New-York tribune., 1910-03-23

]
,'a' fhiilions and Japan nearly two ,,1,i,,,
-N"oe loSS British tonnage has ao,,,sa, -
man tonnage has trebled and T,n,,os, -,
'iAS Increased ten times An tbasa ,,,,,Ds ~
s4a'He Great Britain and her colonies las. ,e.-
F~4a an subsidies nearly SiOOo0O0a. Franeaf
---s ei-'OOSe' Japan nearly S6O0eOe0 and
nearly sSSoe0O in direct subsidies
u'@i pay. aud another S209O00O by
wy ~ rebates by goVernment owned rai,roaas
pa freight due for foreien Dor,s =, sh,, ,b,s
spectacle presents itselE that the limited st,te.
"i'h 'oFeign trade Il nearly 5000 0OO90O a
s1aI' S allowing her goods 10 De brought and
oarr'ea by her trade rivals and delivered at the
perts Of consumption
In the E4ands OF Rivals
Ati's''ioan vessels are carrying less than 3 per
oeat OF American trade. aaa American teaaae.s
Is rapidly being extnguished JapaR has Al
READY nearly swept OF the Pacific. England
ana Germany have nearly suffOcated US uron
me Auanuc Ninety Der cent Of the trade sf
The world Is reached by salt water When the
time comes, which Is almOst upon us. that The
! output OF the creative energy OF the United
states As larger than the home market can ab-
Sorh and when We shan o. looking for foreign
markets in which 70 dispose of our goods in
order that II may not De necessary 70 close
down oar factories. we shau hni access 20 the
foreign markets IA The hands of our trade rivals
tane power 20 fix freight rates in the same hands
and we SHAH be a. the mercy Of our conpeti-
tefs. who by subsioizing their merchant marine
have driven Us OF the seas. Inquirers may ask
what has produced this inability 20 compete
with our rivals an maintaining a merchant ma
nne Many causes have contributed
The situation to-day Is this: The ship that
can carry the goods for the least money other
things being equal viii get the freight ana 90
nd Ia Rss1
money. maintained for the least money oper-
ated for the least money. will. Of course be
able 10 take the goods at the least price and no
American ship can to-day enter into the busi-
ness OF carrying goods in the foreign trade On
anywhere near an eQual basis with its foreign
raEals
The arst handicap is in the cost OF the money
with which to build the ship. In the United
states that money Will cost from 20 per cent.
! in England Germany from - TO s.. per
cent.
The second handicap Is the higher cost sf
labor. which man Tor man and trade for trade
an the United states IS from 90 20 100 per cent
higher than in England. and still higher than
that paid in Japan.
The third handicap is che higher cost Of ma
teriaL which is from 20 70 - per cent higher
I an America. although this handicap Is somewhat
4 Offset by the fact that materials for vessels 20
! bc A1e4 III AytEAtA AAA4c may Nt tulAelfLeu anu
1 used for such vessels without paying any duty
but such vessels may never be used in colstWise
! trade. and only one vessel has been constructed
! under this privilege.
! The fourth handicap is the higher cost for the
wages and salaries paid on trade ships which
! runs frOm 90 20 100 per cent higher man for
4 Elaa IN the American service than Ia the f0r-
I elgn service
1 The 6fth handicap Is the higher cost OF fuel
The sixth handicap as the higher cost Of re-
I pairs. which would be Z per cent higher per
I annum for the American than for the foreign
4 ship
The seventh handicap IL tR the fixing OF
4 freight rates. for when once an American freight
4 rate Is 6Kea an American vessel cannot change
( IL under thirty days. In the mean time any
1 tramp vessel may come into any one OF our
harbors ana cat the American rate and take
away the cargo
! ''Tle sum total Of these handicaps IN the gen
I erai operation Of a vessel is estimated 20 be 40
Der cent. some of these hanilcaps may be miti-
! gated ly the superior efficiency Of Americas
: vorl<HaeR and American machinery. America
J has produced locomotives ana steel bridges IA
/ successful competition with all the rest 0f the
world. out that ts because she has had An op-
! Dortunity 20 slandardlze bridges ana locOmO-
] tsves. and car turn them out cheaper a ton th1a
] - mr. could have