Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-30

seriously embarrassed for want OF
ships.
Should Utilize Our Ships
The feeling that this country
should NOT put all of it's trust in
European ships is growing. NOW
that We have the markings Of a ma
rine 1t is argued that we should
not let the ships rot because cir
cumstances are unfavorable to
American competitors. The result
of this feeling is the Greene sub
sI6y bill.
This bill would substitute Ameri-
can ship wner for the next ten
years III which time they would be
expected to get firmly on their feet.
Money would be loaned to them
and in return they would be under
contract with the Shipping Board
to operate their vessels alcng the
lines set down in the bill.
Advocates of the bill shcw that
Franc has found 1t advisable to
grant a subsidy to shipping inter-
ests and that Japan has provided
for it's ship wne for the coming
year.
1t is so long since this country
had a merchant marine of any inn
portance that the question is occa-
sionally raised as to whether Amer
leans are really suited to Eea far
ing. Perhaps it is not advisable
for US to try to compete with set
loving nations, it is suggested. His
tory shows that through colonial
times and almost up to the Civil
War this country was 3 maritime
power. Its clippers proudly car
ried the flag over the trade lanes
of the seas. Then the hard life
and adventures of the sea lost their
attractiveness for Americans. There
was money and adventure in the
west and in home trade. European
ships would carry the cargoes.
America gave her place in the ship
ping world and now She shrinks
from the struggle necessary to es-
in view of the high American scale
of wages and costs.
Roosevelt Favored Subsidy
President Roosevelt tried to re.
vive the interest in American ship
ping in 1905 to keep in this coun-
try some of the millions paid to
Europe for carriers. The Gallinger
ship subsidy bill. which succumbed
to persistent flibustering in the
senate, was the only result.
Now, Representative Greene has
taken the merchant marine on his
shoulders. He Is one of the vet
Grams of the House, outranked in
point of continuous service only by
Speaker Gillette. He knows con-
gressional tactics and he knows
shipping. Ever since his first term
in the House, twenty-four years
ago., he has been a member of the
committee on shipping and for eight
years he has been chairman. His
district is a shipping center and
his constituents are said to approve
his attempt at reviving American
sea traditions.
1t ia prophesied that the Greene
bill will pass the House. In the
| senate, long speeches and filibus-
tering may be fatal. as in the case
of the Gallirger bill.
The final question Is whether
the American merchant marine is
of sufficient importance to the ma
tional interests to be given gov
eminent aid at this time, and If so.
how much aid is advisable. Few
persons interested in the bill how
ever, are viewing the matter from a
general viewpoint.
Shipping interests are strongly in
favor Of the proposed government
aid for their business. They con-
slider 1t only just that the Repub-
lican party which believes in pro-
tectirg other industries by tariff
should help the struggling ship
wners.
Enemies Of the bill say that the
people should not be burdened
further; that shipping has not been
subsidized in this country; the sub
sidy is an experiment which will not
put shipping on its feet and
that it will only involve the country
in heavy EXPENSE.
Estimates as to what the burden
will amount to vary widely. Lasker
says: 1T is estimated that in order
to develop a balanced fleet of T.
500. 900 gross tons. which should
carry fifty per lei at least of all
branches of our overseas trade. the
cost to the treasury will ultimately
approximate 100000 900 "a year,,
though for the first year It is esti-
mated at only $4,000. 600.
Representative Davis opposing
bill, says that "the subsidies and
aids provided in the hill. would
cost more in three ear than the