The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-13
NAV|ES OF ALLIES ONLY PROTECTION
 FOR J. s. EXPORTS Nation Needs Great Navy as We'll as Large Mer-
 chant Marine
$500, 100000 IS PAID
 YEARLY IN FREIGHT
Foreign Shipowners Reap Harvest at Expense of American Manufactur- CTS, Asserts Senator Fletcher at
 Political Science Convention

New York, November 12-Assertions exportation from the United States would virtually cease and that only the superior British and French navies enable expor- tation to continue in spite of the present European conflict were made at the meet ing of the Academy of Political Science tonight as arguments for the .upbuilding of the American merchant marine.
 Senators Duncan U. Fletcher of Florida, John W. Weeks of Massachusetts and Robert l.. Owen of Oklahoma were the speakers.
 Senator Weeks argued for large mer- chant marine Pointing out that this country now pays to foreign owners of ships s9OO,ooO,0o0 annually to transport American products abroad, he asserted that the creation of a merchant marine by subsidies would increase industry III this country and give employment to probably to 500000 workmen. In the event of great foreign war, he said an ample merchsnt marine would be invaluable because it would enable America to con- tinue exporting regardless of the war, "iiOi Oao llOWB IL IL were uOt lOF the Su- perior British and French navies, Ameri- can exportation would be stopped
 Merchant Marine Needed
 we need a merchant marine for mer- cantile and naval purposes said Sena- tor Weeks. we should repeal any legis-
 ation like portions of the seamen's bill, which initiate against this development We should follow the practice of all other natons, which has resulted in the develop ment of shipping by giving sufficient aid to overcome the difference in costs which stand as handicap against our shipping. Such aid should only apply in cases where the operation cannot be conducted profitably and only continue as long as that condition prevails, such aid being based on the service performed either in carrying mails or furnishing ships for auxiliary purposes.
 Any governmental operation which places government-owne or controlled ships in competition with privately owned and operated ships should not be counte- nanced. The judgment and experience of experts of all kinds on this subject should be sufficient to determine our taking such hopelessly fatal step. As the navy needs auxiliaries even more than any other facility, any measures taken to in crease it's efficiency should given first consideration to and be influenced by the development of merchant marine Naval Auxiliary Desired
 Senator Owen, said he believed that Con- gress should establish a maya, auxiliary merchant, marine owned by corporation, the majority stock of which is owned by the government; that this corporation should be in control of shipping board ; that the most modern ships should be pulit Tor this service as speedily as possi- ble; that we should prepare American sea- men to man these boats at fair compen- sation; educate naval reserve on them that we should establish with these boats lines of commerce and regular sailings at fair rates between our ports and those Of Mexico, Central and South America and the orient"
 Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, who was unable to attend, sent telegram. He urged that the government should pro- vlde speedy an adequate naval auxiliary in the form of a merchant marine Profound economic changes will result from the worldwide war now ra ging :, he said. "We must secure our economic as well as our physical safety. The ,ltili- zation of a naval auxiliary merchant marine in time of peace for the expan- ton and protection of our foreign trade is of vital importance. The prosperity of the country depends absolutely upon the continued growth of our foreign com merce.'