New-York tribune., 1922-05-14
Aid of Congress Needed, Lasker
Insists, if U. S. Industry Is
to Stay in the Game


carly days Of the Republic Congress
granted shipping full protection by dis
eliminating duties and other legisla-
tive aids. Under this encouragement
American clipper ships ruled the
waves. They carried 90 per cent Of
our foreign commerce. The vessels
were the equal of any in the world as
auxiliary cruisers for use in time of
war. In the generation preceding the
Civil War government protection was
withdrawn. American shipping de-
clined. Then the development of our
vast natural resources in the West
drained our supplies of men and
money, and the merchant marine dwin-
died until it carried only per cent of
our foreign commerce as recently as
1914
American Lines Have Neither
Experience Nor Resources
Great Britain pursued an opposite
policy. In the days of Cromwell dis
criminatory legislation gave trc-
mendous impetus to shipping, which
had been strengthened through naval
wars with France and Spain. When
American shipping dominated the seas
the British government started a COM
prehensivc system of subsidies, which
was just becoming effective when the
American government withdrew its as
slstance to its own feet. IN the course
of fifty years British vessels bound
the world in network of steam ship
lines. established agencies and made
valuable connections with all forms of
industrial enterprises. This is the
situation to-day. American lines do
not have the experience or resources
to establish themselves. They ask
government aid, which has been ex-
tended to virtually all domestic in
dustrics.
1t is not generally known that Amer
lean private, shipping has fallen to tht
point where it is carrying smalle,
proportion Of the foreign commerce Of
the country than before the war
Chairman Lasker recently testified be
fore Congress that private vessels ir
trans oceanic trade we're transporting
only per cent, against per cent il
1914. Nineteen per cent is handled il
government steamers. Two years agt
ships under the United States flag car
ried onehalf of our trade. At present
leaving out bulk oil shipments from
Mexico to the United States, America,
vessels take less than one-third.
The war gave us one of the world
greatest fleets, second only to that o
Great Britain. This was obtained a
cost of $500, 100000. Under presen
conditions it is disappearing rapidly
OF the 1,400 modern steel vessels ownet
by the Shipping Board only 400 arr
in service. The remaining 1000 ar,
idle, rotting away, gradually becomn!
useless for all practical purposes
Imagine feet of a thousand vessels
the greatest merchant armada in exist
ence, steadily passing into oblivion
One of the relics of the war is ths
feet Of 300 wooden ships. constructed
to bridge the Atlantic, which will nevel
be put in operation. The Shipping
Board cannot sell these vessels. Recen
experience shows that it cannot de
stroy them unless some novel methot
is discovered. An attempt was made t.
! do this by fire. Several ships were
burned to the waters edge, but th'
hulks remained as menaccs to naviga
ton. Ii they are filled with cement ant
sunk "a costly plan-there is the eve
present possibility that they may over
, turn and rise to the surface.
brief summary will show the handi
caps faced by American companies
!, The Shipping Board has demonstrated