The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-20
SEE new LAW DRIVE
u.s.. FLAG OFF SEAS
Shippers Say They Cannot
Compete With Foreigners I'm
der La Toilette Act.
EXPENSES EAT PROFITS

WASHINGTON. July 1a-Deslring to
ascertain Just how the men who are IN
terested In shipping feel with regard 10
the seamen's law the Nations BUSINESS,
| the official publication of the OF
Commerce OF the United States. re-
auested several heads Of steamship com
panies to give their points OF view.
"Our laws and regulations must he
changed TO correspond to those OF Tor
eign nations with whom we come III
direct competition says Capt. ROBERT
Dollar Of the Robert Dollar npan
whose ships are engaged In trade with
China and thu Pacific generally.
The laws Of Great Brltain are prefer
able, as under them more than half OF
the steam tonnage Of the world is sue
cessfully operated. Therefore 1t is fair
{, assume that the British regulations
cannot be far wrong. our laws ana
regulations require twenty Inherent
changes to make the operation oil ships
correspond to that of the British.
The time has certainly arrived Tor
some constructive legislation. In the
last session Of Congress sixteen bills
werc introduced to restrict and restrain
the operat or OF ships, but not "A single
bill tn aid or assist us. We should nave
! believe, n commission OF shipping men,
not politicians, TO draft these laws ana
to advise Congress. thereby preventing
any future blunder like the eanen bill.
the only fesult OF which is to drive the
last American ship from the ocean"
Cost Fails on Anericnns.
OF the same opinion was Eugene
w. Ong. assistant general counsel OF the
United Fruit Company, who said
"If the American people desire higher
wages end special privileges FOR seamen
some one will have TO play for them. III
the law compels all ships entering our
ports TO pay higher wages IL means
higher rates. and the American farmer
and manufactures would have TO stand
the expense. II foreign ships escape the
provisions OF the law. as seems Likely,
aud they should he enforced only aGl';st
American ships the law sounds the death
knell OF the American merchant marine
The effect OF the law upon
American shipping IL ~exempllned by the
prospective elimination of the Pacific
Mail Steamship lines, according to
Lewis J. Spence. director of traffic OF
the southern Pacific Company. These
are among the finest vessels on the
Pacific.
Certified public accountants have re-
corded their finding that the require
ments of the seamen's law will in
crease the cost Of operation of the Pa
cifc Mail service, in wages and feed
ing OF crews alone, more than $500, 900
per annum which is considerably more
than the company has earned in excess
OF It's liked charges and cost OF operation
in any recent year" says Mr.. Spence.
1T does not require any stretch of
ina gination to realize that the service
cannot be proiitably operated after this
statute becomes effective. November
4. 1915"
Will Have to Discard L. $. Flag.
F. c. Munson. vice-presiient OF the
Munson Steamship Line. concludes that
the seamen's act will undoubtedly
have a prejudicial effect on American
shipping.
W placed under American registry
two OF our best a soon after the
passage OF the bill allowing the placing
OF foreign tonnage under the American
flag" says Mr.. Munson. but we fear
that II the seamen's law In its present
form is allowed to go into force on
November 4 We shall be under the
necessity ~ changing the flag OF these
steamers, much as we dislike to DO so,
or else he forced to allow our compet-
itors to take away some OF our bust
ness
Work Is now progressing favorahlv
with a referendum which is to be taken
by the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
United States upon the question of
or not the seamen's act should
be repealed. Before the subject is
placed before the members OF the
chamber a committee will make a re-
port upon tho principles and facts
which are involved.