, 1922-11-12
Soluc This National Problem.

NELF PRESERVATION is the strongest law of
~ natore, a fact that probably explains some of
the British opposition to the American shipping
bill; The largest maritime nation in the world
doubtless sees much of its prestige fading when
the bill passes and its yelled hostility only marks
the struggle. for existence.
The United States should have a fleet of fast
passenger steamers similar to that owned by
Great Britain if the navies of the two countries are
to be on a parity. Had the arms conference aboI.
ished all navies, Britain would be supreme mis-.
tress of the seas by reason of her merchant fleet
alone. AS matters stand, the ratio of merchant
craft available for navy auxiliaries is by no means
90 now, rather it is Al in favor of Great Bri.
tain, when tonnage and speed are considered.
With practically every foreign nation subsidiz.
ing its shipping in some way, the great protection
list nation-the United States-lets its shipowners
fight their international battle unaided, while
their competitors enter the fray armed with lower
wage costs. lower insurance rates. lower carving
charges of all kinds. The shipping bill pending in
congress sets out to correct this and to put the
American s~hipowner more nearly on u parity with
his opponent.
This nation, with its vast natural resources,
its skilled factory workers, its high efficiency
methods, is the great general store of the world.
Its delivery system is made of ships that carry
its goods to its customers over seas. Its foreign
business rivals cannot be expected to give TO Amer
lean goods the same delivery service they give
their own. So an Amrican ship delivery system
is vital to the continued prosperity of our general
store business. This delivery service the shipping
bill pending in congress assures for all time.
Continued government operation of our shipping
means an annual loss of at least fifty million
dollars a year, continued depreciation of the idle.
war-built fleet 'and the gradual disappearance
of the American flag from the seas. Passage of
the shipping bill pending in congress means put.
ting the government out of the shipping business.
sale of our war-built-f fleet, building of new and bet.
ter vessels and the assurance of an American mer.
chant marine adequate to the nations growing
needs.
Enthusiastic advocates of government owner.
ship want Uncle Sam to stay in the shipping bust.
ness even if it costs American taxpayers fifty
million dollars a year. They overlook the fact
that thirty millions spent under the shipping bill
not only would assure a market for idle government
ships, but would put the American merchant ma
rine ON a permanent basis for all time. Cargo car
rying overseas cannot be a monopoly such as a
postal service, and the competition is so keen and
varied that no government managed concern can
meet day to day changes with financial success.
Without an American merchant marine to pro
vide the essential auxiliary and supply craft, Amer
ica's curtailed navy, no matter how efficient, is
War only four of our battleships reached the other
side, the work of convoy devolving upon destroyers,
light cruisers and even improvised craft AS n
measure of national defense alone, wholly aside
from its economic aspects, the shipping bill pend.
ing In congress deserves the wholehearted sup
port of every American with his country's safety
at heart.
Low ocean freight rates, SO. essential to the ex-
port, of heavy bulk cargoes such as cotton, grain
provisions, etc, are assured when American Ships
are ready to compete for overseas carrying busi-
ness. This was proved concluszvely nfter the
World War when the shipping board fleet went
into full operation. Cotton export rates were
States slips began to carry cotton, but it was not
long before freights on that great staple were
nearly normal. American ships in commission
arc q guaranty of fair ocean rates.