The evening world., 1912-05-03
BUSINESS OR BLUSTER?

0OSlIVESS ON 0kOSlENS
AAOU R SHIPS have practically disappeared from ne co..
Our eommsEcs 10 ct the mercy Of foreigner"
With these cad and significant words tho Houss Of
Representative Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries re-
pors unanimously in favor Of the Humphrey bill, which would close
the pots Of the United States 10 Ill ships whose owners have been
sdjudsed guilty By any court Of violating the Sherman Antitrust
Law. The committees report 1, In fact, q violent and summary con-
dsmnation Of foreign shipping combines. which, II 10 declared, control
more than ninety per cent Of the ovsrsea trade Of the United States.
The report goss on to dsnouncs the foreign steamship combinations
- "the most complete monopoies in the world. Their rates are
unjust and oppressive. They unjusny levy millions on American
commerce. They have done much to destroy our trade not only
b sxorbitant freight Mates, but also BY discriminating against s
IN I'll the ports Of tho world in favor Of the products Of their own
country"
Fines Of Gel. 900 and the osncsnng Of m.n contracts are other
p~snishmsnts provided By the bl for any trustowned ship attempt
ing,to dear . port Of the United States. The bill 10 frankly called
n answer to "ths i~mpudsnt and defiant attitude Of these giant
3ordgn mooopois, who cay: We are foreign Ghips belonging to
1ordgn corporations and owe allegiance 10 . foreign government.
And II We do not choose 10 obey your laws what ere you going to
DO about itr"
A natural question win occur TO everybody Suppose this bill
should pass. Suppose this bold threat to order the business Of
other nations to conform to our laws 10 made good. Suppose we
bar these vessels from our ports. With "our own ships practically
disappeared from the lei and our commerce 1t the mercy Of for
sgner," just where are we going TO stand9
Interesting and to the point IL . modest memorial issued and
circulated last month. One hundred and one ctbons Of the United
States, business and professional men, sailed on tho excursion
steamer Bluecher from New York around South America and back,
covering twenty thousand miles. They visited Buenos Ayres, Rio
Dc Jsneiro. Mo~ntevdso. Valparaiso, Santos. They looked about
them With intelligent eyes. One thing they noted struck them with
such force that on their return voyage to Now York they put their
impression into the form Of . resolution or memorial. All signed II,
and when they got ashore Il vas printed and circulated.
What impressed these men was this:
These South American ports have great and growing commerce,
ss full Of ships. "But at al places and 1t al times We have looked
In vain for . merchant steam vessel carrying the flag Of the United
ststesi What d the rMson"
That reason they and In the provisions Of our laws which pre-
vsnt the acquisition Of foreign built vessels for American registry in
foreign trade. This Law, which wss originally enacted for the benefit
q American ~shipyards. has failed IN ito purpose because American
built ships cost far too much In comparison with those Of foreign
bald. Therefore American ships have not been built. Therefore
"sm flag has practically disappeared from the high SEAS"
This being the case. sy these Observers. "1st us remove this
prohibition upon the American registration Of foreign built ships
Sr foreign trade. Let US buy cheap ships abroad, let them Be Differed
b American citizens and let them carry our flag to the people who
want to Gee us and are ready and eager to trade with us"
The 100000 LAtin-American people are only waiting TO do
business with u. At present, to reach New York comfortably
- Argsninsn has to 90 to Genoa or Liverpool. And he rarely
81 any further.
The memorial points out the high importance the opening
Il he Psnsma Canal gvs 10 this question Of merchant marine in
As Western Hemisphere.
II would seem thst these modest, l~evel-headed citizens have IN.
heated . plan which hes practically and good sense. Is effects
might b. slow, but they would Be safe and sure. Which will 60
farther toward building up our merchant Manufacturing ships and
ntHns them quietly 70 work under our flag, or legislative threats
- hustsr launched ct the world IN ssnsrAs