New-York tribune., 1911-11-17
URGE SHIP LEGISLATION
Naval Architects Discuss Means
of Building Up Merchant Marine.
FOR SMALLER BATTLESHIPS
Sir William White, of England,
Says Passenger Steamers Have
Reached Limit of Speed.

The need of legislation favorable to the
American merchant marine in order to
build up the commercial sea power of the
country was urged by Stevenson Taylor,
president Of the Society of Naval Archi-
tects and Marine Engineers. at the first
session Yesterday Of the nineteenth general
meeting Of the society in the Engineering
Societies Building at No. % West S9th
street. Referring to this subject in his
opening add1e ess he said;
We seem TO be no nearer the establish
ment of such service between this ana Tor
eign countries than we were year ago
end we will be no nearer so long as the
friends OF such enterprise have so many
remedies for the situation. But 1 still be-
licve that some time the many views now
held by those who would advance the pros
poets OF our merchant marine VIII be modi,
fed In such a way that tnaiy there VII
b. a concentration on one idea so sup,
ported by public opinion that the desired
result will be attained. 1t is time that some
action should be taken on the part OF tht
United States government in favor or leg
islation which will be favorable TO the
American merchant marine. The question
Of such legislation should enter largely into
our politics and be made permanent issue.
Nc healthier political agitation could come
to this country. and result in greater bene-
ft 10 the people of the United States
Sir William White, former naval con-
structor in chief OF the British Empire
read a paper on THE Maximum Dimen-
sons OF Ships" in which he said that a
more moderate type of battleship should
replace the giant floating fortresses Of the
present and that the fast express pas
senger steamers had reached the probable
Of OF
maintenance and operation. Slower and
larger ships. with greater cargo capacity
as well as for passengers, he believes, Will
be the type of merchant vessel of the
future for transatlantic trade, because OF
the greater earnings to relative expenses.
Rear Admiral Francis T. Bowles, retired
former chief constructor of the United
states navy; Davis w. Taylor and l.. s
ADAMS, naval constructors, and Lewis
Nixon. former naval constructor, were pres
ent at the mee.ng. Mr. Nixon read
paper on the Panama Canal and Ameri'
can Commerce" which created consider
able discussion among the members Of the
society There appeared to be more poll
ties than science in Mr.. Nixon's discourse.
Mr. Nixon advocated a return TO the
earlier policies of discriminating duties and
tonnage taxes as a means of reviving the
merchant marine in the foreign trade. His
tone was pesslmistic as to the probable
benefits to be derived, under present con-
ditons, from the Panama Canal He said
he could not see the advantages of the
canal other than as war measure and as
an altruistic enterprise in which charity
began abroad. lie said
our vessels passing through our own
waterway should pass through free. But
again treaty forbids. our manifest duty
aS an independent nation with the SOW
ereign right to do as il will with its own
Is to give notice that in this respect the
tleaty does not bind us, and If this is
questioned abrogate the treaty. Bargains
OF this sort match privilege against prlVl-
loge and il is not expected nor is II equi-
table that they should be one sided. A re-
bate to our own vessels would be a cow
ardly compromise. This canal is a thor
oughfare through our territory, and should
b free 10 our vessels.
W. !. Barney. Deputy Commissioner of
Decks and Ferries, read q paper on the
local dock facilities and suggested improve
ments and enlargements in that direction.
Several other papers of a more technical
nature were read by members of the So
Ciety
The meeting will be continued to-day.
when other papers will be read. The ses-
sions VIII close with a dinner tonight at
the Waldorf. at which the John Fritz
medal for notable achievement I'm naval
architecture. will be presented to Sir Will
lam White