The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-15
COMMERCE CHAMBER
CONDEMNS SHIP BILL
Wilson Administration Measure
DisapprOycd at Meeting by
Unanimous Vote.

The Chamber Of Commerce by unanl-
nous vote yesterday at a special meeting
registered its disapproval OF the Admins
tration shipping bill. This was in support
Of the first half OF the recommendation
OF the special committee. headed by Irv-
Ing Il. Bush president Of the Bush Ter
minal Company
The second part OF the committees find
lugs-its suggestions for a constructive
programme Of stimulating an American
merchant marine through a Federal com
mission operating Federal guarantee
fund much on the basis OF a mortgage
loan guarantee In real estate operations
but applied to private ship operating con-
cerns-met with divided opinion. II
was referred back to the committee for
consideration by vote of the entire cham
her, with the exception OF the members
Of the committee, after a motion to lay
the matter on the table had brought tie
vote of 9S to 9S.
Mr. Bush, for the committees con-
structive suggestion, and Welding Ring
against II We're the leaders of debate
on the floor of the chamber. AS for the
Administration shin purchase bill, there
was not r good word
England alone has i,23j ships engaged
in foreign trade said Mi, Bush. Does
il seem worth while for "A nation OF the
standing of the United States 10 attempt
to establish "A merchant marine with a
fleet OF from thirty to sixty ships--all
| the expenditure contemplated would pro-
! vide? II II not big enough to do any
substantial good, but it Is just large
enough to discourage private capital and
! priVute courage from coming TO the as
slstanCe of this country.
1T seems 10 me that the suggestion is
not worthy Of this great country or
A Il. .i..is. . loo,
ington, which has done in the past some
big things in a big way"
Welding Ring opposed the plan outlined
by the committee for guarantee fund
through which 20 build up an American
merchant marine, He said that the anal
ogy between such a fund and a real
estate mortgage guarantee company, as
drawn by the committee. appeared very
far fetched due to the unstable nature Of
| the shipping business and the uncertainty
| of earnings.
Mr. Ring found fault with the report
OF the committee on the ground that II
had minimiZed the disadvantage in cost
OF operation under which American ship
ping labors as compared with foreign
( shipping, the committee holding that the
/ Increased cost to Americans was not more
/ than between and 10 per cent.
He cited the case OF Capt. Robert
! Dollar of san Francisco, who found the
foreign to American registry was SS,220
a year for extra labor required under
the American laws. including a water
I tender. In addition, he said, the larger
cost under American rules OF measure
ment would make the to.al increased cost
Of yearly operation of such a ship about
$4,000
lie held that 100000 tons OF foreign
! shipping owned by Americans is not put
under the American flag because OF the
! extra cost. which could he remcdied. he
said, simply by AN act OF Congress per
hitting operation on the same basis OF
cost as other countries
lie called the committees suggestion
/ merely subsidy in another gulse, say
ing that III We are going TO have a sub
sidy let ny have II straight and fair and
not try to gloss 1t over by some scheme
that the people will not understand"
BosToN, Jan, 1.-THE Coastwise Trans,
porta1ion Company of Boston closed ar
order for the building Of two modern stee
freight steamships at the Camden works
Of The New York Shlpbuildng Company.
They wui ne the first American regis
tered ships for the transa atlantic merchant
. marine to be built In this country In z
Z great many years.