The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-11-30
AMERICA NEEDSB BIG
MERCHANT MARINE
Three Senators Speak Before
Academy Of Political Science
. In New York

hNbtINlVnb Iuhb III NNpub VI ~
ture foreign wars expectation from the.
United States would virtually cease
and that only the superior British and
French navies enable expectation to
continue in spite Of the present Europ
can conflict, were made at the meeting
of the Academy Of Political Science in
New York, as arguments for the up
holding of the American merchant ma
rine. l.a,-a,,.D-
Senators duncan L. Fletcher OF Flor
ida, John W. Weeks Of Massachusetts,
and Robert l.. Owen Of Oklahoma were
the speakers.
h, Senator Weeks argued for q large
merchant marine. Pointing out that
shis country now pays to foreign own
ers $500, 100000 annually to transport
American products abroad, he asserted
that the creation of a merchant marine
by subsidies would increase industry in
this country and give employment to
workmen. In the event of a great for
eign war, he said, an ample 100000
merchant marine would be invalnable
because It would enable America to con
tinue exporting regardless of the war,
whereas now, il it were not for the su-
perior British and French navies, Amer
lean expectation would be stopped.
Would Benefit Navy
HWe need a merchant marine for
mercantile and naval purposes said
Senator Weeks. owe, should repeal any
legislation like portions of the seamen 8
bin which would initiate against this
development. .,.. 'f
NAny governmental operation which
places government owned or controlled
ships in competition with privately
owned and operated ships should not be
eountenanced. The judgement and ex
perionce of experts Of all kinds ON this
subject should be sufficient to deter our
taking such hOpelessly fatal step.
GAS the navy needs auxiliaries even
more than any other facility, measures
taken to increase its efficiency should
give first consideration to and be influ.
enced by the development of a mer
chant marine.
Favors Navy Auxiliary
| Senator Owens said he believed that
congress should Establish naval
auxiliary merchant marine owned by q
corporation, the majority stock of which
is owned by the government; that thin
corporation should be in the control OF
a shipping board; that the most modern
ships should be built for this service
az sneedily as possible that we should
prepare American seamen to man thes'
boats at fair compensation; educate 8
naval reserve on them; that we SHOULD
establish with these boats, lines Of
commerce and regular saifngs at fail
rates between our ports and those 81
Mexico, Central and South America anC
the Orient.
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo
who was unable to attend, sent . tele
gram. He urged that the government
should provide speedily an adequate
naval auxiliary in the form of mer
chant marine.
Wants Government Ownership I'd.
The necessity of providing at leas
f01 auxiliary ships for the navy as Al
arm of the national defense was urge,
by Senator Duncan U. Fletcher Of Flori
ia rs Justification in itself for the en-
actment of bin for the government
ownership of merchant ships. Senate
Fletcher had charge Of the government
ship purchase bin in the senate las
as indicative of plans for enacting tn
measure into law at the coming session
Last January when the ship purchas
bill was before the senate, poiuted on
that Great Britain, with all of it's nava
establishment, had found it necessar
to commander about 1900 morchan
vessels during the present war, sal
the senator. 81 pointed ont our nee
Of naval auxiliaries. The need grow
ou us. The government Is compellc
10 build and acquire ships to met tn
necessities of the navy. Navy auxilj
aries are certain and contro ling need
These auxlliariGs can be constructed 8
rs to serve commerce in time of peac
and be made ready to serve the nav,
in time of threatened or actual wal
1t is an arm of the national defens
which must be developed and made scr
viceable. "
The shipping laws enacted since l9l
were pronounced as the first aid give
American shipping in years. lie dc
Tended the terms of the seamen' = Law
adding that he thought it would b
found that the strongest objections t
the act on the Atlantic coast cam
from foreign shipping interests. TIL
senator denounced the action of the Pa
cifc Nah Steamship Company official
in abandoning their trans Pacific servic
on the ground of the Seamen s law an
then transferring the ships tn anothe
ocean where the same law applies wit
equal forge. '4t H2III99 - ''''