The National tribune., 1907-01-31
SAILING SHIPS
TO The FRONT.
The Owners and Masters Of the Wovea
Winged freighters Demand Considers
ton by Congress.

The sailing ships and their owners
are kicking up lot Of fuss before Con.
gress. It has been often said II was
the big shipping combines that could
come down to Washington and mako
Congress and the high officials take no.
tice. Be that as it may, the humble
sailing ships, all the way from Maine
down to New York, are being heard
from powerfully.
Many sailing ships are in an organ.
iZatfon known as the Atlantic Carriers
Association. Its President is Mr.. F. 8.
Pendleton, of Belfast, Me-, and New
York City; its Secretary is Mr.. e. 8.
Plummer, of Bath. Me. They have often
been in Washington urging ship sub.
sidy legislation, but now they are going
for the pending House bill hammer and
tongs. Mr.. Pendleton says the present
bill is intended solely to benefit the big
shipping magnates, and that Maine SAIL
ing vessels. as we'll as sailing vessels
elsewhere in the United States. which
must be counted upon to carry cargoeS
il our trade is to be developed, would
receive not penny. These representa-
tives of sailing vessels are exceedingly
active at the Capitol. and are conduct
ing an aggressive campaign. They be.
lieve they may be able to beat the SUBJ
sidy bill. While by no means everyone
from New England at the Capitol agrees
with all that these representatives say
of the situation, there IS not the slight
est doubt about their creating lot Of
interest in the shipping situation. It
seemed incredible that two young Yam
KEGS could make so much trouble for
the big wigs among the lawmakers.
The plan il 10 get some kind of
Ship Subsidy Till thru the House of
Representatives, and when it reaches
conference to frame up a compromise
by which the cargo-carrying ships can
hannff, np hn nCtfro
The sailing vessels have had a precari-
Gus existence for the last Is or 20 years.
as many members Of Congress have
come to realize and there is general
disposition to encourage them with sub.
sides If way cr.n be found to do IL
that will not arouse the opposition Of
the Middle Westerners.
The kind of talk Mr.. Pendleton and
Mr.. Plummer are making here is Illus
trated by statement from Mr.. Plum
mer in the following language:
ut Is plain" he says. why the ship
subsidy Congressman refrained from
pushing the so-called Subsidy bill prior
main provisions of the House bill are
simply and purely gift to great
steamship lines, which have been doing
business for years. Take the Pacific
Mail-a line which since 1902 and be-
fore this shipping bill was proposed has
built four of the largest-sized ocean
steamers and is now operating them.
This line is to be a beneficiary to the
extent of 100000 a year, and, with the
two 16-knot steamers now building, can
do all that the law requires without an
additional ship.
"The Spreckles line Is similarly sit
uated, and, as in the case of the Pacific
Mail, the speed requirements appear to
have been accurately fitted to the ves-
sells this company now has. Thus the
Hill, Hartman, Spreckles combination
would secure by the terms of the House
bill a 10-years' contract for their ves-
sells, and since they have a working
agreement with the Japanese line, are
insured against effective competition.
because no unaided ships can undertake
to compete with them. And the people
of the United States are to pay the mil
lions required for this insurance, with
out a single necessary addition to our
naval reserve or transport fleet.
''The Atlantic branch of the bill IS
essentially the same. To give the much
advertised Brazil and Argentine service
but four or five vessels are required for
the monthly schedule and total of but
nine vessels for a fortnightly service to
those two countries. There again 1t is
to be observed that the speed require
ments of 16 knots, prescribed by tho
House bill, nicely fit certain vessels now
operated or being built for the Morse
Steamship Trust. which will De able 70
furnish not only the 16 but II and 1S-
knot steamers when the next move in
this Treasury raid is made. and the
Government is asked to increase the
subsidies in order to secure faster SER
vice on the ground that European COM
petition has made this necessary-ex-
actly as was done in the case of the
Collins line. Yet these subsidy hunters
have so misrepresented the situation to
the President that he has put himself
on record in favor of this bill as a meas
ure that will give a great increase in
the number Of American steamers
available for transports"