The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
"Our own Carriers
Golden City'S Toast
.SOn Francisco IS Foremost in
Striving for an American
Merchant Marine
By DAVID PAUL

good work has already been done along the line OF
achievement by the Marine League of California
Organized last November Francisco the league has
ior its public the
being conducted for the regeneration OF the American
merchant marine of the United
States upon the oceans work the
task OF educating people realization of the
grave country facing by OF possessing
capable either OF carrying her in times
peace OF supplying necessary auxares her in
o
foreign going marine practically defunct We
engaged in the foreign trade, and
question rebuilding deep shipping and the recreation
the country OF the vital
urgent problems confronting the people OF the United
States probably become problem had not
people verishly busy developing the
resources the country that for fifty
they sight OF pressing maritime matters which have been
highest Importance both the external and internal
interests Of the United States.
About the OF national neglect OF ship
ping began apparent Following the second of
congress July S9 when first discrimination was made in favor
vessels, until 1883 unexamped prosperity attended
industries Until half century ago this country
possessed shipping fleet OF nation
huls bugng profitable reigh proudly
Ioucd the and stripes waved
Thought OF the long lines OF fast Yankee
clippers vessels heavily laden with the and
spices Java Indies and far CatHay filled the booms OF
foreign competitors with thoughts Of avarcious jealousy
1888 that prosperous merchant marine received
oi staggering blows which eventually
depOrabe and the Onited
safes today represented by only nine vessels engaged III the cross
sea world The first blow the passing by
congress June p 1858 which provided that:
1T shall be lawful for the postmaster general to make
any for carrying mails the for longer
period than years for other compensation than the
and inland postage the mails SO transported
Other blows that shipping received when England
1883 jealous superiority of the United States
heavily increased the subsidies she had formerly granted to
merchant marine; when the year France adopted
system subvenonS subsidies her shipping and when
spain 1869 Belgium 1873 Netherlands Italy
in in in
Argentine Republic Japan
in 1887 and Canada Russia Chile Portugal Hungary
1888 followed the principle of subsdzng their vessels engaged
While congress- like the various legislative bodies in foreign
engaged making detrimental the welfare
American shipping the people OF the United States too
engrosed with internal affairs pay much heed AS result
this preoccupaton comparatively little given by the
body Of the people the dplorabe decadence which
taking place the American merchant So unexampled
has been this county prosperity that today the great bulk
oi our citizens remain ignorant OF our maritime a1ars
The OF the 1858 shipping law by congress
followed almost Immediately by the abandonment OF of the
lines which had been built by patriotic and broad minded
legislation Of previous years Many the steamships
sold TO foreign competitors and at the end OF 1861 the flag q the
absolutely north
The heavy increase OF subsidies her shipping by England
and their adoption by other countries has completed the work of
devastation IN the American merchant marine service The process
Of destruction has been gradual but has been effective that
though pasmodc legislative efforts have been made
tide OF our maritime msounes have today but two vessels
the Atlantic and the Pacific engaged
foreign commerce.
Nothing certain that this awful decline in our
shipping the normal result of trade conditions During the
time that the decline has taken place foreign trade has
from $OoO0OO0 S3O000O00 Owing the lack of American
ships per Of this S0O0O0OOOo foreign
vessels and pay the foreigners S00OoOOo year
porting it. Did pay this money flesh and blood
would keep 100000 American workmen employed every working
day throughout the year
has been the mission the Merchant league to
the people throughout country acquainted
concerning American shipping and that succeeding in
object is everywhere apparent laid
that apart the resultant
fages loss OF mercantile leaving
our hands $5OO00OO0 bateshp feet which without proper
auxiliary vessels would be quite useless time of
A large corps of prominent citizens have rallied the
standard of the league and their services speakers
parts country These patriotic
invaluable IN spreading the educational campaign