The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-04
Discusses Future
 of Merchant Marine
By HOLLAND

New York, December 3.--(SpeciaL)-A last there comes from high authority, none higher a statement based upon the question: What is to become of tho American merchant marine after the war? Many have been the private conn ments of shipping men who have ex- pressed their apprehension lest we De disappointed in the value of after peace work of our merchant marine. so far as maintaining and increasing our foreign commerce are concerned. But none mas spoken for publication Now Capt. Rob- ert Dollar has spoken as surely to com mand the attention of thinking men Captain Dollar Is the foremost authority and influence upon the Pacific coast Ill the shipping and commercial activitles which originate there. He has deveiopeo very great trade with China. His ships sail the seven seas. It is his corporation which without exacting cent in the way of commissions and bonuses, is act ing as the intermediary between the ef- fciency fleet corporation and China In the building by China of ships which the United States has agreed to purchase for S24.0o0000, 12 ships in all Captain Dollar was in New York for a few days last week and he seemed to be greatly con cerned over the question which he says is troubling all thinking men today: the question being. How are we to operate our ships after the war? Charles M. Schwab has said that we shall have con- structed 100000 tons of ships, approxi- mately, within the allotted time and when that is done he will return to pri- vate life.
 If we shall have built so many ships there Is no doubt about their sutficiency as commerce bearers although there are serious doubts about their availability.
 Captain Dollar in an article to which he has given much thought and which he offered to those who are interested
 In the subject on the eve of his departure for San Francisco day or two ago. stated in the first paragraph that in nor nal times our present laws and reglaton make 1t a financial impracticabiiity to utilize the American merchant marine It Is essential in order that there De good understanding of the subject that the public must not be carried away with present abnormal conditions anu rates CnHrSeQ TOT freight, dflhou6h lhcoS now make 1t possible for anyone to gain a gratifying profit.
 Captain Dollar has taken pains to se- cure figures which reveal the American merchant marine when at the peak Of its prosperity and then it's gradual decline As for instance in 1Si0 American ships carried 91 5-10 per cent of American goods across the seas. In 1860 the falling off had been so great that only 66 2-lo per cent of these goods were carried by American ships and in the year 1914 only
 97 per cent. Again in the year before the war began and before the seamen's Dill had got in what Dollar calls its deadly work" Japanese vessels on the Pacinc coast were slightly over 26 per cent ana the American vessels were almost ex- actiy that proportionate part in the en- tire Pacific trade Suddenly there came staggering drop for American vessels, for In 1917 Japanese vessels were carrying more than 50 per cent of the Pacino trade, whereas American vessels carried only little under 2 per cent. The Amer ican seamen received In the aggregate sS72O a month. British seamen $lSSo month and Japanese seamen $noo 8 month.