Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-04
M 'ADOO'S SHIPPING
PLAN IS ENDORSED
Geo. w. Norris, Former Director Of
Wharves, Philadelphia, Likes Nc
Adoo Naval Auxiliary Merchant
Marine Plan.

Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. A. Private
capital cannot and will not supply the
vessels imperatively needed for an
American merchant marine, hence the
government should undertake that task,
declared George w. Norris, until re-
Gently Director of the Department of
Wharyes in the city government of
Philadelphia, in a statement today en-
dorsing Secretary McAdoo S outline of
the new Shipping bill.
Practically every intelligent man
in this country' he said, 'sees the
supreme importance of merchant
marine, and is in favor of having one.
Three ways are suggested of getting
it, first, by a revision of the naviga-
tion laws; second, by paying subsidies;
third, by government ownership and
operation, either direct or through
stock ownership of corporation.
awe all want to get to the place in
the centre Of the cirle, but on the
rim of this circle there are three groups
of people-one opposing a revision of
the navigation laws, another opposing
subsidies and a third opposing govern
ment ownership. Each of these groups
is holding back, and until the position
of at least one of them is modified we
shall not get anywhere.
"Any attempt to modify the exist
ing navigation laws will certainly be
opposed by the Seamen's Union, sup
ported by all the other labor unions,
and reinforced by the enthusiastic adj
vocates of the safety at sea idea,
whose cause has been so much strength
ened by the series of startling marine
disasters which have shocked the world
within the last few years.
'1t is well-known fact, too, that
the Democratic party is opposed on
principle to subsidies, either disguised
or undisguised, and as it was never
possible to get any form of subsidy
through a Republican c ngress, it is
scarcely worth while to consider the
possibility of its getting through a
Democratic congress.
''It is therefore evident that any
changes which will bring the cost of
either building or operating vessels
down to the foreign standard must be
very radical changes, and will newt
ably be opposed by very powerful in
terests. Present conditions should not
be allowed to continue for the years
that must elapse before such result
could be reached.
"An American merchant marine,
D IN, In M oil Q
speech by Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo, would not merely serve our
need in the only possible way now open
to us, but it would also meet the pres
ent need for naval auxiliary.
"In my mind there ought to be uni
versal agreement on the acquisition by
the government of ships to be built in
American shipyards, and manned by
American officers and American sailors,
to form an adequate naval auxiliary
in time of war, and in time of peace
to be used to develop new opportuni'
ties for our export trade. The only
debatable question is how and by
whom these vessels shall be operated
when in use for commercial purposes
That is merely a question of business
policy, upon which it ought not to be
| difficult to secure an agreement.
GAS to the idea that the adoption
of such measure, calling for operation
Of shipping lines by the government
would be precedent for railroad oper
alton by the government, I can imagine
nothing more unlikely. The conditions
which exist in ocean transportation
and the theory upon which govern
ment intervention must be justified
are SO wholly different from the rail
road situation that there can be neith
er analogy nor comparison between the
two. Moreover, as the government in
tervention would probably be tempo
rary-ultimately yielding the field tC
private capital--and would probably
show balance on the wrong side oil
the ledger, opponents of government
ownership of railroads should rather
welcome the experiment as likely tC
prove an Illuminating object lesson.
"Four principal facts should be
borne in mind in considering this bill'
''Fact One---We have practically
speaking) no vessels in which to send
out our billions of exports, or in which
to bring in our billions of imports. Be
cause of this fact we are (D destroy
ing the efficiency in war of our navy
| (2) fattening the rest Of the W rid by
an annual payment of S20O,000,000 OIL
more, CD hampering our manufacturer
and exporters by compelling them tC
ship through their competitors and (3)
running the risk of an utter paralyza
tion of oW foreign trade by u war tC
which we are no party.
"Fact Two-Under existing condi
tions it is capable of mathematical
demonstration that private capita
cannot and will not supply such yes
sells.
"Fact Three-these conditions can
not be materially changed without sucl
radical and fundamental changes in oul
policies as could only he brought
about---if at although an educa
tional propaganda continued over q
period Of years
"Fact Four-The Federal govern
ment can fill the void at direct cost
\ which cannot be more than very
minute fraction Of the indirect benefit
"The lines established by the gov
crnment will greatly aid our exporters
and thereby simplify the problems OF
] .... L.. uih.s. Al. .,..1i 4