The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-11
Government 0wnership-0r Something
Else.

Government 0wnership--Or Something
Else.
A government owned merchant ma
rinc, pro and con, was ably debated at
the Chamber Of Commerce dinner Tues
day night, and Boston showed again the
traditional Yankee interest in sea trade
by giving the distinguished speakers a
most attentive hearing.
Judge Alexander of Missouri, chairman
OF the merchant marine committee of
the House OF Representatives, and
spokesman for the administration, pre-
sented the strongest possible case for the
Wilson government ownership bill now
before both Senate and House. The ar
gument was elaborate and explicit. But
on this important administration meas
ure the administration party is not
united, and another strong Democrat,
Judge Edward w. Saunders of Virginia,
! like Judge Alexander, member OF the
merchant marine committee of the House,
spoke earnestly against the proposal as
a radical departure from Democratic
faith and precedent.
President Wilson, Judge Alexander
and those Of their party who stand with
them have this unquestionable advantage
over their Democratic opponents, that
the government ownership bill with all
it's faults is at least definite, affirma-
tive, constructive measure. Judge Saun-
ders for his side was able to offer no
remedy, no alternative, beyond repeal
of the navigation laws that make the
operation of American merchant ships
more costly than the operation of foreign
ships-and maritime Boston, knowing the
sea, knows that that would be no rem
edy at all 1t is not laws, or only in
small part manmade laws, that render
American shipping more expensive Con
gress last August, at the urging of Pres
dent Wilson, suspended the law requir-
ing that officers of American ships shall
be American citizens, in favor of ships
of foreign register brought beneath the
American flag. But no sooner were the
stars and stripes hoisted over these for
mer British and German vessels than the /!
British and German officers of these
ships demanded and obtained-the reg
ular American wages paid to Yankee Of
ficers born and bred in Maine, or on Cape |
Ann or Cape Cod. And so with the !
crews A Norwegian or German sailor |
leaves his country's ship lying on one /
side of a wharf, where he has earned Slf |
month, walks over to the other side !
and ships on an American steamer al S25 /
or $50.
The problem is exactly the same as
when Englishmen or Frenchmen or Ital /
ians leave their calling in the old lands
and enter Massachusetts shops or fac
rTbaxr avpnpt 4la xpafrag ~ i
under their own flag. in their own coun-
try, but the wages paid here-and they
get them. This is the very heart OF the
question of the American merchant ma
rine.
The third speaker of Tuesday night.
ex Congressman J. Sloat Fassett of New
York, a northern man OF business very
cleyerly brought out this and cognate
facts in his address which unmstakably
commanded the favor of his audience.
He was conspicuous member OF the
House for several wears recently. when
the ocean mail bills, 50 narrowly de- i
feated. were under discussion. He was
one of the best informed and most force
ful of advocates of the legislation for
swift steamship lines TO South America
and across the Pacific, framed BY SEN
ator Gallinger of the merchant marine
and urged by Presidents
and Taft
Mr. Fassett objected 10 the government
ownership bin the more effectively be-
cause he could offer a practical substi-
tute. He urged careful plan of sub
,idizstion, as in harmony with the prac-
ice Of all successful maritime nations.
ind as costing only fraction OF the in
expense Of government own
,rship and maintenance this argu-
nent apparently made the deepest i'm
preston of all
The subject Is great and live one.
or the presidents bill is the dominant
business OF the Senate, and the admin.
stration IL exerting every effort to enact
{ before March. A special committee OF
he Boston Chamber Of Commerce and
imilar committees of Chambers Of Com
nerce OF New York and other large