The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-09-17
su1pPING EXPERT
-. If Peril in Boom Trade

IlSSts
.,owing is from a recent issue of
r1 S. wy York Herald. Mr.. Daniel Ba-
DE Nc" president of the West India
con = hin Company and also operates
stsanls 'deot lines to Nassau. N. P. and
ndsp ts;ean ports. He is an enthusiastic
Alr being leading member of
l'fa'' York Yacht Club, and is commo-
tbe Nt s,ba seawanhaka-Corinthian Yacht
d're u u has owned number of yachts,
CuO' ,bem the Avenger, winner of the
sp''DN ann He is frequent visitor to
~" waters and has number of friends
p,Itast and vicinity.
,,ore the legislators at Washing
.a,gbt to reshape the laws SO that
l'n , ' owners might take advantage
Sp. OPPORTUNITIES opened to them by
w criticism from exporters and
p' .s If vessels has been frequent, but
'S r. lacking the weight that is lent
~ ' direct quotation
, I of foreign built vessels to
.-ican registry has been attacked on
'nr ,r hand. but always under cover"
"e u.o,e This reticence is not shared
Mel Bacon, who is one of the d.
b pan Of the Maritime Exchange in
fFIVIVs city. In an interview for the
MS he boldly attacks the schemes
be tsncad at Washington and declares
S s't subsidy is the only solution of the
m .obIpm He said:
p 'S;nr- oar President has seen fit in his
,,5,n TO urge upon us to keep cool,
8s ,r in thought, is it not safe counsel
s sta.ow, hoping that by SO doing this
,l ." nav re-curve and strike in upon
.l, Group Of legislators at Washington,
" with historical haste, and by any
Nu uv ar means. are endeavoring to thrust
Wy long suffering public full grown
rsrgntlle marine?
aSnp.vng this cool thought to the
ir,st fd what particular reason is there
a.n.50s taste, granting that we Amer
.,n citizens are anxious to see the Stars
W. Strtpes waving on every sea? We
'a+oH that freight of all sorts is ac-
mmplating at every port and cannot be
.arsl because there is no available ton
,.ss 10 carry this vast amount of Amer
IAN nro4Iee. a statement that is abso-
Stsi1 without foundation. as several OF
Ss European lines are in operation, while
nm7ers Of neutral steamships are beg
gng for charters at very reasonable
sss In anv direction; in fact, at lesser
srrss than those demanded within the
II two years, when freights were
rsnraly high owing to real CONNER
ID demand
rRgprTs PRESENT REAL PROBLEMS.
nIuu1te from a freight report in re-
srt issue If the Herald: "A limited bus
mss was done in grain and coal charter
no but the demand for additional
resmers was light. Rates were easy
nd tonnage offered freely l do not
think further comment necessary.
nav there is a reason-and good
ns why our exports move so slowly
rths moment. 1t is the difficulty of
msnging credits to pay for the goods
gport4d This situation is improving
div. but until such time as merchants
ray be sure of being paid they will
Buyally not take the risk of shipment.
Putting aside the possible diplomatic
Implications resulting from the pur-
ssse Of Atlantic German fleets, what
sRe want with them anyhow? Surely
sfm a matter of profit. The reason
b the existence of these ships is be-
ase, step by step, the lines have work.
dup their regular trade by careful rep
sentative agents at their various ports,
1u. they have secured regular and
srs or Iess paying trade which we
mpose TO take by merely hosting our
a@s and with a cheer, capture the
VMa carrying trade, quite overlooking
tie fact that American wages, enforced
grs officers and generally increased
% If maintenance are absolutely GER
tan to make the venture anything but a
FyAg one.
TO Offset this extra cost the Presi-
lai II he sees fit, may allow the steam
a4S to be handled by foreign officers
H0 DO not strictly come under the
American shipping laws. He may also
HFaa surveys, measurements, &C.,
Eat5. to say the least, would be little
lam o. real American shipowners, who
nave IN good faith built their vessels in
America shipvards and conformed to
he aforementioned shipping regulations.
lucy ass have paid the American scale
tTages.
Outside of the protective coastwise
taOe let Us see who, when the present
.aeria Is past, will come forward with
seUue national courage and unfurl the
ny against certain losing proposition.
VPPosES GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
An alternative proposition is suggest
government ownership or control
ag partnership of these vessels, which
'uaus IKE the browning joke of all, and
a'e tod that there is precedent in
W IL the Panama line, which passed
lls' government control and manage
ssa; several years ago. By all means
~. !. Us take the results of this 'preced-
M y before going further. If the officials
H. kindly do for the public that which
wy wy are ever ready to enforce upon the
rma'nshlp lines, which is to lay their
%AS upon the table where all may see,
!, perhaps, the public-who really
~, may think again before entkusing
% % ownership by Uncle Sam.
pns stssgafdlng the supposed excessive
n rS3S earned by foreign steamship COM
' .,nss can speak with some degree of
t rsvtlgnce as an owner, having expert
P ,,.s with the Norwegian, British and
6.. aula llags, with their advantages in
~ aP wages and general running. Even
\, ue profits at best are small in nor
Nj gnes-so small, in fact, that was
ID gsaSed when these ships were sold,
aeps, want va no more except, perhaps,
'' Spa snip in special trade.
ID. 4. oil means, if possible, let US fly
hDoss On every sea, but this in my