New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-14
SEAMEN'S ACT
TO AWAKEN u. 5.
Will Show Need of Amer
lean Merchant Marine,
Says p. w. H. Ross.
LA TOILETTE BILL
CALLED BLESSING
Political Science Academy Also
Hears Same Measure Described
as UnWise Legislation.

The fourth and last session of the
Academy of Political Science came to
q close yesterday at Columbia Uni
versity with an appeal by P. W. ii.
Toss for the upbuilding Of the Ameri-
can merchant marine. Mr.. Ross, who
is president of the National Marine
League of the United States, pointed
out that his organization was non
partisan. seeking only to educate the
people upon the economic necessity OF
some adequate programme.
AFTER defending Senator La Follette's
seamen's act, Mr. Ross declared that
the United States, with all its enormous
foreign trade. stands eleventh among
nations in ship tonnage. As even more
o.seonesrting he pointed out that the
,.c@3t.ase ~ ~N~-.-... --....h>.NS ca' =
red in American vessels had dropped
IRON gl.5 IN IoIJ 80 90 IL 1910, with =
s..ht increase 70 -, IN 1914.
IN the enGeavoT 20 obtain remedial
legislation" SAID Mr. Ross. I'VE must
never lose sight OF two automatic con
s.derationS. IN the first place. II isn't
waa; we would like 10 set but what we
Ale likely to get, and, second, from
NLoN arc We SoAAe ~ ~ - 49, -
Lament legislation is the result Of an
enduring public opinion. We may be
lo.ltively sure that the people o. this
country, mostly lnlanders, will vote
eventually for two things: First, the
t..OIoyment of American labor and.
Ind, the creation of Americana IN
q t.icS.
.-erce any plan that invites The
slc4n public 10 vote for the en-
-ea1 OF foreigners In lieu OF Amer
..s wiil not permanently succeed
% will the puouc vote 20 make II
C.sier for foreign Shipys-dS 10 IN
I.kase while American shipyards de-
cease.
In my Individual opinion, the prob
I5le effect OF the sesmen's act on Amer
lean shipping Will prove 10 be = bless
ing in disguise. The best and rios;
hopeful effect VIII be that the great
mass of our people Will awaken % the
fact that their own daily Interests axe
more at stake through OR lscS .;
American control OF the ocean trans
portation of American products Less
l.0pe that instead OF 1900 there may
lie 10000 American seamen.'
Emerson Z. Parvin. secretary OF the
International Mercantile Marine Com
IaAaf 1aAN NAi0N ~A4N NV 1N-t--~--
placed emphasis on wages and protse-
ton rather than on the safety % pas
sengers and crews az sea. Ar. Parvir
contended that able seamea could not
be made by legislation, as was evi-
denced by the dearth OF American sail
ors. despite the new law.
Further characterizing the new Jaw
as unwise legislation, Mr.. Pa-via said
it was likely TO provoke rets.iatory &C
ton from other nations. He closed %
saying that the creation by Congress
Ct a permanent shipping commission
vested with authority 10 pass UPor
shipping problems and recommends
tions, would help solve a tangled situz
ton.
Mrs. Florence Kelley, secretary OF the
National Consumers League, spoke on
the travellers need for the protection
afforded by the seamen's act. She said
the league is pledged 70 a programme
Of continuous education Of the indif
ferent travelling public 20 sense Ot
its responsibility for the "murderous
negligence" responsible FOR so much
death and disaster at sea. on lakes and
at docks IN Chicago and New York.
Among the others who spoke we're /
]. Parkinson. of Columbia University;
r. de Tankerville, editor OF Shipping
News Illustrated" and A. K. Kuhn.