Evening star., 1920-06-27

|" IN 1914-and, in fact, for many
years prior to that date-there
has been an insistent demand
that an American merchant marine,
owned and operated by Americans, be
developed. In the past there have been
to whether the United States govern
ment should extend federal aid
through subsidies.
With the enactment into law at the
close of the last session of Congress
of the so-called merchant marine act,
real definite. tangible steps were
taken to continue under the American
flag the merchant marine developed
by the government for war needs
since 1917, and to aid in the further
development of fleet of merchant
vessels capable of carrying the great
bulk of American commerce and to
act as a part of the auxiliary naval
defense in case of war.
Not Relixhed by Rival Nations.
There is no doubt that the develop
ment of great permanent merchant
marine by this country is looked upon
with disfavor by nations which have
done the greater part of the carrying
trade of the world in past years Sem
ator Jones of Washington. chairman
of the commerce committee of the
Senate. is authority for the statement
that England has directed her ambaS-
sador to look into the matter. and
that he will use every diplomatic
means to thwart the purpose of the
United States.
The act creating the United States
Shipping Board was, of course, al
ready on the statute books, and the
various amendments thereto carried
in the war emergency acts. But Con-
gress in the new law has undertaken
to develop a definite policy with re-
gard to the merchant marine. The
ia 70 pav fTrY~yX p
policy is the Shipping Board. The
salaries of the members of the board
have been set at $4,000 and every
effort will be made to find strong and
efficient men to hold down these posi-
tions. They have TREMENDOUS TASK
ahead of them, but one, il success
fully accomplished, that will not only
make for the development and safety
of the country, but will give a place
in the history of the United States.
The United States now owns great
many merchant vessels. purchased or
built by the Shipping Board during
the war. Under the new law these
vessels are to be sold. But tney are
not to be sold in a hurry and at a
sacrifice. The government is to seek
the best return it can on its money
Those vessels only that are not suit
able for the needs of American ship
ping will be sold to aliens, and this
only after every effort has been made
to sell them to citizens OF the Unlted
States. Under the provisions OF the
law no sale can be made of any ves-
sci to an alien unless five members of
the board agree to it, and full pub
licity of the sale is required.
Not only has the great bulk of Amer
lean commerce been carried IN 1or-
eign. bottoms, but American mails
have been transported in ships flying
the flags of other nations. 1T has been
estimated that the government pays
about $3.000,000 annually for carrying
the mails overseas, and of this $2,5OO,-
900 goes to foreign ships. instead OF
paying American ship owners sub
sdy to carry the mails. the enect or
the old practice has been to subSidize
the vessels of other nations. Under
the new merchant marine act, the
Postmaster General and the Shipping
Board are authorized to determine just
compensation for the carrying of the
mails and to make contracts for the
same, within limits of appropriations
made by Congress. There is no doubt
that the establishment of regular mail
lines will aid in. the development OF
1.-The permanent merchant marine and
will be of assistance in carrying for
ward the commerce of the country.
Trade With Philippines Estimates.
The trade of the United States with
the Philippine Islands is said to
amount to about 500, 900, 900 a year.
merchant marine act. this trade
should be carried in American ves-
sells. For that reason they inserted
in the new law a provision which ex-
tends to the Philippine Islands the
coastwise shipping laws of the
United States, with the very consid
cradle advantages which these laws
give American vessels in coastwise
trade. So as to assure the islands OF
service under the change in the law
provisions have been placed In the
law to this end. If it works out as
desired, Manila will become great
distributing point for American goods
in the far east. 1t is expected also
that the development of this shipping
business will benefit the Filipinos as
two peoples still closer together.
One of the needs of the American
merchant marine today is new and
up-to date passenger ships, and ships
capable of carrying both passengers
and freight They are needed par
Pacific trades. If America does not
get them. the American merchant
marine will suffer in consequence.
Many of the ships now owned by the
government were built to meet spe-
cifc war needs and do not meet the
requirements for a speedy peace time
trade, with the facilities demanded
to build up and maintain trade in op-
position to vessels of other maritime
nations The new law Seeks to en-
courage the building of swift vessels,
some of them of the combination va
riety, for carrying freight and pas
sengers.
The law provides for the remission
of excess and war profits taxes If
these taxes are invested in construc-
tion of ships of this character: Also
a fund has been created to aid pri-
vate individuals in the building OF
these ships, amounting to $25,000.000,