The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-06-19
nal improvement. .re made ea tie

nal improvements are made on the
Rhine"
The chief interest now centers on
the question Of whether the United
States can henceforth maintain her
new place upon the seas, or whether
she must now disband the energies
that brought her merchant fleet into
being.
"There is every reason" Mr. Hurley
continued. .'for believing that Amer
lea has come back upon the ocean
to stay. My observations Compel OPP
timism. The war has brought US Into
4 high place as a maritime power
md the peoples OF the world aroused
to an Intense interest and concern a.
to the use we are to make OF this
power. In America, you have, heard
much Of British competition. In Great
Britain / heard q great deal more
about American competition. The
truth Is that our friends across the
water are for the first time entering
npon period Of actual compositions.
Mr.. Hurley said prior to August.
1914 both the foreign trade and the
shipping Of the United States were
dominated to a great extent by Brit
ish. because American traders ard
ship operators who wished to do busi-
ness could do SO most conveniently
through British agencies In 1913, he
recalled. only one-seventh OF the for
elgn trade of the United States was
carried in American bottoms.
1.-THE total exports and imports OF
the United States for the year 1918
were approximately 50,0OO0OO long
tons" said the report. with aver
age shipping efficiency the movement.
OF these goods would have required
about 100000 gross tons Of ships.
Assuming an annual Increase In the
foreign trade Of the United States
equal to the average increase for the
Ave years preceding August. 1914, our
foreign trade In 1920 would require
greatly increased merchant tonnage n.
II all were to be carried In American
| bottoms"
Should Carry so Per Cent Of Trade.
Mr.. Hurley declared 1t was an ac-
| cepted principle that a strong mari
| time power should carry in Its own
| ships at least so per cent of the az
gregate of It's exports and Imports,
and in addition some Of the trade be-
| tween countries not yet In the ship
| ping business
Assuming a total export and I'M
fllNHN mn
port business in 1920 of 70,OOOOOO
long TONS" he added. ut would require
| n fleet of about 100000 gross tons
to transport 60 per cent In our own
| ships"
One Of the types Of ships most de-
sirable for the new merchant marine,
according to Mr.. Hurley, Is speedy,
| effective combination cargo and pas
senger liner of from $4,000 to 25,OOO
| lightweight tons. which could be OPP
Grated efficiently In the transportation
of high-class merchandise, passenger.
| and mail.
Mr.. Hurley said three factors mill
tated most strongly against the nat
| ural and desirable expansion of the
foreign trade of the United States.
First. the necessity for developing
| men. thoroughly American in every
way. TO handle foreign trade; second,
| the recruiting of an American per-
| sonnet for the operation of the ships
| and the handling of the work nj tie
| ports, and third, the extension OF
banking facilities. The idea that too
high wages are being paid American
seamen for this country to compete
with other countries successfully was
ridiculed by Mr.. Hurley.
at Is time for the public mind to
he disahused of this conception" he
stated. "The facts will dismay those
who ore agitating for a lower wage
scale of American ships. We are
paying our seamen SIS month. Eng
land, during the war, paid her sea-
men $72 month. The French and
Dutch are paying high wages. In
Sweden the seamen's scale Is even
higher than in the United States.
The retention Of high wages was
important, he added. because men who
had labored under great strain yield
ed their attention more readily to the
agitator. The success of any nation
In shlpbullding and ship operating
he said. will be determined by the
manner In which the labor situation
Is handled