The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-05-08
WHAT OF OUR OWN
MERCHANT MARINE?
U % %

Washington, April 29-The Repub
lican Publicity Association, through
its president, Hon. Jonathan Bourne
Jr., today gave out the following
statement from its Washington head
quarters:
"The city of Philadelphia is CON
graduating itself on the fact that the
Cunard Steamship Company has in.
augurated regular sailings between
that city and Antwerp. 1t is inter-
preted by the local press as an indica.
ton that Philadelphia is to acquire a
large share in the expansion of trans
atlantic passenger and freight traffic
which inevitably will follow the estab-
lishment Of peace.
Acknowledging that the business
of the Quaker City is likely to be
stimulated by the new ship line, and
granting that the local citizens have a
right to be gratified at the outlook, is
it situation that Americans general
ly should view with complaisance Is
it not rather cause for alarm that
foreign merchant marine interests
should calmly invade our markets and
help themselves to our trade while our
own shipowners are compelled to sit
supinely by, helpless because of the
failure of the last Democratic Con-
gress to provide permanent shipping
policy, and the persistent refusal of
the President to call the new Repub-
lican Congress together and enable
them to put on the statute books the
laws that are so imperatively needed
Here is a British line of steamers
carrying goods between an American
port and a Belgian port. Belgium, Of
course, has not merchant marine fleet
with which to transport her products,
but America has the ships and the
men and the money to operate them
There is no adequate reason in the
world why American shipping should
not have monopoly of the carrying
trade between this country and the
ports of Belgium, at least until Bel
GUM is able to put some vessels of her
own upon those routes. 1t is the
supreme stupidity of the party in
control of the last Congress in not
preparing for the inevitable problems
of reconstruction, coupled with the
arrogant stubbornness of Mr.. Wilson
in not giving the Republicans an op-
portunity to rectify the mistakes of
their predecessors, that is responsible
for the steady loss Of our opportun-
tiles upon the sea.
"Under the Rosseter plan, already
adopted by the Shipping Board, and
which probably will form the basis Of
the merchant marine Legislation of the
Republicans, regular sailings can be
arranged between American ports and
such foreign ports as may hold out
promise of profitable trade in the
future. 1t is probable that line Of
steamers established now between
Philadelphia and Antwerp, whether
British or American, would not pay at
first. In the case Of our own shipown-
ers that precludes the venture, as the
financial risk would be too great for q
single individual or firm to assume.
The British line, on the other hand.
even though it operates at first with
q loss, will be maintained, very likely
with aid direct from the government,
until the trade has been built up to a
profitable standard.
Precisely the same proposal is con-
tanned in the Rosseter policy. That
plan contemplates the inauguration Of
new sailing routes, with dependable
schedules for steamers, whether the
initial voyages pay a profit or not.
Losses are to be recompensed from the
profits that may accrue TO the Govern
ment by reason of Q small share of
stock retained by it In the companies
operating its ships, and also from the
interest on the unpaid purchase price
at which those ships are 10 be sold.
The ships Of those countries already
working under such plan have a
tremendous advantage over our own,
and while our President is permitting
the golden weeks To slip by with Con-
gress in idleness, we are compelled TO
witness the loss Of trade that should
be ours for the asking"