The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-16

Resolutions strongly urging upon
congress the pass = of an adequate
shir subsidy bill at its next session
" unanimously adopted yesterday at
- t3int meeting of the commercial or
CARNATIONS Of san Francisco in the
Merchants exchange. following a fer
vent address upon this subject by Con-
gresham William E. Humphrey of
Washington. chairman Of the merchant
marine committee Of the house of rep
Tesentatives and member Of the mer-
chant marine commission.
Congressman Humphrey was given
an enthusiastic reception. and his
speech was listened TO with the utmost
attention by n large audience That
his views received the unanimous in
Clorsement OF all who heard him was
evidenced by several interruptions Of
hearty applause and by the adoption
OF the resolutions directed 10 congress
The speak er dwelt upon the CONNER
cial aspect Of the deplorab bic conditions
now existing in the merchant marine
Of the United States, upon the patriotic
disgrace due to the absence Of the
American flag from the seas and upon
the vital danger from thiss source in
the event of war. closing with an ap-
peal for a campaign TO educate the
people Of the middle west regarding
conditions as they exist
CONGRESSMAN HUMPHREYS TALK
Congressman Humphrey was intro
duced BY President James Rolph Jr Of
the Merchants exchange. who later
submitted the resolutions which were
adopted and his statements concerning
merchant marine and ship subsidy were
indorsed by Congressman Kahn and
HAYES. who followed him in brief
speeches. Congressman Humphrey pre-
faced his remarks with a glowing trib
ufe 10 san Francisco, which he had not
visited since the fire. declaring its re-
abiIita ton to be beyond ina gination
and the marvel Of the modern world.
In substance he said:
The foreign trade Of this nation
amounts to more than s3.O0O.OO0.0OO
annually. with a large balance of trade
in our favor. an accomplishment more
enormous than any other nation has
ever achieved yet less than 6 per cent
n this commerce is carried in American
Notions The American flag has prac-
tically disappeared from the seas, and
is only a inemory in foreign ports. One
NAV circle the globe. yet never find the
stars and stripes. save on q man of war
or a privately owned yacht. We are
paying annually over s200,000,0 900, over
$500 900 every p hours. TO foreign labor
mail. our ammunition and even our SOL
diers are carried in foreign vessels.
A SIGNIFICANT FACT
Three years ago there were eight
American ships visiting the Philippines
and today there is not one. We are
speuding millions on the construction
Of the Panama canal and $5O,000,0Oo
year on river and harbor improve
ments. all OF which are to be benefits
only to foreign ships Of commerce
These are humiliating and discreditable
conditions. They arise, first. from the
nigh cost Of labor 1t costs the Ameri-
can ship owner 50 to 100 per cent more
10 build and % TO so per cent more to
operate American vessels than II does
The ship owner of any other nation, and
in addition TO this the foreign owners
have the benefit of a large ship subsidy.
I know the argument that it is
rheap TO use foreign ships than to
build our own Would that be wise or
"a friotic even If true? If II were wise
and patriotic. why not import from
across the Pacific thousands OF labor
srs who will do all our work cheaper
.tban the A american Workmen can do II?
But is il cheaper No
Congressman Humphrey dwelt upon
he history of the consolidation OF for
sfgn lines into the great monopoIes
which control the commerce between
his country and Europe and South
America and the indefcnsible raise of
1aght rates TO an extortionate limit
N showed that the Hamburg -Amerf-
an monopoly openly paid rebates and
made determinations in defiance of the |
avs OF this country. as free from its
Jurisdiction and went unpublished for /
violating the very principles for which I
America stands doing freely the 1
.hings that have led to lie dissolution