The Washington times., 1915-02-02

: HOLD ON PARTY.
is an interesting fact that the Ameri-
can tonnage on the Great Lakes IL
larger In tonnage than the total ocean,
going marine Of any country except
Great Britain and Germany
u. s. Tonnage on Lakes Big.
In fact. the American tonnage on
the lakes Is almost ne-half as great
as the German merchant marine,
whose upbuilding in the last genera
ton has been one Of the wonders Of the
commercial world. We hear a good
deal about the great ocean-goinE trade
ocean tonnage is only a little more than
half that which sails the Great Lakes
under the American flag. Far and away
the greatest commerce; bearing waters Of
1t SENS pretty plain that the one way
to increase quickly the supply Of ocean
ships would be to put the German in
termed vessels at work. But to do that
whether the allies would allow these
ships transferred to a neutral flag and
put back into business. The Declara-
tion OF London specifies that a transfer
Of flag sixty, days or more before war
opened should be regarded as prima
facie legitimate: there must be positive
proof that II was made to avoid the
consequences Of war. After that the
presumption would be that 1t was made
to avoid those consequences, and the
burden Of proof would be to show the
contrary. The Declaration OF London
was not widely ratified. but since the
war began has been made the general
basis Of practice.
Prospect of Many Complications.
If, then. German interned ships
were sold to the United States Gov
ernment. would 1t be held that they
were sold ito avoid the consequences
OF war;" The answer seems plain.
II there had been no war. and no
shipping pinch. the idea Of buying
to anybody; Germany would not have
been willing to sell. Whatever the
technical decision, the facts are OBJ
vious enough
The allies. however. have indicated,
II is Understood, that they might not
interfere with these ex German ships
being placed under the American flag
TO trade strictly between neutrals.
Holland. Denmark and Italy are neu-
| trails: but the British have set up a
! pretty strong presumption that car
goes destined to them are to be re-
! garded as really intended to be
passed on to Germany and Austria; so
| there Is the prospect OF endless com
plications In this trade.
The embarrassment to the dignity
| Of the United States, Of having a shin
owned by this Government held up.
searehed' scar nn convoysd cast;U into port, and
Of a sale. Is apparent. The United
States cant very we'll permit a prize
| court Of some other power to sit and
decide whether 1t is telling the truth
! or not.
Question of Fact Important.
Against these objections to the bill,
the Administration's advocates say
that there Is no need of trouble; that
a good many ships are available for
never been German: that Brttish, He
Norwegian and other vessels can be
had, and at reasonable prices.' This
is just as vigorously denied; and the
question OF fact seems important.
the German maritime authorities are
! keenly interested to have the shippine q
bill passed. so that they may unioad d
| their useless ships on the United
the allies.
There is no need to buy a Quarrel
with every ship as Senator Root said
declared an official of the Administra.
ton. because it would be pcrfecetl,
| possible TO ascertain in advance of anS
particular purchase whether the allied
| countries would be willing to have The
deal made. The. facts could be laid be.
fore them; and il their objections made
II Impossible to perfect a good title. the
| deal wouldn't be made"
That, again. is not regarded as sx.
actiy dignifed attitude for the Gov.
ernment of the United States to occupy
Administrations Position.
The Administration authorities insist
that when the American Government
created the War Risk Insurance Blu,
reau. backed by Government credit, tc
provide insurance that was not to be
had elsewhere. it went into the bust
ness for practical purposes just as fal
as 1t would do if it owned the ships
What difference Is there" they de.
mand. between the Government own
ing the ship and carrying the risk or
1t, and the Government receiving pa,
for carrying the risk for somebody
else?"
The opposition to the measure EN-.
braces people who on principle objec,
to Government ownership: and it also
embraces some, notably Senator Norris
who want Government ownership. but
object because this bill contains a prom
ise that whenever the present eNigencS
is passed, the ships shall be sold to pri
vate shipping concerns. though kep
under the American flag. Sen1ter Nor.
rs wants Government own1svho, boel
now and in the future.
The opposition to the measure in
sists that in fact the general CONNER
,ial interests of the country reuuiA
some such outlet as Government ship!
tcan give at this time. On the other sid,
It is rctorted that Government ships
run for the admitted purpose of keepn:
rates down, would force private enter
prise out of the shipping business, ant
in the end deal a fatal blow to Amcri
can shipping. Advocates of direct sub
sides object to the measure on til,
ground that Government aid ought to b,
| lr,i,- ntl, ,triap l,a,. :.
in subsidies. The Democrats reply tina
This country has set its face agaips
subsidies, and that If we mus. wait 70
subsidies, VIC will never get a mer