The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-13

IcTeuCc Is W make Tile huleIl IL
ing issue before the American
With only limited naval construc.-
ton, many Of the American shipyards
must close. Only the building and re-
pairing of merchant ships will keep
the rest open. That is one considera-
ton.
With only limited naval construc-
ton, the Importance Of merchant
ships that can be made over into
scouts, light cruisers and transports
will be greatly. increased. That is
another consideration.
But the chief argument for keeping
the merchant marine we have and
adding to IL from time to time are q
little more businesslike than either.
In the first place, we have the mer.
chant marine 900 tons
more Of 1t than we had before the
war-and the greater part OF this
tonnage Is in condition to transact
American business across the seven
seas. This new merchant marine
cost more than $4,000. 100000. 1t is
today worth only half the three
billions-perhaps less than half-but
IL is paid for, and there Is no busi.
ness sense whatever in the proposal
to throw 1t away.
Plenty for IL 10 DO.
In the second place, we have plenty
of uses for this merchant machine.
Since the war we have more uses
than ever. Only yesterday we read,
for instance, that, With all our trade
troubles, we did last year twice az
much ocean-borne business with
South and Central America as We did
the year before the war. In 1913 the
trade amounted TO S73o,00G. 900; IN
1921 to $1,400, 900. 000-a wonderful
showing even for these days Of large
figures. And new American shipping
accounts for much of 1t.
Before the war there was no quick
and direct water communication be-
tween our Atlantic ports and, for ex.
ample, the west coast Of South
America. Today a man can embark
in New York on an American ship
and land in Peru, Valparaiso, or Chile.
The west coast Of Central America
also has for the first time American
ships connecting its ports with At.
lantic ports Of the United States.
A long list Of similar changes in
the ocean transportation of American
business might be given, but South
Americas case is the best example.
Next to China, South America is the
great business field still to be cult
waited by the industrial nations.
Not only have we got thus far with
the new business Of this hemisphere,
but we have the facilities for going
further. Despite the hardships of
the last two years there are fifty
branches Of United States banks in
Latin America, where there were
none before the war. They are there
to help transact the business which
the new merchant marine is prepared
to carry.
Interest to Manufacturers.
What shall we do with the new
business and the new facilities for
carrying that business forward. espe.
cially with the merchant ships?
Every manufacturer in the United
States is interested in the question.
He may never have seen salt water;
he may never have seen a tramp
ship or ocean liner: he may produce
his goods in Keokuk, Little Rock or
Leavenworth, and never go more
than 200 miles from his factory. But
II his goods are fit for export to
foreign markets. he Is as vitality con-
cerned as II he made them in New
York or Norfolk.
What then shall we do to keep
the ships that carry the goods? We
should carry them largely in our own
vessels. We cannot expect foreign
ers to open and supply foreign mar
kets for US. That would be asking
too much.
England profits $500 200, 900 q year
from handling goods in ocean going
trade, half Of them at least her own
Who would expect her to split the
profits with us for no reason EXCEPT
generosity and good will? What then
shall we do with our merchant ma
rine?
That is q question that President
Harding is soon to answer in q spe-
cial message to Congress. The com
petition of the foreign merchant
fleets ia strong. The other nations
will not give up their ocean. going
business to US without q struggle.
To keep our ships on the ocean, to
build up the business that they fos-
ter, will require an effort; and as
the fleet is largely the Government's
creation the effort will have to be
the Governments effort?
AS the ships go gradually over into
private hands, how will the Govern
ment strengthen those hands in order
that they may hold the present bust
ness and yet more?
The only noteworthy answer 90
far has been by subsidy. And sub
sides are what President Harding Is
expected TO recommend within the
next few weeks.