The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-01
WAGE PROBLEM IN
 MERCHANT MARINE
By HOLLAND

l New York November 30.-(Specia1) If Chairman Hurley of the emergency ] fleet corporation is able to persuade Ithe British Seamens union to make agreement which if adopted will se- cure-a standardization of wages and certain other working conditions upon the American basis then in all prob- ability, the American shipowners and shipping men will be released from Isome of the apprehensions which they
 now confess they feel respecting the
 future of the American merchant ma-
 rine. For if MT. Hurley is able to
 gain the consent of the British seamens
 union then our own shipowners and |shipbuilders will be able to maintain
 successful competition upon equal
 terms With the British marine.
 It is a fact that some of the leading
 shipping men of the United States are
 looking Into the future with some anx-
 iety This, too, notwithstanding the
 fact that we are certain to have mer-
 chant marine capable of transporting all the international commerce which
 the United States can sec4re. And yet, notwothstanding the magnitude Of our merchant marine shipping men realize that in addition to ships and to free seas which encompass the world, some
 thing else is necessary if there is to be
 satisfactory development of American shipping.
 Should public interest in this matter be equal to the public interest which has been maintained since, under Chair man Hurley and Charles M Schwab. the
 United States showed that it was capa- ble within a year and a half of or Iganizing and operating the largest ship building industry in the world, except Ing, possibly, that of England. there Is mn 1nr,l,t ha lac a ' ynr aa- cured from Congress and methods be adopted which will make it possible to maintain to the highest capacity our great merchant marine.
 Everyone will recall how, great and nation wide was the enthusiasm which was caused by the almost magic-like growth of our shipyards and thes-eon- stant increase in the number of con- pleted ships. MT. sSchwab takes pride, and so does the country, in the fact that in less than two years time we have built many steel ships and put them into commission. In other na- tions, especially in Great Britain, some thing like astonishment has been Aex- pressed at this sudden development in the United States shipbu1ldlns.an and also l in the fact that the capacity of our lshipyards now exceeds that of any other nation. Should there be corresponding public interest in the maintenance of our merchant marine then the appre- hensions of the shipbuilders andNship- owners will be removed.
 BILLION DOLLARS OF SHIPS The people should take interest in this, so the skipping meo believe. be- cause they are to be taxed in one way or another in order to meet payment Of $3, GOO 900, ,000, which Is the amount Con- gress has appropriated for our ship lbuiIding undertaking.
 We are to have the ships and there is to be freedom of the seas so that commerce will be unimpaired. We are also to meet with strong competition chiefly from Great Britain, peaceful competition. In order to meet this com petition on even terms there remain. lit is said, two factors to be considered and then to be, adopted. One of these lis rates and the other service. We can get plenty of freight if the rates are ,,satisfactory and if England does not underbid >us in that respect.A We can | put upon% the ocean speedy vessels and I that is factor which is of some irn- lportance- in the development and in- crease of our intefnatfonaF trade. But lean we establish rates for carrying
 the freight which will enable ussto com lpete? l It is in the opinion of competent men that, at present leaving out of con
 sideration governmental operation. tho
 American steamship operator lss ION q
 disadvantage. If our merchant ma