Evening star., 1911-01-24
Peril Seen in Use of Foreign
Vessels for Commerce.
SPEAKERS SOUND WARNING
Resolutions Are Adopted at Mer.
chant Marine Meeting.
CONGRESS Is ASKED TO ACT
Rear Admiral Baird, Representative
Barchfeld, B. N. Baker and
Others Deliver Addresses.

Barchfeld, b. N. BAKER anu
Others Deliver Addresses.
That the peace and prosperity Of the
nation are menaced because nearly all COM
merce of the United States is done in for
eign ships: that the laws of the United
States are defied by the foreign shipping
pool, which controls the shipping of the
world, endangering the foreign trade of
this nation, and that it is the paramount
duty of Congress Immediately to enact
legislation to destroy this foreign ship
ping monopoly and for the upbuilding
of an American merchant marine, was
the. unanimous sense of the National
Merchant Marine Congress. now in ses-
sion, as expressed in resolutions adopted
at this mornings meeting.
Rear Admiral George w. Baird. Rep
resentative Andrew ]. Barchfeld of Pitts
burg, Ormsby McHarg, former assistant
secretary of commerce and labor; John
Temple Graves. Bernard N. Baker of Bal
timore, an authority on the subject OF
American shipping: ex-Representative ).
Adam Bede and Secretary James Il.
EWell Of the congress were the speakers
at the morning session, which wound up
the business of the conference.
This afternoon the delegates were re-
ceived by President Taft, in the east
were entertained at reception given by
John Barrett, director general of the
Pan-American Union, at the new building
of the union.
Text of Resolutions.
The resolutions adopted by the congress
are as follows:
Resolved, by the National Merchant
Marine Congress, in session In washington,
That it is an intolerable menace to the peace
and prosperity of the American people
that more than 90 per cent OF the sea
borne commerce of this country should be
carried by the ships of foreign govern
ments, our rivals in trade and possible
enemies in war.
Resolved, That, not content with thus
monopolizing our commerce. Ioreigh
steamship companies, as disclosed by re-
cent investigations Of the Department OF
Justice and q committee of Congress- nave
formed trusts and combinations that they
may even more completely repress our
trade and promote the trade or foreign
manufacturers and merchants In oenance
Of the laws Of the United States.
Resolved, That our lack OF a great
merchant feet manned by skilled omcers
and sailors. the indispensable reserve OF
a fighting navy, threatens to paralyze our
national defense in the hour OF greatest
need.
Resolved That the time has arrived
when the American people must cease TO
support the auxiliary navies OF foreign
nations by a tribute in mail, passenger
and freight money paid to foreign snip
owners Of at least $2o0.00OOOO year.
Resolved, That 1t is the paramount
duty Of the national Senate and House OF
Representatives to take vigorous meas
ures at the present session of Congress
to destroy the arrogant, alien maritime
trusts and combinations, great monop-
oily now preying on the American people,
and assist in creating a vigorous inde-
pendent steamship service of American
ships. built for the naval reserve, and to
be honestly and ably managed In Amer
lean interests.
indorse the patriotic efforts of our Presi-
dent, William Howard Taft, to secure the
immediate enactment of legislation giving
to the United States swift. direct mail.
passenger and freight lines to the prin,
cipal countries of South America and
across the Pacific ocean. and that we ap-
plaud and uphold Senator Gallinger and
other senator's and repre- sentatfves who
have long and devotedly labored to re-
store the Stars and Stripes to the great
ocean highways Of the world"
To Seek Aid Of Labor Unions.
Other resolutions adopted propose the
circulation of petitions, asking Congress
to legislate, among. labor unions. trade
organizations and other commercial
leaders.
The illness Of the president of the COM
mittee of 100 of the National Association
of Manufacturers, which arranged the
merchant and marine congress-. was the
subject of further resolution, as fol-
lows:
Whereas the president of the commit
tee of 100 for a merchant and marine
congress. d. A. Tompkins of Charlotte,
NJ c. under whose auspices this con-
gress has been called. is by sickness un-
able to attend. therefore, be it
Resolved. That we extend to him our
wishes for a speedy recovery and our
regrets that we have been deprived OF
his counsel and assistance"
That the balance of trade is responsible
for the fact that American gold is not
worth as much, grain for grain, as for
eign gold, and that we are paying $4.SI
for a British sovereign. intrinSically worth
$4.44 was an argument for merchant
marine advanced by Admiral Baird.
Largely he ascribed this to the decline
in American shipping. He quoted figures
showing the relative value OF exchange
varying at different periods in our his
tory.
Calls Philippines Expensive.
The Philippines are costing mint
of money, he said, without adequate re-
turn. He does not advocate acquisition
Of territory, which he regards as men,
ace to prosperity. The nation which rules
the waves he quoted, is the nation which
will rule the world.
Representative Barchfeid predicted that
a bill would be passed in the next few
weeks dealing with ship subsidy. But it
will be a compromise" he said. I'VE
wanted to include the occident and the
orient. but we are merely going to ex-
tend mail subsidy to South America"
While the United States is curbing
trusts and trade combinations. said Mr.
Barchfeld. Europe is encouraging them.
He cited the activities of the great for
eign shipping pool. which controls 9S
per cent of the tonnage of the world,
has headquarters in Germany and is di-
rected by a confidant and adviser of the
kaiser.
The handicaps of American export
trade, due to its imperfect methods. part
ly. but more extensively charged to dis
criminatory rates in favor of German
shippers and other foreign manufacturers,
were explained.
How to get at the foreign shipping
pool Mr.. Barchfeld said. is something
not determined. He hopes the pool
has a standing in the courts that will
enable the Department of Justice to
prosecute its case pending.
I'VE spend millions annually In the
harbor of New York for the benefit of
foreign ships. to dig channels deep
enough to admit the great ocean levia-
thons ond not a dollar for a merchant