New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13

tween all the principal South American ports ana
England, Germany, France, Spain and italy lines
of swift and eommodious steamers ply regularly
There are FIVE subsidized first class mall and pas
senRer lines between BuenoS Ayres and Europe
There is no line between BuenOS Ayres and the
United States For some years past the German, the
English and the Italian lines have been replacing
their old steamers with new and swifter steam
ers Of modern construction, accommodation and
capacity.
How can this defect be remedied? The an
swer to this question must be found by ascertain
ing the cause Of the decline Of our merchant ma
rne. Why Is 1t that Americans have subStan-
TALLY retired from the foreign transport service
We are a nation Of maritime traditions and facil-
ity; we are nation Of constructive capacity, COM
petent to build ships; eminent, II not pre-
eminent, in the construction of machinery; VIC
have abundant capital seeking investment; we
have courage and enterprise shrinking from no
competition in any field which we choose to enter
Why, then, have we retired from this field in
which we were once conspicuously successful7
l think the answer is twofold.
1. The higher wages and the greater cost OF
maintenance of American officers and crews make
it impossible to compete on equal terms with FOR
egn ships. The scale Of living and the scale Of
pay of American sailors is fixed by the standard
those are maintained at high level by the pro-
tective tariff The moment the American passes
beyond the limits Of his country and engages in
ocean transportation he comes into competition
with the lower foreign scale of wages and living.
DIFFERENCE IN COST OF OPERATING AMER
ICAN AND FOREIGN STEAMSHIPS.
2 The principal maritime nations of the world,
anxious to develop their shipbuildlng trade, 70
promote their shipbuldng industry, to have at
hand transports and auxiliary cruisers in case Oh
war; are fostering their steamship lines by the
payment of subsidies. England is paying to her
steamship lines between 100000 and S70OO,O0O
a year. 1t is estimated that since 1910 she has
paid to them between S25O,OOO,OO0 and sS0O,OOO,-
OOO The enormous development Of her commerce
her preponderant share of the carrying trade Of
the world and her shipyards crowded with con-
struction orders from every part of the earth IN
dictate the success Vt her policy.
France is paying about $s,00O0o0 year; Italy
and Japan between 100000 and s4,OOO,OOO each;
Germany, upon the initiative of Bismarck, is
building up her trade with wonderful rapidity by
heavy subventions to her steamship lines and by
giving special dFerental rates of carriage over
her railroads for merchandise shipped by those
lines Spain, Norway, Austria Hungary and Can
ada all subsidize their own lines 1t is estimated
:lat about $2s 100000 year is paid by our COM
mcrcia competitors to their steamship lines
Against these advantages to his competitor the
American ship owner has to contend and 1t IS
manifest that the subsidized ship can afford to
carry freight at cost for long enough period to
drive him out Of business.
We are living in world not of natural con-
b,,4 q al
to steamship lines is as much part Of the COM