New-York tribune., 1908-03-01
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
Plea for action to Restore american
Prestige ON Sea.

Tribune OF Saturday, February
Is, there are to be noted with particular atten-
ton by all interested In the welfare OF the
United States first your editorial upon "Japans
Commerce." and. second. the article Pacific
Steamships CF'rom the Tribune BureauJ. The edi-
toriaI displays. most lumnously. that - per cent
Of all the shipping, in tonnage. entering Japanese
ports in 1907 was japanese That paragraph only
required for this writing. although the astonish
ing ceIerfty with which this result shipping
triumph. has been accomplished. is quite worthy Of
comment
Under the caption Pacific Steamships, the fol-
lowing Is quoted
The trip of fleet up the western coast OF
South America ought 70 prove an argument In IA
the American flag on the high seas In all the long
voyage from the strai 90 OF Magetan 20 wrers ne re
feet have not the Stars and Stripes sin
their own ships.
Some time ago the writer noted that Charles
Stewart White. arriving in Spaln- advised The
Tribune that there were no United States vessels
IN harbor, no United States flags Incidentally
Reuterdahi emphasizes the dependence OF our
navy upon foreign vessels coal carriers OF our
imports and exports by sea- amounting 70 the
enormous total OF s3oo2627,srT United States ves-
sells carried 1906 per cent. OF the e52, 705 imni-
grants. ID per cent we're brought by our own
ships.
By an act approved on April 80 1906 It is decreet
that ION and after April Il, 1909. no merchandise,
except supplies for the army navy. shall be
transported by sea. under penalty Of forfeiture
thereof. between ports Of the United States and
ports or places in the Philippine Archipelago d.
rectly or via a foreign port for any part Of
the voyage, in any other vessel than vessel OF
the United States No foreign vessel shall trans
port passengers between ports Of the United States
and ports places IN the Philippine Archipelago.
either directly by way OF a foreign port. under
penalty OF 500 for each passenger SO transported
and landed
and IN he o.
the Commissioner OF Navigation. 1907 Referring to
the Trade with the Philippines the commissioner
says.
Barely eighteen months remain before the si eft
trade should be begun once, unless trade be
tween the United States and the Philippines Is to
be seriously handicapped or the act quoted IS 70
be amended.
wise servant and wise counsellor Is the com
missioner. but melancholy one, II is TO be plainly
SEEN when penuing such statement At this date
there are little fourteen months IN which to
build our Philippine fleet. Impossible. Of course,
and then IL Is up TO the lawmakers and fnterna-
tional experts to frame new act that VIII take
the place OF the other and let in our worthy for
egners to help out
Pretty sore reading matter for citizens CT the
United States IS the report Of the Commissioner Of
Navigation. Would that every member Of Congress
were compelled 10 read mark. learn and tnwardly
digest I'll In such case, for very shame, we
should have merchant marine that would be one
in deed and in truth! In view Of the foregoing,
how an intelligent IN Congress can view the
abjectness Of international merchant marine
and be able to keep down blush Of shame, ard
with utter Indifference and Coolness apply himself
TO the retort courteous and all the odds and ends
OF localisms. pure and simple, passes the cornpre-
hension OF the dispassionate observer.
Is 1t possible that the United States IN Congress
assembled otherwise, cannot even remotely emu
late japan in the matter Of trading ships? The
very people who, short half century ago, found
Japan bow and arrow nation and showed her the
way 10 civilization have to-day merchant ships
enough 10 transport a million dollars worth OF
coal from Eastern to our Western coast
Oh, you gentlemen in Congress. for the sake OF
your country. II you cannot offer subsidy that
will help build and support merchant marine
of the first class, then pass q measure that Will
furnish cash to pay for a sufficient number OF
good. sound colIiers wherewith TO make the mo-
tive power Of navy self-respecting and self
supporting so that we may not the great
American people court the ridicule OF all the
world. 1t seems almost unspeakabe, unthInkable,
that eighty millions of people, intelligent and OWL
Ing the richest country IN the world. have tarnely
allowed foreign nations TO come 10 these shores,
with their vessels, and deliver TO US what we
may require of them, and also to carry abroad
ourselves our malls, farm products and the
output of farms and mills and nninesl
4 hornely illustration just here may be appro-
pirate Two merchants, competing for business.
and with well stocked stores, were aggressive. The
one sold sugar somewhat below the him
The other furnished butter in the same manner
Each therefore. subsidized his customers and both
made money. After q time merchant, in a
spasr1 OF business propriety cancelled his discount
on butter. The merchant not only refused 10 raise
the price of his sugar. but actually reduced the
price of his butter below cost Very soon the con
science stricken sold sugar butter, and
little while thereafter he sold outI
There can be no question that the United States
has practically sold out it's merchant marine.
and as far as foreign freighting is concerned
ii is decidedly out in the cold, and il is respect
fully submitted that II the powers that are
would take one-fourth the interest in building up
the merchant marine that they do IN tearing down
each others political policies there would be fewer
idle men in this country and much honesty
and hard work FRANCIS BREESE DAVIS.
nal EvaL,