New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
e. s. SHIPS IN DANGER.
Failure of Subsidy Bill You'd York
Havoc, Correspondent Says.

HdCOCJ COIItS pOhU6Ht DugS'
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: II IS stated in the Washington press and
teleEraphed throughout the country THAI, though
the Republican majority Of the Merchant Marine
Committee OF the national House IS bringing up the
bll ~ the Merchant Marine Commission 70 con-
slider and report &, Speaker Cannon IS stu op-
posed 20 the measure and IS not likely 10 give any
encouragement TO the proposition f1r its consdara-
ton even II Il should be reported" and Repre-
sentative Tawney. chairman q the Committee on
Appropriations, IS pronounced in hts opposition 70
the bill"
This bill. TO promote the national defence. 20
create a naval reserve % establish American ocean
mail lines 10 foreign markets, and 70 promote
commerce has passed the Senate with an almost
united Republican vote. l. IS the measure that
was framed by President RoosaveIts commission
after inquiry Of nearly TWO years into the con-
dtions of our ocean-csrryi-g trade. Il e a
Spouse 20 The appeals Of Presidents Harrison. Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt and 10 the pledges Of every
Republican national platform since the Civil War.
Il is believed that IL is supported in the House,
It certainly was IN the Senate. by very great
majority OF loyal and consistent Republicans
Now it IS announced with gles by Democratic
newspapers and the champions cf foreign steamship
lines that the Republican Speaker Of the House
and the Republican chairman q the great Com
mittee on Appropriations--both men from the MID
die Western States-have set their faces ALSO
Iuely against this measure and that 1t VIII not get
consideration IN the House even when the Repub-
lican majority Of the committee reports It
Do Speaker Cannon, Chairman Tawney and
Middle Western leaders Ike them realize exactly
what this means? President Roosevelt has fairly
warned Congress and the country OF the conse-
quo1ces % failure Of this long promised shipping
legislation. Even on tho Pacific" he says IN his
message to the present Congress. where our ships
have held their own better than on the Atlantic,
our merchant tag Is now threatened through the
liberal aid bestowed by other governments on their
own steam lines"
Here IS a concrete example: Out of the American
ports Of Seattle and Tacoma, Puget Sound, there
are now running seven new steel built, American
steamships 70 Japan, China and the Philippines.
These ships the best carriers the North
Pacific. Within a few years they have increased
many fold exports to the Orient Of the agri-
cultural products Of the Northwest and the manu-
featured goods Of the entire country Two Of these
ships are owned by the Great Northern Railway.
but the others belong to individual shipOwners.
They all being operated without subsidy.
ceiving only from $500 70 $4,000 in mail pay by
weight for the mails they Out OF the British
port Of Vancouver few miles northward. run three
competing British steamers building up the trade
Of the Canadian Northwest These three British
steamers, very much smaller cargo carriers than
any Of the American ships, receive annually $4,000
fl subsidy from the British government
japanese steamers, which receive a subsidy from
their government Of $4,000 year, besides bounues
OF from S 10 80 ton on their construction.
Under such conditions American competition is
absolutely Impossible. James J. an has declared
build another ship IN the United States and the
yard at New-London where his giant Minnesota
and Dakota were constructed, has never laid an
other deep sea keel. The president of the Ameri-
stated publicly That unless the Republican shipping
Congress he must haul down his dag, quit the
route, lay up his splendid ships or sell them 10
A heavily subsidized japanese company holds a
bat now run o from me ssn Eranc5co to the oent
Another Japanese company is endeavoTtng TO pur-
chase the steamers Of the American line TO Aus
tCalaSla, which, though performing the fastest ana
best service IN the South Pacific receives the small
est mail pay, and is losing two or three hundred
If Speaker Cannon. Chairman Tawney and the
other Middle Western Republicans defeat their
party's shipping bill the American flag Will come
the Pacific Ocean some, II not all Of these YES
sells VIII BE- trs5s5eTTed to other routes ana tAeGe
the comm sroe which American manufacturers, mer-
chants and farmers have been labortously uDbulld-
More than mis- Il this bin Is defeated by Western
without any large deep sea steamers in the Pacific
can interests IN China or the Philippines. Score
tary Taft only a few weeks ago IN a communica-
chant Z MsTne declared that ito strike
the quick blo , OF a IoTce corresponding to CUR
practically all the american shipping Of suitable
character IN Atlantic waters ana more than the
IN report 70 Chairman Gapger has stated that
navy for With sRs f poeT 0o "a not
Of the American merchant marine
Il is inconceivabe that IN the face OF these facts
the President, the Middle Western leaders OF the
Republican party IN the national House deliberately
plan destroy this Republican legislation, and
with It what s left Of American shipping in the for
eign trade-thus effacing our small auxiliary navy
and breaking down our few lines Of communication
with the markets Of the world
Though the Democrats IN Congress almost united
" oppose this shipping bill they would be quick to
turn its defeat against the Republican ad1lnistra
ton and 10 charge the resulting collapse OF our
steam lines and the closing OF our shiDyards TO
Republican InismanaSenent
TO allow this important bin 10 fail would be uu-
considerable laundering the eve Of hard
fought Congressional caInpaign-{og the effect In
the pOpulous Eastern States might easily be tho
losing OF enough Republican seats 70 give the
Democrats control OF the House OF representa-
tives. AARON VANDERBILT.
New-Yorlz. March 10. 1906.