Evening journal., 1915-06-25
FRIDAY JUNE 25. 1915
OuR MERcHANr MARNE ANp SUBSIDIES.

OIR MEktHANT MARINE AND NibSiUitHs
rrHERE is a steady increase in the number Of Amer
leans who believe that the only logical way to
build up merchant marine for the United States Is
through system OF subsidies such as has been used
for years by the earth's great maritime Powers. In
other words 10 fight such nations with the weapon
that has enabled them 10 reduce our merchant marine
the humating position occupies today in the car
ryng trade of the world
We clip from the Washington Post the following edi-
torial hearing upon this highly important matter;
The announcement by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company that It will retire from business at the end Of
this year account of the seamans act passed at the
last of Congress has aroused great interest
among the steamship men, and may hasten the enact
ment Of legislation designed TO build up the merchant
marine The Pacific Mail Company asserts that n can
not compete with Japanese steamships In the Pacific
under the law, especially since Japanese lines are
heavily subsidized Il is stated in ohef quarters that
the Pacific Mail is merely TO undergo reorganization
in order to escape from the handicap imposed upon
railroad-owned steamship lines in connection with the
Panama Canal The Pacific Mail ls controlled by the
Southern Pacific Company, according TO the public
testimony the oaicefs concerned and t will be
divorce the steamships from the railroad before
the canal be utilized.
whether the Pacific Mall shall be reorganized or not
the fact remains that American steamship lines in the
foreign trade at great disadvantage IN trying TO
compete with foreign subsidized lines which oper-
ated With cheaper crews, Japanese steamship owners
e preparing to take advantage Of this situation by
tending their lines al along the western coast of the
Americas and through the canal TO New York Unless
the United states comes to the rescue Americans VIII
confne their energies 10 the coastwse trade In the
latter there is gratifying activity, and the shipyards
busy turning out new craft to engage IN domestic
business.
The whole subject OF building up the merchant ma
rne must be taken up and thrashed out II cannot be
disposed Of properly by plecemeal legislation since
involves considerations of foreign trade lile-savng
appliances treatment of sailors equalization OF cost
Of operation by the payment OF subsidies otherwise
cooperation with the army and navy in the way of
auxiliary ships for transports &c The conviction Is
steadily gaining ground that the United States must
take It's cue from other nations which successfully
deal with their merchant marine II is TO compete
with them the carrying trade II certainly should
adopt their policy of making merchant vessels auxl-
laries ~ the navy.
Sooner later the United States must come to shiI
subsidies. The longer II delays action in that regard
the more difficulty It will experience in winning in Tho
maritime world the footing to which it has been en-
Titled for many decades. We must profit by the exper
ience OF other nations and continue TO sit supne
and permit them to do the deep-water carrying wor
Of the world.