Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
PRESIDENT AND LEADERS
TO URGE PROMPT ACTION
Amendment Intended to Save Trans.
atlantic Shipping From Paralysis
During the War.

lliE tut european war, ana II Will w
pressed for passage tomorrow. with thu
influence of the administration for promp,
action.
According to Representative Under
wood. the majority leader of the House
the amendment is mot intended to builG
up a great merchant marine in the
United States. but is temporary meas
ure, to relieve an emergency situation
The bill would eliminate the require
ment that ship must be five years ole
10 get the American registry would au'
thorize the President to suspend the re.
quirement that all watch-officers mus
be Americans. and suspend the require
ment Of survey, Inspection and measure.
nents of foreign-built vessels admitted tc
american registry. The bill will take
effect Immediately upon enactment, as
an emergency measure.
May Suspend Provisions.
After repeating certain restrictions con-
tanned in the Panama act the bill pro-
vides:
That the President of the United States
IS hereby authorized, whenever in his
discretion, the needs of foreign COM
merce may require. to suspend by order
so far as he may deem desirable, the pro-
visions OF the law prescribing that all
the watch officers Of vessels of the Unit
ID States registered for foreign trade
shall be citizens of the United States
Under like conditions, in like manner
and to like extent, the President of the
United States also is hereby author
requiring survey, inspection and meas
urement by officers of the United States
of foreign built vessels admitted to Amer
ican registry under this act
This act shall take effect imme-
diateIy.
The bill is not expected to be opposed
when unanimous consent for its passage
is asked tomorrow in the House.
Oppose Letting Down Bars.
None of the democratic leaders favors
letting down the bap SO as to permit
foreign ownership of American registered
vessels. and the sentiment developed to-
day was unanimously that all conversions
of foreign built and owned vessels into
American owned and registered ships
must be rigidly bona fide.
1t was pointed out that unless this
position was maintained there might be
grave neutrality complications through
ships Of belllgrent nations temporarily
taking out American registry to evade
the risks and high marine insurance that
their own foreign flag might involve.
Under International law all ships Of
American registry must be owned by
American corporations or American citi-
zens. Incidentally there Is nothing in
the neutrality laws that prevents Ameri-
can ships from carrying grain, cotton
and similar non-contrabands to ports of
nations that may be at war.
This Is not bill to build up great
merchant marine in the United States"
said Mr.. Underwood. 1T is a temporary
measure to relieve an emergency situa-
ton. in the event of nations going to
war. / hope. however, that 1t will result
sentiment in this country to bring about
the enactment Of laws that will restore
The merchant marine"
Chicago Trade Board Acts.
CHICAGO. August 1-D1rectors of the
chicago Board of Trade at a special
meeting this afternoon adopted resolu-
lions urging the federal government i'm
mediately to amend the navigation laws
so as to remove restrictions on foreign
vessels which wish to enter the Ameri-
can registry. A copy of the resolutions
was telegraphed to President Wilson
and to Senators Sherman and Lewis Of
illinois.
News that Germany had declared war
on Russia was received with eager in
terest tonight by leaders on the Chicago
board, but in no case with the least
show of excitement. 1t was virtually the
unanimous opinion that the consequence
so far as the wheat market was con-
cerned had been to great extent dis
,0unted in advance.
Beyond a temporary convulsion perhaps
in the wheat pit the effect on prices
was generally expected to be much more
restrained than in the case of Austria's
declaration against Servia-
Anticipates Little Effect.
Fifty million bushels of wheat was
said to be already under contract for
shipment TO Europe and unable to get
away from United States ports. Even
with Immediate amendment OF the nayi-
cation laws. II was declared that ar
adequate outlet would still be lacking. as
shipments would have to be confined a,
FAR as possible to neutral ports such al
Amsterdam and Rotterdam, or run the
risk OF delay and loss by blockades.
George z. Marcy, president of the Ar
mour Grain Company. said: The decla.
ration OF war between Germany an6
Russia will not. in my opinion. have q
great eject on the wheat market
though possibly at the opening there ma1
be some furry one way or the other.
AS matter or fact at the present
not a bulltsh argument for the reason
that there are large quantities Of whea
at the seaboard, or moving to the sea
board from the country elevators anf
farmers; and under present condition.
very little of this wheat can be safel,
loaded. Therefore, our export bushes.
will be at a standstill temporarily unit
things are more settled. Some of thi.
wheat which is intended to go for expor
may be offered for sale In American mar
kets, apd this in itself will prevent an,
high prices at the present time.
Hopes for Prompt Action.
1T Is to be hoped that the United
states government will move as prompt,
as possible to provide laws under which
some of the foreign vessels may be reg
!stered as United States bottoms Tn
United States has this year upward O
3OO.0O0.o0O bushels of wheat which cal
De spared for export, and it is for tn
benefit of the farmer. community bank
ing interests and every one to have thi
wheat go abroad. which II cannot d,
under present conditions and draw bacl
payment in gold at good figures"
President c. II. Candy of the Chicag
Board of Trade said
"Germanys declaration of war makes l
absolutely imperative for Congress i'm
nediately TO amend the navigation law
so as TO allow foreign vessels to registe
and sail under the American flag
The Chicago Association of Commerce
on the recommendation Of its foreig
trade committee also adopted resolu
tons recommending the extension O
American registration to foreign yes
sells.