Evening journal., 1914-08-19
SHIPPING AND sHIPYARDs SAVED.

I'D can and twenty Democratic members of
the United States Senate American shipyards and
American coastwise shipping have been saved from
destruction by a Democratic Congress. After a Bit
ter fight in which Senator OGorman, of New York
played part that far from croditabe TO him.
Congress yesterday passed the Emergency Shipping
bill II authorizes the President TO admit foreign
built ships TO American registry to engage in for
eign, but not coastwise trade. The plan is to have
fleets of merchant ships sail under the American
flag and to carry the doop-sea of the world
while the great maritime Powers of the Old World
engaged in war. If the conference report agreed
upon had been adopted, such foreignbu ships would
have been permitted to engage in coastwise trade
here, with the result that our own coastwise ships
would have been sbjected ruinous competition
shipyards closed for want of work to do. The
twenty Republicans and twenty Democrats IN the
Senate joined forces, however. and repudiatod that
conference report AS result American coastwise
ships safe and the yards OF the Harlan IIol-
lingsworth Corporation and other shipbuding con
Germs which devote most Of their time TO the building
of coastwiso craft will remain open. President Will
will sign the bill and it remains to be seen
how many foreign-bult ships pass under the Ameri-
Gag Commenting upon the action Of the Senate
the Washington Post says;
The Senate wasted time in putting end to
the revolutionary attempt to hand over American
commerce to foreigners the moment the question came
to vote. II struck down the plan to open the coast
wise trade of the United States to foreign-owned
]
other action could have been expected Of legislators
/ in full possession OF the facts.
No emergency called for the opening of coastwise
commerce to foreign competition The coasts of the
| United States are well served by American ships,
handled by American officers and These vessels
available for the of the United States in time
of war and their officers and would be the first
to risk their lives in company with the regular naval
forces.
The only emergency arising from the In Europe
is the possible need vessels to carry American
exports abroad. This need is more apparent than
real and may be that very few foreign vessels Will
be transferred to the American flag II was wen how
ever to facilitate such transfer in order that
might not be impeded This is fully accomplished by
the bill as passed 1t authorizes the American registry
OF foreign vessels, without regard to age which to
only In trade with foreign countries the Phil
lppnes ana requires that they shall be wholly owned
! by American citizens corporations, and managed
by American directors. The President is authorized
70 permit foreign watch oticers on such vessels, and
to suspend the laws requiring survey, inspection and
measurement by American officers whenever the needs
of foreign commerce may roQuiro.y
This is liberal law, and all that is required by
| the emergency of Il will be necessary to
enforce the strict observance of this law in the mat
ter of bona hde transfer OF the American
ownership. Any vessels transferred to the American
flag while really owned by foreigners. is liable to
seizure as a prize of war, II II should fa into the
hands Of enemies of the foreign The United
States government cannot afford to give the shelter
of its nag to foreign-owned vessels which seek to
escape the consequences All transfers to the
American ia, should be bona fde The vessels should
be actually bought and paid for by American citizens
or corporations and there should be no agreement,
secret or otherwise, providing for the return of a
vessel to it's former owners.
II this international rule is strictly adhered TO-,
there need be complications with any beligerent
nation and all vessels under the American flag en-
gagged in innocent commerce will be exempt from
seizure
1t is worthy OF note that only two Republican SEN
ators voted in favor of the conference report which
proposed that all foreign-but vessels taking Ameri-
register within two years be admitted TO the
American coastwise trade They Senators Borah
and Jones Senator Poindetter, Progressive, also
sided with the Democrats who voted for the
conference report which if adopted would have closed
shipping.