New-York tribune., 1920-09-22
Shipping g Needs
Nations Aid, Says
Senator Jones
Sponsor of the Merchant
Marine Act Sees Success
Assured With the Backing
of the American People

l. the American people are willing
to back up the new merchant marine
its success is assured, says Senator
Wesley L. Jones, chairman Of the
Senate Committee On Commerce and
chief sponsor Of the merchant marine
act Of 1920, in an article appearing
in American Ports. Senator Jones ex-
presses the belief that the backing
will be given.
The founders of the Repablie
realized the Importance Of ships to
the nations prosperity and defense,
says Senator Jones. Because of this,
he adds, they provided that goods i'm
ported in foreign ships should pay a
higher duty than those brought in
III American vessels. With the
abandonment Of that policy, he de-
clares, the decadence Of the Ameri-
can merchant marine set in, until at
the outbreak Of the late war less
than 10 per cent Of the country's for
eign trade was being carried in
American ships.
With the commencement of the
World War" says Senator Jones,
there was brought home to US our
lack OF ships. The sAips that had
been carrying our products were
needed for other purposes. The
products of our farms and of our fac
tories lay ct our wharves waiting for
transI ortation. Freight rates doubled
and quadrupled over night. Our peo-
pie were threatened with ruin and
bankruptcy simply and solely be-
cause they had no means of reaching
the markets that were crying for our
products. From that time until this
on: people have paid hundreds of
millions in increased transportation
charges that they would not have
had to pay If we had an adequate mer-
chant marine"
Commenting on the fact that the new
merchant marine has cost $4,000 ,000,-
600, Senator Jones adds:
The significance, of this is brought
home to US most forcibly when we
know that this $4,000 900 900 is equal
to, If it does not exceed, the book value
OF the entire merchant feet Of the
world WREN the war broke out. By our
having to construct this feet under the
conditions that prevailed it has cost
US 81 1,500,000.000 or $4,000, ,0OD, 900
more than it would have cost under
ordinary conditions.
DO We want to duplicate this ex-
perlence in the future? I think not
How can we avoid it? By proper and
wise action now not only with refen-
ence to the use and disposition of tho
ships that we have. but by the enact
nent OF legislation that will aid in
and promote the development of a
merchant n arne to keep pace with the
development, of our commerce.
II think this fleet Of ships can be
made the basis Of and be 80 used as to
insure an adequate, permanent, Amer
lcan merchant marine. Are the people
Of the country willing to have this
done, and are they willing that whatever
steps may be necessary to insure US
such a marine shall be takeno I be-
l.eve they arc
"Our ships when they enter the trade
Of The world will meet with the fiercest
competition. Government power will
be coordinated with private initiative
and energy in order to maintain SUI
willing to do the same thing? II they
are we can maintain our position on
the sea as it should be maintained.
american energy. American initiative.
American patriotism, will do yruch. but
1t cannot be expected to overcome both
the private resources and the, govern
mental power Of its competitors.
Are the American people, farmers,
lahorers, manufacturers and capitalists
willing to support their legislators in
any measure that they honestly and
patrioticaly believe to he necessary.
after careful investigation, to do this :?
If they realize the Importance Of it,
commercially and nationally, believe
they will"