Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-28

rxcep, ionally high standing of our
mariners in ability, skill and courage.
whenever and wherever put TO the
test. all 90 TO show that We ought
to had the world il tn" number and
rXccllrncr of our merchan: marine.
A, enc lime. before the Civil war.
We held that ;roud 'rpsiticn. Thu u
with the cOnnivanc" and aSsiStanc"
Of Great britain. our principal rival
W. were driven fem the seas and
the carrying trad" passed int other
hands. chiefly hers: and trGay We
present the sorry spectacle of great
RIGA and powerful ha' lion. c>mmrr-
cial and trading nation. whose flag
Is practically never seen on m"r'
chant vessel in f "rign ports ana
whose products az" carried in for
cign ships.
There are Two principal reasons
why having lost our martini" bn'i'
ness, We have never rcgainrd it. or
any apprCriablc por:ion If il. I'M
nlcdiately after the war the cost or
shiI builing and the scale Of wages
paid. sailors were SO yruch higher
here than abroad tina. We were un-
able to compete. either in construc
ton or navigation Of ships. That
condition e things cCatinucs. In adj
dition to that most fSreign countries
pay their principal s. '.nship lines
heavy subsidies. which gives them
additional advantage.
There is no one. whether living On
the coast CT inland. and without ref
cncc TO party affilia'iOrS. who dos
mt deprecatc this situation. or who
would no; rladlv bring about a change
The -Ouhic is ,hcr" has no been
hitherto sufficient unanimity "a I"
wha, ought to be done t put any plan
in oneration and test il. A!mc', the
entire cffor; o. tnOS" who nav" h'''h
active IN trying TO restore our mari
time prestige aid secure FER us part
nj the profits Of the carrying trade
has been directed 10 n" at;tmit 70
get subsidies f carrying he mails
sufficiently lag I" COunt"ract tn
,lisa,iv antagcs against us.
There is much to I've said in SUP
nor, Of the plan. Tn" government
spend, millions on rivers aud hsrbors
- promote commcrc" chiefly reign.
Why should it not sp'nd s"m",h hing
10 promote it's own" TIL, CoHsii-
rratiuns have beer PR SS"'! uI"n
Congress year after year. bat with
cut avail. and there seems 10 be- no
prosEec: Of any CRanS' CT att''Cd'.
10. king at The situation nov. As
practical pcopi,. what is 10 Dc done >
II hose Interested in I'll" revival OF
shi ing cannot get what They van.
as evidently they cannot. would they
not better accept wha: they can get.
With their assent her" i no Gu's-
lion that hill can i" passed pr
! hitting American citizens - buy
ships wherever they can get them
cheapest. That th'v would largely
and PROMPTLY avail! themselves e he
privilege hero en- hC no doubt ard
and whiIr IL wculd not help ship
| building here. il vouId soon Civ" oTr
| v?-ds large an,Oun' g: repair work
which 'fcv lose TOW. and l. w"ult
q n give American capital Shar"
! in ocean frcights and send cur flag
| once moro int" tho great martS "
| the W I'D Vh,r" y Is now unknown,
That this plan w"uld help Amer
can commerce" is und"nIahl". Th"~''
| advantages may not l." all Ina ar"
d"s ir,'d bat 'h", wOuld hc y - n
! gam. Thov can IT, had and = a.
| ."ar- 20 he ihCr 90 MOI him Would
so Mt 70 wiser 10 a~Cr y; th"m 'hau
r"main in IN" iam"mablC coGii
| ION In which No nov fnl orrsclN g
| -WSshinGton Posi-