The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-17
Congressman DOremus
Declares for Govern
ment Ownership
SPEAKS BEFORE
u. OF NJ. CLUB
Views Are Believed to
Reflect Administra-
TONS Program

az aNui tSo Ou Oul merchant ma
rine," before the University OF
Michigan club at the Griswold
| house, Wednesday noon.
AS Mr.. Doremus is both chairman
OF the Democratic congressional
commiIIee and of the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce OF
the national house of representa-
tives, his declaration was taken 10
reflect, in a measure AT least, the
feeling OF the national administra-
ton.
'In America we have lived TO
prove the fallacy that we can pros.
per by trading among ourselves, -
said Congressman Doremus. Amer
lean labor, genius and enterprise
are sending the products OF our
farms, mills and factories into every
corner OF the earth, and the wool OF
Australia, the teas of the orient, the
spices OF the midas and the nitrates
OF Chile find a ready market here.
America has been endowed lavlshly
by nature, and the genius and enter
prise or our people are doing the
rest.
I'VE lack, however. one\ OF the
prime essentials OF a great indus
trial nation-an ocean-carrying trade
with which TO develop and maintain
our commercial relations with the
rest of the world We have no
ships to carry our products 10 those
who want them. but are almost en-
tirely dependent In this respect upon
the ships OF competing nations.
"a splendid field Of commercial
opportunity now lies before US in
South America, but we can not oc-
cupy IL because we can not reach 1t.
AS one OF the delegates from South
America 10 the recent conference in
Washington said, How do you ex-
pect us 10 trade with you n we can
not communicate with YOU The
situation is deplorable one be-
cause our geographical location and
our community of interests make us
the natural traders with those TO
the south Of us In man lines Of
industry we are prepared 10 under
sell the world but we are handi-
capped because Europe has ships
and we have none In our early his
tory the American flag could be
seen on every one OF the seven seas
Today our Gag is seldom seen in the
overseas trade.
Not long ago the record OF grain
clearances from the port OF New
York for one year showed that out
OF 200 vessels ladened with Amer
lean products only seven carried the
American flag. OF 5Q.000,000 bush
els of grain shipped abroad from
Baltimore only 10000 bushels were
carried in American bottoms. And
every bear our manufacturers and
producers pay annually $z0o,0U0,0Oo
20 foreign shipowners.
Our utter helplesaness in the
ocean-carryiug trade was demon
strated at the outbreak of the Euro
pean war when We had but 10 yes
sells OF 1000 tons capacity or over
a gagged in the transatlantic and
traus.Pacihc trade The shipowuers
OF Europe, taking advantage Of their
opportunity. increased ocean freight
rates by leaps and bounds, IN some
instances over 900 per cent. The
war Itself afforded no justification
feF-this- enormous Increase, as near
ly all OF the governments OF Europe,
as we'll as our own, We're issuing
war risk insurance protecting both
the vessel and the cargo. Ever
since the war began ocean freight
rates have been fixed only by the
greed uf the shipowners.
what is the remedy for this de-
plorable condition? The one most
frequently suggested IS a ship sub
sidy. or, in other words. direct ap-
preparation to the shipowuer from
the public treasury. This remedy
has been vociferously advoe lated IN
certain quarters for many years, but
no party has ever enacted II into
law In my judgment no party over
will adopt It. because the public sen
timent OF America e. against the ap.
preparation of public funds to pri-
vato corporations for the purpose Of
making an Improbable business re-
munerative.
I'VE nave waited 50 years for pri-
vate capital to develop a merchant
marine. ! am convinced that II we
ere 10 put the stars and Stripes on
the hirh seas it will be necessary
for the federal goerument 20 undor
take the work. Government ownet-
ship OF vessels on the high seas "a
IA different from government own.
ership Of railroad transportation.
The field OF rail transportation is
already occupied and the govern
meut. under the constitution. has
the power OF regulation over it. The
field OF ocean transportation has
not been occupied by private CAPT
tai and the vovernment hoz M now-