The daily times., 1921-10-10
CABINET SETTLES
MARINE QUESTION
AT AN EARLY DATE
FAR REACHING SUBJECT
Administration Contemplates
a Direct Subsidy of Ameri-
can Ships; President Hard
ing Says America Will Lose
Her Chance in Shipping
World or She Will Excel.
FAR REACHING SUBJECT
(By David Lawrence)
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily

Copyright, 1921, by The Daily
Times.)
Washington. Oct. 9.-President
tackled biggest, the most far-reaching
problem of the istration-some
thing that relates to unemployment,
more markets for agricultural pro-
ducts, limitation of armament and in
ternal relations. 1t is the question of
a merchant marine
Two hours of discussion IN the
Cabinet led to no conclusion except a
determination to thrash the whole
| thing out further at next Tuesdays
meeting.
The big question being considered
is whether the Harding Administra-
tion shall take step, feared by pre-
ceding administrations, but neverthe-
less pointed out as the only solution.
namely a direct subsidy of American
ships.
Chairman Albert Lasker has gone
at the whole problem with character
istic vigor and has made a report to
| President Harding outlining the al
| ternatiyes before the American sov-
ernment. He has shown how this is
the critical moment and how America
stands at the parting of the ways
either she will lose her chance to
build merchant marine or she will
avail herself of a golden opportunity
Ito gather in trade round the world
for the benefit of the American far
mer and manufacturer.
Mr.. Laskaer has the confidence not
only of the President but his asso-
ciates. He foresaw the failure of the
IU. S. Mail company and seized the
ships they had been operating for
the shipping board, later being vim
dicated absolutely in the opinion of
Mr.. Harding by the collapse of the
company That has only served to ac-
centuate the necessity of making it
possible for American concerns to
Icompete on the seas with ships fly
ing a foreign flag.
Briefly it has been contended that
the Lafollette seamen's act with it's
thigh scale of wages made it imposs-
lible for American firms to sail ships
as economically as those of other
|countries. Deficits have arisen from
other sources. The question is not
1.-The same however as it was in peace
thine. days before 1914 when it
iamounted merely to a subsidy to
American enterprises. Now the Gov
,tships. What shall it do with them ?
iShall they be sold at ridiculously low
!, prices at a time when the price OF
tonnage is at it's lowest point and
: even then leave American shipping
!, concerns to founder for themselves
in the face of conditions of compe-
tition that are ruinous, or shall the
government enter into sort of part
: nership with private enterprises, pay
ing a subsidy for mail delivery and
other items in order to develop routes
to parts of the world hitherto un-
touched by the American trader?
Mr.. Laskaer insists that the prob
7 lem is national, not sectional, thai
it interests the miner in Arizona as
well as the farmer in Kansas. He
made a significant speech in New
York last week on these points. Tha
speech was unquestionably gone ovel
e by the President before it was re
e leased to the press.
, The farming interests have hereto
| / fore blocked a grant of subsidy. The!
S have not seen the close Relationship
between a merchant marine and :
market for their surplus goods. Nov
THAT the farmers are appealing to thu
: Harding Administration to gran
e them a direct subsidy in the fnanc
: ling Of domestic movement of crop
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