New-York tribune., 1920-12-23

to develop it's trade Our competitore,
with their knowledge and experience of
the business, have control that will
be hard to break down. One Of the
necessities is frequent and good sys-
tenn of. ship service. These services
are now being developed, but our COM
petltors have a grip hold on many
trades. "A case in point is the trade in
long staple cotton grown in Egypt and
consumed in this country. Last year
we used about third Of the cotton
crop of Egg. pit. To-day this business
is being handled by British ships and
transshipped to Boston through Liver
pool, in the face Of the fact that we
have been operating u direct service
from the United States to Alexandria
for some eighteen months.
We would be glad to carry this cot
ton direct from Alexandria to Boston
at one-half the present rate. but we
are unable to obtain 3 pound of bust
ness because Of the fact that the ship
ment is controlled by q British confer
ence. Our exports will lose the ad-
vantage of q direct contact unless this
service can be maintained, and to do
this 1t is necessary to have return
cargoes.
The shipping business, to be main
tanned on sound basis, must have the
auxiliaries that go with it-namely,
shipbuiding, insurance and an Amer
lean classification society. Protection
must be given SO that these may be
developed to serve American shipping
but the load of development cannot be
shouldered on the steamship operator.
Expenditure Is Justified
I have faith that in time we can
build ships as cheaply here as they
can be built abroad. We could to-day
II the rate of exchange were normal
A steady volume of business, however
is necessary to accomplish this result
III the same way we must be able to in
sure In this country as cheapl; as else
where and our classification society
should become as efficient as any other
In the mean time the public must rec
ognize that protection will involve an
/ expense, borne in some form or other
by the country, but they should ap-
preciate as we'll that this expense is
justifable by increased prosperity to
the country as whole, just as the
protective tariff fostering our infant
industries has been justified in the
past.
have faith in the enterprise and
genius of American business men to
work out our shipping problems, if
they are given protection to live
ar. many ways liz which this protec-
tion can be administered; number
have been discussed in the articles
which have appeared on this subject
III The Tribune. ! will not 20 into
discussion Of them except to say that
one phase OF the shipping problem is
the bunkerina problem.
Our feet is essentially al oil-burn-
ing fleet, adequate oil fuelng stations
are not established and Il sufficient sup
ply of oil does not exist at the points
when required. The government, or
Shipping Board, could do one thing Of
greater value to the development Of
American shipping than to foster ard
assist the d. Jelopment of bunker sta
tions where supply Of fuel oil at
moderate prices would be available for
our ships. The difference between the
cost of oil at the points of consunp-
tion and points Of origin is so great
to-day that the owner Of a tank steam
er is making tremendous profits. The
Shipping Board owns feet of tank
ers, and by the direction Of the use
Of these it could to-day supply oil to
American ships at price far below
the present prices and still show q
/ reasonable ..roft.
Aid Seen in Runlering
The proper system OF bunkering
therefore, for American ships, would
g. a long way toward offsetting the
disadvantages the American ships face
IN comparison with their competitors
1t must be borne in mind that a very
large percentage of the British ships
and other foreign ships are coal
burners.
am not in favor OF government
operation in any phase Of business, bu
am H. favor Of tne government using
IT'S property and giving support to thu
development Of fueliTg stations in SUcl
d way as TO serve the American ner
chant marine.
ln conclusion, l have faith in tn,
ability Of private enterprise to tax,
over and operate successfully thos,
ships now owned by the Shipping
Board which are necessary for the de
velopmcnt Of American trade, if give1
Intelligent support by our government
| and our people. We must not, how
ever, undcrestimat the difficulties con
fronting US. What Is true Of the ne
cessty Of our own shipping in time o
peace is doubly true in time of wax.
We have had experience in the pas
war which shows that without our owl
shipping our trade can be entirely Grip
pied by war even though we are not
parry 10 H. III duuitious we H1F
learned lesson-that in time Of We
in whicl we arc involved ,nerchan
ship is a necessary auxiliary TO tn
navy and the army, and we hav
learned the enormous cost and vast
of attempting b fill this need in al
emergency.
J t7hi9 /, the lest o. q series ot ten cyt'
olc9 oa the outloofc for the mclo n'crcha'
,nartne, contributed bv men represcatot!t
I ot the scadin0 American shspptnD Interests
, =,