The Washington herald., 1921-05-03
NEEDS OF GREAT LAKES

To the Editor, The Washington Herald:
What we need in the Great Lakes
country is Immediate legislation to
encourage transportation, shipping
and shipbuilding.
As a result of the present ship
ping laws, enacted in 1915, and
which were framed for ocean rather
than lake trafic, the passenger and
packet freight business on the Great
Lakes cannot be carried on profit-
ably. AS a result, there 10 no de-
mand for ships. and consequently the
shipyards Of the Great Lakes are
closed. and as a further result. thou
sands OF men are out OF employment.
Not a hammer is to be heard in the
great shipyards adjacent to Detroit.
Since the passage of the present
navigation laws in 1915, the shipping
interests of the Great Lakes have
come to Washington year after year
in an effort to get remedial legis-
lation. but they have not succeeded.
perhaps due to the fact that they
were asking for legislation OF in
terest to them as a class. They
have given up their efforts. and as
result. the boards Of commerce
and the shippers throughout the
Great Lakes country have taken the
matter up in the hope that they can
interest Congress in enacting laws
that will make shipping on the
Great Lakes profitable. II this Is
accomplished, ships that are not now
running will be placed again in
service. the shipyards will reopen
because there will then be a demand
for new ships, and we shall get
back again on our former prosper
Gus business basis.
Recently a conference OF shippers
was held in Detroit to protest
against the present navigation laws.
All the boards OF commerce of the
Great Lakes country sent delegates
to this conference. Shipbuilders were
invited in order that expert testi-
mony would be available in regard
to the burdens that are placed on
shipping by the present navigation
laws.
This conference expressed the be-
lief that the present laws of the
United States governing the opera
ton of vessels and the employment
Of seamen and others thereon upon
the Great Lakes and their connect
ing waters are burdensome upon the
owners and operators of such ves-
sells, forcing unnecessary expense
and depriving the officers Of sncn
vessels Of needed authority. and ar
tifcially shortening the season 20
the Inconvenience of shippers and
travellers, and that the present laws
are Impractical as far as the Great
Lakes are concerned.
thia o.
in the interest of labor as of trans
portation, because without ships
there will be no employment for sea-
men, and with no demand for ships
there will be no employment offered
in the shipyards. There should
therefore be no opposition to the
proposed legislation. because 1t is to
the interests OF the general public.
Two boats that have been running
from Detroit to Mackinac and which
have been losing money, have been
taken of this route and are now for
sale, but no one wants them be-
cause they cannot be run profitabl
under existing navigation laws. The
boat running from Detroit to San
dusky, Ohio, was taken off about
three years ago. The Chippewa, and
the Islander. operating in the 500
district, have recently been taken
off.
The American nag Is entirely of
Lake Huron as far as passenger and
packet freight ships are copcerned.
and We sincerely trust that lesisla-
tion will be Immediately available
that will enable US to get our ships
back on the Lakes again. As Il IL.
our lake passenger and packet
freight transportation is paralyzed.
r. J. MACLEAN. Chairman.
Inland Waterways Committee,
Detroit Board Of Commerce.
Washington, April 81.