The Washington times., 1914-04-15
NANY.SHIPS IN TRADE,

When the suggestion was first
made that some of the cruisers of
the navy be used for commercial
purposes in time of peace, much
merriment was inspired in certain
quarters. But the Secretary Of the
| Navy says it can be done readily
enough, and surely it is not apparent
why he is in error.
A ship subsidy bill is always given
title which indicates that one of
its purposes is to strengthen our
navy by getting American ships
built that shall be liable to naval
service in time of war. If a ship
built for commerce, with a Govern
ment subsidy, is good enough for
naval uses in time Of war, why
wouldn't a ship built for the navy,
with Government money entirely, be
good enough for commerce in time
of peace? In the Spanish-American
war ships of commerce were pressed
into the naval service and served a
magnificent purpose. Every naval
country regards its merchant marine
as a naval reserve, for colliers,
scouts, and cruising purposes.
This country has SO long refused
to commit itself to the subsidy
policy that it seems reasonably Ger
tain We will not get a merchant
marine of large proportions unless
the Government goes into the busi-
ness directly. 1t is in fact in that
business now, for the Panama rail-
way owns a fleet of commercial
ships, and the Government owns all
the stock of the Panama Railway
Company. There have been various
proposals for building a large num-
Der Of additional vessels and attach
ing them to this fleet, for operation
via the Panama canal. This plan is
recommended by many people who
have come to the conclusion that the
general public's interest in the canal
will only be fully conserved if the
Government goes into the operation
of ships by its routes. These people
believe that the canals greatest use
fulness will be as a regulator of
transportation rates; and there is
fear that in that capacity it will
be hampered by reason of railroad
control of the ships passing through
it. How serious this fear is in the
legislative mind is indicated by the
Legislation forbidding railroad-owned
ships using the canal.
That kind of legislation is always
of dubious efficacy. The ships might
not be owned by a railroad, but they
might be controlled by interests al
lied to and in sympathy with the
purposes of the railroads. For these
reasons many public men have urged
that the Government should go into
the construction of vessels that in
peace would be useful and profitable
for commercial purposes, and that
in case of need could be used by the
navy.
That is all there is, in effect, TO
the proposal suggested by the Works
resolution and the report of Secre-
tary Daniels that the plan is FEAST
bic. Mr.. Daniels points out that the
project would enable the Govern
ment to develop a great naval aux
iliary without any expense, because
the ships would earn their own way
through their use in commerce.
Moreover they would at the same
time be developing a trade between
the United States and the South
American countries, which seems
likely to get into the hands Of for
eigners unless our Government gives
more direct encouragement to
American participation than has
been indicated by any program thus
| far adopted.