The sun., 1918-12-02


and as the American cannot be levelled
down to the foreign competition no
more than the foreigner can be raised
UP to the American, the American
will, as a consequence, leave the sea
unless he gets about the same wages
as he could get on shore. offer as
solution of this condition that ship
owners hire their crews at full Ameri-
can wages. but that the difference be-
tween this wage and what is paid by
japanese competitors be paid by the
Government TO ship owners on proper
certification by the Shipping Commits
sioner OF the amounts 50 paid.
Example:
Month.
japanese seaman was. ............ 10
Then Z. s. Government pays..sl5
thus enabling American labor to re-
ceive its full wage and thereby per-
hitting the American ship to compete
with the lower paid foreign crews.
This is no subsidy to ship owners but
only an equalization of American VS..
foreign labor.
THE licensing OF our officers must
also be modified to be the same as our
competitors.
I'm ships running to tho tropics
Americans will not stand the work in
the hot fire room, and in that trade
1t is also n great question IL Ameri-
cans would work in the stewards de-
partment. All American owners have
had this experience. American sailors
on deck. however, would get on all
right. Outside OF the payment by the
Government to eQualize the wages OF
the men and the proper payment for
service rendered in carrying the mail
claim that TO maintain our Ameri-
can ships on the ocean no Govern
ment financial assistance is required.
Asks Only Equal Chance.
But our laws and regulations must
be radically changed, not in a way to
give our ship owners any advantage
over their competitors. but to put our
ships on an exact equality with those
OF all other nations; and TO do this
1t Will not cost our country a cent,
except to equalize the wages. The fol-
lowing are some of the changes in
our laws that are necessary:
Measurement OF Ships-For eX-
ample, take the standard steamer of
$500 tons lightweight. (Scores Of this
size are being built for the Shipping
Board)
The steamer Robert Dollar, Of
which all those ships are duplicates,
according TO British measurement,
was net 1920 tons. American ships
Of this tonnage run an average of net
4,2S3 tons. a difference OF $50 tons.
Since all port charges. pilotage. dry
docking. &c. are charged on the net
tonnage the American ship in foreign
trade pays IS per cent. more than the
ships of any other nation; and since
this is paid in foreign ports and to
foreign nations is II not I'D to Con-
gress TO tell us why our ships are
thus penalized?
GNote-The laws OF Great Britain
and ours, as to measurement. are
about the same. but the application
makes this difference. The fact re-
mains that the actual difference is as
stated
Handbags for United States ships.
Panama Canal Tolls In an address
Col Goethals delivered in San Fran
cisco he told us of two sister ships one
under the British flag and the other
under the American flag. The latter
paid $500 more tolls than the Brit
Usher. would again ask Congress
Why? In this connection 1t might he
pertinent to ask why an American
ship carrying a cargo OF lumber pays
more tolls than a ship carrying mer-
chandise. coal or iron.
yearly Inspection. Under Ameri-
can regulations the ship must be free
of cargo. the boilers all filled with cold
water; therefore all handling of cargo
is suspended and the inspection must
be completed before work is resumed.
On British ships no work stops. One
part OF the inspection is done. then
when another part OF the hull, boilers
or engines is ready, that is inspected.
and If the inspection cannot be COM
pleted the vessel is allowed TO proceed
| to the next port where it can be An
ished. The instructions are not to
stop the ordinary work Of handling
| the cargo. In the successful opera
alton of ships one OF tho most impor-
tant factors is the quick despatch Of
ships in port.
THE crew. Then we come to that
clause in the seamen's bill which
states that 10 per cent. of the crew
| in each department shall understand
any order the officers may give. This
prevents American ships from carry
ing rs per cent. foreigners who do not
understand the English language. 1t
| is intended to prevent the carrying of
Chinese on American ships TO meet the
competition Of the Japanese, but it
gives the latter carte blanche to carry
japanese crews with japanese officers,
hence the reason that the Japanese
to-day have full control of the COM
mercc Of the Pacific Ocean.
II in War Why Not in Peacei
Another clause which l referred to
provides that 65 per cent. OF the crew,
exclusive OF officers and apprentices,
shall be certificated able seamen.
This part of the law was so impossible
and unreasonable because they could
not be obtained that no notice has
been taken Of II during war time.
t When peace comes, however, 1t will
be enforced. thereby tying up half OF
/ our new merchant marine.
! THE sailors shall be divided into
! two watches. On many ships a big
crew Is carried and enough men 20
navigate the ship are put on watch
! and watch. The balance of the crew
I sleeps all night and works all day. the