Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-30
The Farreachmg Problem
Of the Merchant Marin t
N beginning its hearings on the future OF
the cargo fleet which the United States
has acquired in conse-

Government has acquired in conse-
ouence of the war the House Committee on
Merchant Marine takes up question OF great
moment to the countrys every material III
terest Industry and agriculture as Wen as
commerce are vitality concerned in ocean snip
Ming The continued growth OF our manu-
factrLres on which depends both the employ
lnent of labor and the utilization OF raw ma
terial, is largely a matter OF the continued
growth of our foreign trade; and this IN turn
REQUIRES an adequate and genuinely Amerl-
can merchant marine That farmlng inter-
ests also are concerned must be apparent TO
anyone who recalls the distressful situation
of the winter of 1914, when the largest COT
ton crop the South ever produced sank TO
starvation prices largely because there were
no ships to take it to waiting foreign mar
kets Thus every part of the nation will be
helped or harmed according as the question
now before the Committee is we'll or poorly
answered
AS result of the shipbuilding program en-
tered upon by the Government to meet war
emergencies, the United States will possess
by 1920 a merchant feet of approximately
sixteen million tons. How shall all these YES
sells, which so long as they fly the Stars and
Stripes make the difference between sturdy
self-reliance and dangerous dependence in
our foreign shipping, be disposed OF? The
question is urgent as well as important be-
cause the present law on the subject expires
six months after the proclamation of peace
so that some new provision must be made be-
times if a very awkward and quite undesir-
able situation is to be averted. Divers plans
have been proposed, ranging from completes
Government ownership and operation to I'M
qualified private ownership. The wisest
course probably lies somewhere between
these extremes. Certainly it is reassuring to
hear that the majority of the House Commit
tee fayors legislation that will enable the
Government to take over the ships in time
~.
remaining under the American flag.
These points must be vigilantly safeguard
ed If we are not to lapse back into the fearful
uhprepared4ess that handicapped both our
commerce and our military movements in
the early and middle period of the World
War. At the outburst of the European storm
we were dependent upon foreign nations for
more than ninety per cent of our overseas
shipping condition that told direfully
against some of our major interests. And
when we entered the conflict it was plain from
the beginning that our fighting resources,
Notwithstanding their vast abundance, would
be tneffectual unless we developed ample
means of getting them to the front three
thousand miles across the sea. 1t would be
unpardonably foolish to ignore those sharp
lessons. We could as we'll afford to turn over
a large part of our navy to alien interests
as to permit this merchant fleet to pass to
foreign ownership. The Government should
retain control to the extent at least of keep
ing the vessels under our flag and Of having
them ever available for military needs.
1t will not suffice, however, merely to avoio
palpable errors of policy. Legislation in this
field should be constructive as we'll as pro.
tective; constructive, that is to say, in that
1t will encourage the continued development
OF the merchant marine and of the far-reach-
ing interests involved More than billion
dollars is now invested in shipyards in this
country as compared with about one hundred
and fifty millions in 1914. The Governments
Emergency Fleet Corporation has put an.
proxlmately three billion dollars into vessels
as compared with only six hundred thousan5
dollars so invested in 1914. The foundations
thus are laid for magnificent future growth
in this great branch of national service. LIE,
congress see to it that conserving and pro-
motive legislation is provided
Italy, apparently, is one country 7,ich