Evening journal., 1914-08-06
THURSDAY AUGUST 6. 1914
NEEDEp-A MEEcHANT MARINE.

NEEDED-A MERCHANT MARINE.
THE existing and the decentralization Of
Il commerce that has attended # have served
60 emphasize the imperative need for an Amer
lean merchant marine. with the nations that own
most the dccp-sea carriers involved in desperate
for supremacy and with those deop-sea carriers
Withdrawn from service altogether converted into
naval auxiliaries the foreign this great
and almost ghiplcss country comes practically TO
standstilL Congress already is doing something TO
relieve the situation It is doubted however that what
h does viii result in a real restoration Of merchant
marine.
We mover shall obtain suitable merchant marine
except through acknowledgements and honest
iy-adminsiered system of subsidies with such
syston in full force and effect it would not be long
before should being dependent upon the
merchant ships Of Great Britain, Germany, Franco
and other European countries for the handling of our
decp-sca cargocs.
Now that the dependence OF our country upon those
other countries in this highly-imnortant matter has
been brought home TO our people in practical
and disastrous manner steps should be taken TO
build up n lasting FORM American merchant marine
that VIII put end to such doplorahlo and unnat-
ufal condition
We find Ia the New York Tribune the following odi-
tofia comment upon this important and timely subject;
With the embodiment Of an Europe In there Is
ouCrOJ 20 tine United States uncXamplcd opportunity
20 build up her merchant marine. As the one great
neutral nation She win find herself called upon do
-oqupppg Der iehtine sister nations but of carrying
their supplies to them under nag which they must
an respect.
And not only in the carrying of supplies to Europe
but n the return of Americans America will Amcri-
can bottoms be sorey needed Already The demand for
mem en- both sides of the water has become almost
fcvorsh The st. Louis, of the American Line sailed
Yesterday from New York With S11O2500O ia gold bull
lon the largest shipment of gold made single
vessel She carried this record consignment because
am American ship. In the event general European
war she would be safe from capture.
of he
the transatlantic service thc cancel
lation Of one French sailing and the threatened with
drawa all English boats. large numbers of American
tourists find themselves without accommodations
Their numbers will undoubtedly increase each day as
more steamships are Communicated for transport pur-
poses.
To meet these insisent calls upon IL the American
merchant marine finds itself rdiculousy Inadequate
ana governed by laws which make impossible its rapid
expansion The Panama canal act admits to American
registry oregn-ouit vessels not more than five years
old y owned entirely by Americans or American
poraons But t is necessary such vessels I'M order
to obtain American registry to FIRST to the United
States
In the present situation this is serious disability
AT other countries observing the policy Of free registry
give 10 their consuls the authority TO issue provisional
the vessels shall arrive ports the countries whose
hags they iy An amendment to make our law square
with the practice of other nations in this respect should
recommend itself Congress
Another extending or removing the vessels age limit
would seem an obviously wise modification as would
stll another which would insure the retention the
American register for term Of years, regardless OF
the duraJon OF the war
The New York Herald, too. thinks the time is ospe
ciolly favorable for the rebuilding OF our merchan
marine It says.
Not since American shipping lost its prestige durn,
the civil war has there been an opportunity {,
regain standing in the maritime world as Is offered
the present moment Vessels flying the American nai
the only ones which the marine insurance brok
ers viii accept risks, and these pitifuly few il
number
Contention is made by the Washington Post tina
something more than the mere passage of a law per
hitting foreign vessels to come under the American
Tag is needed to permanently develop the American
merchant marine II says:
CONGRESS is enacng legislation to facilitate the pur
chase and transfer of foreign-but vessels 10 the Amer
lcan nag as means OF building up the American mer
chant marine and TO avoid shortage vessels for
expectation of American products intention of th
legislation is good and IN the right direction Ii re
mains TO DE whether the legislation in fact wei
digcsted and effective and whether Americans may safe
~ and prohtabiy purchase foreign vessels and adj
them permanently to the merchant marine
Practically an American exports are carried in for
elgn ships Vessels of nations which are not at wa
VIII be neutral and they continue their rogua
poeireas, subject however 10 search by belligeren
"arships with view determining the nature am
destination OF their Cargoes Practically am product
except cotton. OH seed rubber hides fertilizer ore
earth and stone chnaware and glass paper soaps an
paints agricultural. mining textile and printing ma
chinery- precious stones. clocks and watches fame
GOODS feather and hair and furniture are or may
treated as conrnpanf of and subject to seizure
bound for Cnenifs port or III there is reason ia hi
iie'e that the goods are consigned to an enemy
American ships carrying American products voul
noi be exempt from seizure by the Warshins of any n
lion az war. n hnsc products bound 90 cnon,
ports American products would be lust as safe r ~.
tra vessels as NJ vessels under the American nan
The bulk of tie over-sca commerce IS carried D
British vessels The declaration Of by Great Bri