Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-26

partment result from inefflciency and
awkward and impractical methods. They
inhere and are unavoidable in all business
conducted by Republic or a community
Post ONCE buildings are built. furnished
warmed. lighted and maintained from a
separate fund and are charged against the
expenses OF the Treasury. Any express
company would be glad to take the Post
Office Department over and operate it for
the Government at 500 Of what it now
costs.
A mercantile marine owned or operated
by the government would prove a 'colos-
sal failure. In proof of this let me cite a
concrete case. In 1906 the government
sent 16 war ships around the world. but
was compelled to hire q foreign ships to
haul the necessary coal. Six years after
this object lesson of the absolute worth
lessness of navy without GOLFERS, tran
sports and a merchant marine. Congress
appropriated 81, 100000 for the construction
Of one collier. This was during the clos
ing year Of Mr.. Taft's administration.
Two years after that, and In August, 1914,
the government laid the keel for this COL
lier at San Francisco and proceeded to
build its engines at Brooklyn. Two years
later STILL four years after the appropria-
referred to, such progress had been made
that the hull Of this collier. named the
Maumee, could be floated and it was then
towed from San Francisco to Brooklyn
to have her engines installed. How long
will 1t take a Government controlled
shipping board to build $500 100000 worth
of ships? They cannot be bought for
they are not at this time purchasable.
Two-thirds Of the freight carrying ships
of the world are what are known as
tramps. They go where freight can be
obtained and it requires expert manage
ment to avoid long delays at anchor
awaiting the maturity of products like
sisal, wool and rubber, or coming back in
ballast. During the trial of the United
States Steel Corporation it developed that
ships bought by that concern with which
to compete with other countries would
load on the Atlantic coast with steel for
Vancouver, taking such other freight as
could be picked up for Pacific coast ports
Of South America, go through the
Straits of Magellan, stopping as occasion
might require to discharge cargo, unload
at Vancouver, take on coal or lumber for
Southern California, and when that was
discharged and cargo Of chalk taken for
ing that around Cape Horn, or through
the straits to France where it would be
discharged and cargo of chalk taken for
New York. The round trip would con-
sumo perhaps nine months, but the next
cruise might have to be changed entirely.
Is President Woodrow Wilson too mex
perienced in business and so blind to OBJ
servation as to suppose government
that builds the hull for ship at San
Francisco, and its engines at Brooklyn,
can supply the necessary management to
operate a line OF steamers?
What have said is not intended to re-
fleet upon the present more than upon
preceding administrations. Inefficiency is
inherent in republics and communities.
The government can never supply man.
agement and there is no enterprise, no
business, no undertaking that requires
such careful and efficient management
as the operation of mercantile marine.
People familiar with the shipping in
dustry say we need and must have 1000
merchant ships to cost 5000, 100000 to re-
place those of foreign register that have
been permanently taken from the Ameri-
can trade. The various shipping COM
panies Of Germany. as recently an
nounced have SIS ships of 100000 tons
aggregate capacity in actual process Of
construction. Even the centralized Ger
man government. after having expert
mented in government railroads. built as
It now develops for purposes of defense,
quite as much as for commerce. seems to
know better than to attempt a govern
ment owned or operated mercantile ma
rine.
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