The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-01-23
WANT SHIP
SUBSIDY
Eastern Trade Bodies Want UO-
Gle Sans Money 10 EStab-
fish Merchant Marine

Washington, ID, q" Jan ga
merchant marine credltable to the
nation Is demanded in resolution
presented By score OF leading COM
merclal bodies today to The National
Board Of Trade, which Is holding its
thirty-eighth annual meeting In
Washington. The resolutions de-
indifference OF past congresses to
nounce as unpatrIotIc the apparent
what is termed the crying need OF
the hour"
1t Is declared that the stars and
Stripes Is banner now almost un-
known on the high seas and that the
American merchant marine has all
but disappeb sed The fact is point
ed out that the government was
compelled to charter vessels flying
foreign flags to transport fuel and
supplies for the use OF Admiral Ev-
ans fleet on Its cruise to the Pa
ciflc. on this subject the resolution
declares.
While we refrain from urging the
adoption OF any specific plan for re-
storing the American merchant ma
rlne. We believe that the necessity
OF depending upon the Golfers and
other auxlllaries OF other nations In
the cruise OF the American fleet to
the Pacific Is humilating to the
American people and invites disas-
ter, and We most earnestly urge up
on congress tho great importance of
Immediately adopting measures
which will Insure the sailing under
the American flag whether owned
by the government or citizens, to
make tho American fleet indepond-
ent of foreign vessels both In peace
and in war"
IL is pointed out by authorities
on the subject OF ocean transporta-
ton that Japan, by means OF gov
eminent subsidy, is already In prac-
teal control OF the commerce OF the
Pacific and that the Yankees of the
East" will soon occupy the same po-
sltion OF commercial supremacy In
Pacif!J waters that Great Britain
does in the Atlantic. Men familiar
with conditions assert that In case
OF war with Japan the United States
would be almost hopelessly handicap
ped from the first by It's lack OF a
sufficient number Of transports, sup
ply ships and GOLFERS, while Japan,
with hundreds OF magnificent and
modern merchant vessels at It's dis
posal would be able to send men ana
munitions in the Philippines and lla-
wall on a days notice, Overwhelming
the American authorities by mere
force OF Numbers,
That the lack OF a merchant ma
rlne may be as disastrous in time OF
peace as during war Is asserted by
the New York Produce Exchange,
which presented resolution en-
bodylng the following language
1--WE consider the lack OF mer-
chant marine a positive menace to
American business interests, and
through circumstances which may
arise az any time our almost total
lack OF deep water tonnage may be
as disastrous to our growing export
and import business as was the late
financial disturbance to our home in
dustrles. We strongly urge the I'M
mediate establishment OF American
mail and freight lines to South and
Central America. Australia, South
Africa, Japan. China and other i'm
portant countries and also to our
dependencies.
A separation OF the executive, leg
islative mad judicial duties OF the in
terstate commerce law is recommend
cd by many commercial bodies. The
Baltimore chamber OF commerce ad-
vocates sweeping revision Of the
law permitting the legislative func-
lions to remain with congress, trans
ferrlng the executive duties u the
department OF commerce and labor
and creating department Of rail-
roads, the commission retaining only
Its judicial prerogatlves.
The question Of a uniform bill of
ladlng was again presented by the
American Warehousemens associa-
tion and It's Recommendation have
received the Endorsement OF many
other commercial bodies.
Improvement in the consular SER
vice is The subject Of many recon-
mendaticns presented to the nation
al body The merit system in all
branches and promotions as yacan-
eies occur Is one suggestion offered.
A universal 2-cent rate for inter-
national first-class mall matter and