The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-08
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Especial corTeapondncs ef ArruAl
AGREAT SHIPBUILDING JOB

Building ships was only 49,
the activities OF the shfupirg -, 7.
in carrying through its srzs7 80 80
The board and its var5eas -
cies contracted for the Durrtszs' Z.
ships under various kinds as -
| chase contracts. II some foa- r
became a CO-wOrker IN ths -, D
struction Of ships. Il u7Ss-.-.
| the duties and Tesp0nsfbIlfr5az - 4
banker. and assisted in the s---.a
ing Of some shipyards. Il 49,
a general contractor and No.
greater shipbuilding facfl5ffss 3
became a manufacture s~s =
! creased the production - -
( equipment It became = f----S
merchant. L became an f-sr----
| company and sold u---s-----
| against insurable losses r s----
ed the transportation field and l-5.
and operated street ra5=zzrs \.
constructed and conduct=5 -r-al, +.
house its workmen. II tuitt t1z-,
with all the necessities ar -
veniences OF municipal life zr-E =
| paved streets, sewers. 7=sea- -
theatres, moving pictures. s,s-z
tails and the like
All in all. II was a big .-k ~.
shipping board had on ftz Hs-5.
II was an undertaking zhzt go
staggeTs the Imagination. zz5 t-s-
ii was accomplished is a E1e-u-z--
TO American business e-rz---.-
and genius.
Many Ships Now Idle
Ofsthe great feet that might ~
be carrying the American Hzz -
every port OF every sea -1rs 49,
1000 vessels are TODAY laid as
idle as Coleridge's painted sl-,
upon painted ocean" This ia ~
to some extent 70 rhe wo-l5-zss
depression in the shipping t-5.
ness, but more largely n Ire 81,
that the American operator is a.,
serious disadvantage with his fo--
eign competitors in the mater NJ
operating expenses. II r0S-s g-ss-
deal more TO sail a vessel urss-
United States registry. IN rc-rR.
ance to our laws az 70 crews. q.
than II does under that Of s-7 81.
er country, and unless sometime
is done about Il our idle ships b55
fair TO remain ont Of commission.
This brings VI the problem Of
what is TO be done to preserve tie
American merchant marine. Albert
D. Lasker. chairman Of the shin
ping board, insists that nothing bat
government aid offers 2 solution 70
the problem. He says The DO.
posed ship subsidy bill. Which IS
now being discussed before he
joint congressional COMMITTEES. pro-
vides adequate means. subject 70
such amendments as are advisable
and practical, for the restoration
of American maritime prestige
Until the citizen who resides IL
land cooperates with his brother On
the various coasts Of The country
and truly feels that he VIII share
directly or indirectly in he pros
perity that is 10 follow The uBbuld-
ing Of our import and export trade.
all efforts 10 put our idle fee IN
operation will be futile. This g q
matter for the enuTe nation 70 sup
port. not only from a spirit o. pa
triotism and Of pride, but for ths
even greater purpose OF econoE1s
and national preservation
America must build Up her ey-
port trade We must f-1 markets
for our surplus production 30 ~
ton has ever been sues q il
carrying out these policies unless Il
has had strong merchant -a-us
capable OF Transporting It's oV1
commodities TO all parts n The
world in its own bottoms F-- %,
the only solution lies il federal as
sistance.
Ship subsidy is by No -eHng
new ssue before the rouz-rv and
L antedares --r- s-ery-
ence as a shipbuIlE-uE nation and,
IN fact. has been recurring year
after year ever since The E-Et de-
cline Of our merchant marine. Nov
the issue presents a different p{3d-
.em- Heretofore subsidy ass
been urged in order THAI Americans
might he encouraged 70 5z--d
ships and sail them uZ5=- cl- Tag
Now government aid is sought ID
order that the hundreds Cz ships
hat We have idle on r-- hands
nav be put into commission and
made potent factors in wild -rsde
Shall We hoist the blue F=1=-