New-York tribune., 1920-12-14

} from the devastations Of the war to
have much that we can buy from them.
Even when their industrial activities
are again reestablished to point
where they will have large quantities
of goods to sell to us. we will be
confronted with the serious problem OF
protecting our own industrial welfare.
Hence it would appear that ocean ship
ping for the next several years will
be confined largely to the transporta-
tion Of raw materials, Of which both
our country and cur customers will
be most largely in need. AS a matter
OF fact, transoceanic shipping, at this
time, is largely q one way business, as
attested by the large number of ships
which are arriving at American ports
III ballast.
Export Trade Predominant
Values Of ocean cargoes give but
little guide to the Importance Of ship
ping. as weights form the best index
OF the necessity of our shipping. In
this connection some recent statistics
compiled by the government are very
indicative of the conditions which con
front US.
For all cargoes for which weight can
be determined, t appears that whereas
we imported during the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1920, approximately &C.
000 600 long tons of commodities. dur
.ng the same period, we exported a
total Of 66,3O0,000 tons. In other words,
the actual tonnage imported at this
time IS only about 40 per cent of the
weight Of our exports.
ms, of course, is not normal con-
ditions Of foreign trade, and as in
dustrial occupations right themselves
IN foreign countries the disparity will
not be nearly so great 1t is interest
ing to note that of our exports nearly
so per cent Of the tonnage carried by
sea was confined to two items of fuel;
namely, bitumlnous coal and mineral
oils. We are thus drawing very heav-
ny on our natural resources for the
benefit Of our neighbors.
Under existing conditions there have
| thus been transported to and from our
shores by ships engaged in ocean COM
merce the great volume of 92,300,O0O
tons of commodities in one year. If
as we all hope, we will eventually, by
means of our ships, be in position 70
transact 60 per cent of our total for
eign trade in American bottoms, and
should receive an average of only S15
ton, we would receive 8 gross return
in ocean freight charges of over $780,
U0U,OOU annually.
Millions Paid Competitors
Heretofore, owing to lack of ships
we have been paying large proportion
of our ocean freight bills to our for
elgn competitors, and have had to de-
pend on other resources to maintain
This deterrent influence on our balance
OF trade. Aside from the indirect ben
eft OF the merchant marine in market
ing our manufactured products in oul
own ships, the direct prize to be gained
is fairly well represented by the esti-
| mate given as to our hoped-for revenue
from shipping if we obtain our just
proportion of sea traffic
To gain that prize all people inter
ested in shipping must devote the most
intelligent supervision and work to
enable us to operate the ships success.
fully in the keen competition which
We are already meeting in our ocean
commerce. Inflated wages of the oper-
ating forces, inflated repair bills and
inflated costs Of all kinds in connection
with ships must go as rapidly as pos
sible.
The competition on the seas is q
will have to depend to q greater OF
/ less extent on national help in the
shape Of preferential treatment Of all
kinds to enable US to hold our owr
against wages and living conditions
which, with all our competitors, are
far below the American standards. Nc
other industry in which our citizens
are engaged can ever come into such
direct competition with the lower
standard of other nations of the world
as does shipping
Vital to Safeguard Shipping
OF such vital Importance is ehe rner-
chant marine to our national well
being, that it should be treated as ar
industry by itself, the especial ware
Of the nation. While but few of oui
citizens believe in government opera
ton Of ships, none can deny the fact
that to succeed on the seas our inter
csts must be most carefully guarded
and fostered by wise and bencfceni
legislation on the part of our natona
lawmakers and executives
While maintaining our honored tradi
tions Of fairness TO all other nations
we must steadfastly bear in mind thai
our own interests are paramount. Here
tofore as nation, in our shipping mat
ters especially, we have been singularl5
rernigs in guarding our own best in.
tcrests; in fact, we have not been fail
to ourselves. The vicissitudcs Of The
World War, both before and after oul
entrance therein, brought our short
comings in this respect, acutcly to tho
minds Of our people al Il whole. Let
uH dcyoutly hope that it has beer
scared into our memories; that VIZ
must have our ships on the seas tc
transact our own business, and t.
maintain our dignity as Il nation.
It can we'll be imagined what a pre-
dicamcnt we would now be in were
Il not for the ships we already have
10 transact our business. Without thu
immense tonnage we now have in opcr
ation, the world at large would have
such a shortage Of vessels az TO prolon1
the reconstruction period for man,
more years than it will under tho pres
cnt hopeful conditions.
Outlook Viewed as Hopeful
We are at this time provided will
the greater part Of the chips which
We need for success on the seas; W,
have the goods 10 ship out, and w
ntcd many commodities from abroad
While those are tic Rrcatcst csscntiai
for "a merchant marine, wc have coin
cidentally developed other function
when are YitAlly ncccgsary for for
ojHn conrnercc. oar banking fncilitiei
in forcign ports Are being rapidly de-
Yploped tD Keep pac" with our nsodt