Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-01
Hopes of a Merchant Marine.

There are cheering signs that legislation for
the establishment of an American merchant marine
viii be enacted the present session of Congress.
Democrats who opposed the original ship purchase
bin have agreed to support measure that will
meet their objections to permanent government
ownership. That has been the only point at seri-
Gus issue among the majority of the House or the
Senate and when that is disposed of satisfactory
bin should pass with little delay.
The plan now being considered provides for the
purchase or construction of ships that shall COM
prise a naval auxiliary in time Of war and ma
tionaI merchant marine in time of peace. These
vessels according to Washington dispatches, are to
be leased to corporations or individuals Tor service
in oversee trade, particularly between the United
States and South America 1t is presumed that if
private interests will participate in the enter
prise the itself will operate the ships
Whatever leases are made will be on the condition
that the merchant fleet shall be at the navys COM
mand in OF need.
Such measure will contribute vast deal to
the country's preparedness for anu peace alike
It is needfuI as measure of defense and is impera
tive from the standpoint of our commercial inter
ests Inquiries made few months ago showed
that the freight then awaiting shipment in the port
of New York alone would fill five six times as
many vessels as were available. So long as this
condition obtains American commerce will be at a
grievous disadvantage if not in actual danger.
Though our export trade is now enormous, we
are really no better of regards shipping facilities
than at the outbreak of the European war, when
ninety per cent of oversee trade was carried
in foreign bottoms The fact is, worse of
today than ever. Ocean freight rates have ad-
vanced until in some they prohibitive. To
peaceful parts of the world they from three to
four times higher than before the war. and to Eu-
ropean neutrals they from six to nine times the
normal On some routes, for example that between
the United States and Australia, the freight cost
not infrequentIy exceeds the price of the cargo.
These conditions hinder and discourage the up
building Of our commerce in the very regions, such
as South America and the Orient, that will be most
important to us after the war, when Europe will
begin again to supply its needs and to compete
with us for trade supremacy. The United States
never can develop its opportunities in foreign COM
merce nor be secure in such business it already
holds until It has a merchant marine of its own.
Dependence on the ships of other nations is filled
with handicaps and perils. The distress of the cot
ton market in 1914 might have been prevented or,
at least alleviated had we possessed a merchant
feet of our own instead of being at the mercy of
beIligerent carriers.
II there was ever a doubt that private interests
are unable to meet this need fully and promptly
as IL ought to be met the record OF the
teen months gives a conclusive answer. While there
has been marked activity in ship-bulding yards,
the disparity between the number OF vessels de-
manded and those available is great ever, II
not greater. Only the Government itself is strong
enough to meet this emergency. AS a matter OF
common Justice TO the country, II is to be hoped
that legislation TO solve this urgent problem will be
agreed upon and made operative in the future.