Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-05
THE MERCHANT FLAG
FOLLOWS THE DOLLAR
u Cannot Be Won Under the stars
and Stripes II viii BE Won Under
Some Other Emblem


TT HAS been common boast for years
L that Americans can do what can be
done by the citizens of any other coun-
try, aud do it better.
We have made most Of the modern
inventions. 1t was an American who
invented the telegraph and the tclc-
phone and tho electric light and the
electric railroad ear. And 1t was an
American who invented the cotton gin
and the sewing machine aud the type
writer and the linotype machine and the
steamship.
We have utilized all of these invcn.
tions but one to II greater extent than
any other people.
The single invention in which we
have fallen behind is that "f the steam.
ship.
We do not seem able to operate ships
on the ocean in competition with the
rest of the world.
We can build ships faster than other
nations. We proved that during the
war. We have proof Of il before our
eyes right here in Philadelphia. But
every man familiar with the attitude Of
Congress toward ocean going ships has
been propbesying that the ships which
we have built will pass into the control
of other nations as fast as tho shipping
men of those nations arc able to buy
them.
Their prophecies will be fulfilled un
! less Congress decides to face the facts
aud act accordingly.
! 4 committee of American shipbuild-
crs is now engaged in an effort to i'm
press the couNry. aud through it
! to impress Congress. with the i'm.
portaucc of an intelligent and broad.
| minded policy. J. W. Powell. vice
! president Of the bethlehem Shipbuid-
! ing Corporation. is chairman of the
committee. Associated with him arc
representatives Of William tramp &
I Sons. of this city: the Baltimore Dry
dock and Shipbuildiug Company: the
( Great Lakes Engineering Works, of
/ Detroit; the Western Pipe aud Steel
Company, of California. aud J. +.
Duthie & Co.. of Seattle.
They are calling attention to the i'm =
pOrtancc of the passage of constructive
legislation before the government built
vessels are sold to private owners. II
there is no assurance Of protection for
American shipping. the vessels will be
sold for much more than they are worth
to any american. but if Congress is to
pass laws which will enable American
owned aud operated ships to compete
with the ships Of other nations then
Ships sold now will bring less than they
are worth.
In brief, whether we ere to lot our
ships go and to let pass the present
opportunity to put on the seas the big
merchant fleet we have built depends
upon what is done in Washington.
While we spend the time in debating
the shipowncrs of other nations are pre-
pairing for the harvest. The newspapers
yesterday contained dispatch from
The Hague announcing the consolida
tion of eight Dutch ,.camship com.
pauics. backed by capital of 200.
O0Q. 900 GUilders. to operate vessels OF
old established routes and to. open new
routes TO the Far East. Australi- aut
North and South America.
This new United Dutch Navigation
Company is to be managed by men who
understand the problems of ocean ship,
ping and who arc backed by sympa
thctic government. which will not lra,
them into court on the charge of vio.
latiug laws against commercial comb
nation as soon as they get their nov
corporation in working shape.
In the United States we nave becr
organize great transportation system
uniting ocean and land routes under
common understanding. We have force,
the railroads to divorce themselves from
steamship lines, on the theory that w
were insuring freedom of competition
As result our manufacturers have beer
handicapped whenever they have sough
to ship their goods to foreign ports. !
, has not been possible for mauufac
, turCr to got any assurance that hi
shipment will be delivered on time
And the foreign buyer has been forccr
in many instances TO buy in some othc
D country what he needs,
!, 1t is noteworthy that the commttc
! of shipbuilderS has indorScd the sea
mems act, which has in the past becl
held responsible in part for the in
ability of American shipOwnCrs to com
pete successfully for ocean trade.
John II. Rossiter, vice president q
w. Il. Grace & Co.. one Of the bigges
= firms of American shipowncrs, is n
:, more disturbed about the scaman's aC
, than is this committee. He said abou
year ago that at the present time tn
, higher cost of manning n ship under til
= act did not amount to more than = pt
cent of the total operating expense
n and that this could be overcome by in
rreaaing the speed of the ships and b
economies in loading.
So Congress is not to be asked
y, repeal that act. But il has been rc
!, luctant to consider the remedies tn;
- have been discussed for years, namcl
subsidies or subvcntions and discrim
natory duties in favor OF goods carri,
in American bottoms.
Discriminatory duties are said to
a impossible because they arc forbiddc
n by treaties. But it is argued that trei
iy ties are subject to revision.
Of Subsidies are opposed on the theo
,Int thou arn n Urant nv tho