Evening journal., 1920-01-28
MERCHANT MARINE vlraLLy IMPORTANT.

CCORDlNG TO Mr.. John H. Rosseter, formerly Director
N Of Operations Of the United states Shipping Board,
and vice president and general Of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company "the Pacific is the grand
prize commerce, the Atlantic in the period
following the downfall Of Napoleon"
He declares that there must be waking up all along the
the importance Of increasing trade and travel
across The Pacific. There only way in which TO
give practical encouragement Of that nature and that is
aid the operation Of passenger and freight
carrying ships.
Mr. Rosseter contends that our merchant marine for
years the past sunted and chilled by neglect and
disbursement" and urges that such policy on the part
Of Congress must give way sympathetic and generous
plan Of cooperation with the private interests that Will
and operate the vessels. eA
For twenty years before the war the Republicans
Congress made consistent and unremittng effort to
aid for merchant marine through the grant Of
mall ubvenons sufficient to encourage the establishment
and maintenance OF lines to South America and the
renL
heartbreakng work to their ends the in
charge such legislation had to witness its defeat in each
Congress through the opposition Of Democratic Senator'S
and Members Of the House. sometimes extending to the
length OF an unreenting nlibuster.
is that attitude the part Of legislators tina. Mr.
insists be abandoned the nation to sue
cessfully meet foreign competition the Pacific.
he left Washington Mr. Rosseter urged upon The
shipping Board the necessity Of expanding transPac
ac trade
As an essential that end he recommended the
assignment to san Francisco Of eight large and fast pas
snger and freight ships four of the class
TO Seattle
They are all needed this year. and half OF them could
be put into commission in the last six months Of 1920
It is understood that vessels Of the type now under
construction by the Shipping Board
Three have already launched. and sixteen
come the ways frequent intervals during the next
fifteen months.
Names for the ships have already been chosen, being
taken from the ncknames Of States, such Lone Star
State sunhower state. Empire State, etc
Mr. reminds the people that the 1000 more
ships constructed by the Government during the
for the purpose OF forming hurredy passble the
bridge Of ships" so urgently needed FOR transporting
supplies across the Atlantic
The terrific pressure OF the wars demands under which
they were built and their comparatively small size
bine to make them unit for permanent merchant
Inarne feet.
"e must now face with determination" declares Mr..
Rossker construction Of better shpsI say the best
ships sanoat"
This business OF ships" quote further from Mr.
Rosselers remarks may be styled big and stin game
We must get up the best possible and combine it and
train Il wel addition to and better ships Uncle
sam must contribute useful players such as Messrs
Postal pay Foreign Credit American Consul Railway Co
operation Navy Cadet Mortgage Loan, Department OF
Commerce and Customs Zones. alias Free Port"
Allsof those requisites TO American supremacy in our
Pacific irade-and indeed in all commerce
must receive the attention Of Congress in order
that they may be co-ordnaed to the single purpose Of
the Increase Of American foreign commerce.