The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-19
Necessity For An Enlarged
Merchant Marine Is Shown
By Congressman Small
EMPHASIZED BY THE WAR
Extension Of Foreign Trade
Necessary For Continued
Progress Of The u. S., and
Extension Is Dependent
Most On Ships in Which To
Transport The Goods

lIdIlopOIl IIIG OUOuS
The New York World Of last Sun
day carried a page article on the sub-
ject, Shall We Have an American
Mercantile Marine % Two arguments
in connection with the bill, one by
Congressman John II. Small of North
Carolina for the bill n the other by
Congressman William $. Greene, of
Massachusetts, against the bill are
presented by the World.
h argument for the bill as fur
nished the World by COngressman
Small is as follows:
The proposition before Congress to
enact into law the Alexander Foreign
shipping bill may be summarized as
follows: /. A shipping Board is
created, consisting of the Secretary Of
the Treasury, the Postmaster General
n the Secretary of Commerce, who
are authorized to act subject to the
direction of the President.
The United States, through this
shipping Board, may subscribe to the
capital stock of any corporation now
or hereafter TO be organized. This
corporation may organize when stock
10 the amount of ten million dollars
snail AVE been subscribed, but the
capital stock may be increased from
time to time. The United States shall
subscribe for 81 per cent of the initial
stock or any increase thereof, or fol-
Il larger proportion of the stock, il
Ia remaining 40 per cent shall no
be fully subscribed by the public.
How Ships May BE Purchased.
Ihe object of the corporation so or
Sanized shall be the purchase, con.
struction and operation of merchan
ships in trade between ports of tn,
United States and ports of Central ant
South America and other foreig,
ports, including the Philippine Island
and Guam and Tutuila. The Secre
tary of the Treasury is authorized t,
sell Panama Canal bonds for purchas
ing or constructing ships, not exceed
ing thirty millions. Upon the trans
Ter or vessels to the proposed
ton, the Shipping Board shall tax
bonds of such corporation payable t
the United States and bearing 4 pc
cent interest. equal to the sum eX
pended by the United States. whic
bonds may be sold at the pleasure c
the Secretary OF the Treasury. An
vessels of the avy suitable for cor
mercial use. or vessels owned by tn
Panama Railroad Company may h
chartered or transferred to such co,
poration. The government reserve
rhe right to take and use such vesse
OF such corporation as naval auXi
larieS of the United States navy. TT
sui of ten million dollars is apprt
priated for the purpose of carryir
GU the provisions of the act.
:. The extension Of our foreis
trade is necessary for the continue
progress of the United States indu
trially and commercially. Year
year we are adding to the number
products of which we produce a ST
plus over and above the domestic d
mand. The demand for such produC
must be created abroad in order
permit the normal growth of the i
dustrial units engaged in such lines
activity.
Again. our industries are now me
nearly on a competitive basis tn
they have been in fifty years. 1t
not probable that this country W
ever submit to such a protective tai
as existed under the Dingley law.
the contrary, the present competiti
conditions will effect economies
production and distribution q
sharpen the national pride of {
manufacturers Cor competitive riva
in foreign markets.
). 1t may be stated as q proposit
based upon sound reasoning and
experience of other nations that
maritime country ever built up
oversee trade, stable and permant
whose m was not carried
its own ships, regulated by it's G
navigation laws and sailing under
own flag.
4. These propositions are ret
nized. and many efforts have b
made TO build up an American n
chant marine. Legislation for di
subsidies has been advocated and
forts have been made to increase
sums paid for postal subventi
Both have failed. and it is evident
the temper of the country has
changed, and hat neither direct
indirected subsidies will meet
popular favor.
8. The necessity for increasing
merchant marine has been rece
emphasized by the European