Evening star., 1922-10-25
SHIP SUBSIDY HELD
VITAL J.O.FUTURE
Less Than Third Of Overseas
Commerce Carried in U. S.
Ships, Says Chamberlain.

| Less than one-third of the total
commerce OF 100000 tons is car
ried in vessels flying the American
flag, former United States Senator
George E. Chamberlain of Oregon
commissioner of the United States
Shipping Board, told the members of
the City Club forum at their luncheon
yesterday.
subsidy. the commissioner explained,
and pointed out just how such a
measure could help the country meet
foreign competition. In continuing, he
said:
One of the primary objects OF the
eHort to provide compensatory leg
islation for American shipping is to
increase to approximately so per
cent the activities OF our vessels lin
| our foreign trade overseas. This re-
| suit cannot be obtained by mere
weight Of ship tonnage thrown into
the trade.
Speed and safety.
Suitable vessels for the specific
services must be provided which will
! classify with the best of our COM
petitors.
These vessels would carry a low
er insurance rate, provide safety and
speed in deliveries and obtain the
| confidence Of both foreign and do
| mestic merchants and importers.
| This latter feature is sadly lack
ing from our overseas trade, owing
to the fact that our present service
able ships were designed for a par
ticuiar ana urgent emergency and
constructed with scarcely a thought
| to their ultimate usage in peace time
commerce.
Offsets Higher Costs.
THE proposed ship subsidy legisla-
ton is to offset as much as possible
the handicap Of higher operating costs
on our ships and TO stimulate their
usage by our domestic shippers.
Amy legislation can only serve as
an aid to the personal endeavors of our
ship owners and shippers. and will not
of itself establish our position in the
worlds commerce.
Confidence in our ships, security of
investment in shipping shares, wide
spread distribution Of the participat-
ing stock. and Legislation that will
investors In those shares will put our
merchant marine in strong position
In relation to our competitors"
Senator Chamberlain discussed gen.
orally the necessity of establishing
and maintaining an American mer-
defense. and undertook to show that
in view Of the four-power pact. the
United States occupied relatively a
poorer place, from a national defense
standpoint. than it did before naval
disarmament was agreed upon by the
principal powers. This was due to
the fact that we were lacking in fast
and powerful merchant vessels as
compared with our principal compet-
itOrs on the sea. He adduced figures
TO sustain the proposition taken by
him in this regard
In opening the forum Claude Owen,
chairman. appealed for 100 per cent at
tendance of City Club members at the
forthcoming Halloween party, to be
given at the clubhouse next Tuesday,
an affair which he said would surpass
any like undertaking held by the organ
iZation.
Henry +. Stringer. president of the
club. announced that in compliance with
the new program of events the first
club day Of the forum would be held
Tuesday at 1915. when the Rotary Club
Of Washington would conduct the
forum. The Rotarians will furnish their
own speakers and be in full charge Of
the proceedings. Similar outside club
days will be held throughout the winter