.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of the
! Navy and the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor to make an enrolment OF
/ I such officers and men fer period OF
three years, within which time they
shall be subject to service, on call OF
the President, in time of war
nj As an inducement to enroll and a
recognition of the peculiar value of an
lable-bodied seaman in the national de-
fense an annual retainer is provided
ranging from 800 for master or chief
engineer of a large steamship TO SO for
Officers and men receiving this retainer
II must serve for al least six months ont
"a iof the year in the foreign trade or deep
: sea fisheries
Resembles British Plan.
Y, This retainer to the searaen CORE
/ spends closely to the similar payment
made by the British government to 30.0oC
), members of the Royal Naval Reserve
If The retainer IS in adition TO the pay
and allowances received by our naval
volunteers while undergoing naval in
. struction according 70 such regulations
q as the Secretary of the Navy may pre-
L scribe.
In order 10 secure this sea militia
P there must be American ships on which
American naval volunteers can earn
their livelihood Therefore section . ol
| the bill provides for naval subVentior
of s. per gross registered tons to eacf
vessel. steam or sail. which is engaged
\ throughout the year in the foreign
L trade OF the deep-sea fisheries; 81 fOl
II nine months. and 1886 for six months
~ The vessels receiving this subventior
are required 10 carry naval volunteer
lin the proportion of at least one-eiehtl
Hpf their crews until July l. 1911: aftel
hat date. one-sixth. and after July /
1Pl6, one-fou-ta.
At Call of President.
1It is provided also that these vessels
ay be taken and used by the United
Rates at any time for the national de
lei nse or for any public purpose; tha
IN by shall carry free Of charge the Unit
cd kStates mails; that they shall maintai,
an efficient rating and that they shal
ma ke all ordinary repairs in the Unit
ed States where adequate dry docks ar
ava liable
vessel shall receive the naval sub
ven ton for a longer period than tel
he rate is Il fixed. even one of 81 ne
gro IS registered ton payable 10 steam
FeSa Rels, regardless OF their speed an,
20 bill vessels whether OF square rig O
icre and aft rig. There is therefore M
chai zee here for favoritism or discrin
Or he reason why the same subyentio,
IS iYen to sail vessels as to steam I
tha4 sail craft are requisite for tn
trsl hing of good seanaen. and are there
fofs of peculiar value to the Govern
Eligible Vessels.
A my vessel of the United States en-
gag ed in the foreign trade or the deep
sea fisheries is eligible TO this nava
sub vention If 1T complies with the re
quid enents as TO the carrying of naya
: volu nteers. etc. This subventlon apple
espe lcially 10 sail vessels and tn
ocea l steam tramp.
70 fast steamers running In regula
lines encouragement Is given by cthe
SectiW aps of the bill which provide Ger
tain mail routes and authorize the Post
(Continued ON Second Page.)