Evening journal., 1922-06-29
KEEP OUR SHIPS
aSAYSDRLAYTON
Congressman Says Labor
Errs in Opposing Mer-
chant Marine
SAYS WEST SHOULD
FAVOR HOME SHIPS

HQeCldl 10 lnt ENtnlub JouAudls
WASHINGTON, June 2s-Repre
sentative Caleb R. Layton. of Della
ware, in a speech on the floor of tn
House yesterday in which he advo
Gated a merchant marine, pointed
ers or TO permit foreigners TO carry
our products TO the markets of the
world would be an indication OF
weakness as a nation. and at the
same time would increase unem-
ployment in our ship yards. where
as 10 retain our fleet of ships would
increase employment and promote
our foreign trade.
80 Representative Layton said he
could not understand why the Mid
die West. which needed transporta-
tfon more than any section. should
aiot advocate q, merchant marine. He
eald also he could not understand
Why organized labor should be op-
posed TO a merchant marine.
tle'Tt would be pitiable spectacle Of
rational weakness for this country
AOOA4-nal u ltE0ANt "
40 other nations the transportation
OF its products" said the Delaware
Congressman.
= DR.. Layton pointed out that the
nation has on hand large numbers
of vessels of various sorts and quail
ities. some Of them At for merchant
marine, but some unfit. II costs S16,-
Jp0 900 per annum to officer. equip.
eaard and generally care for this
feet. which it should be borne in
ahnd cost the people under the last
administration $4,000. 100000.
IF we sell our vessels to foreign
ers." said DIR. Layton. ''advertis-
ing in advance that neither the gov
ernment of the United States. nor its
individual citizens will compete at
the selling. which fact will be ad-
vertised by the failure TO pass this |
.Tii it follows in a common sense |
fashion that without competition |
the fleet will be sold for a song.
If, however, a subsidy is granted |
the competition Will be such as to |
make the receipts aggregate many /
millions more than they otherwise /
WVHAA anu RRcoA0Ag u AAAE tAAfiA VI I
paying for the subsidy for at least
swo or three years 10 come. which
may be time enough 10 establish
the value Of a merchant marine SER
vice 10 those who now disapprove.
as well as TO establish the necessity
for the subsidy itself.
rIf we sell this marine fleet 10
foreigners at a minimum price we
shall get a ridiculously petty return
for what cost billions. II we put
thirty millions a year behind he
proposition, as a policy of encour-
agement and protection we will ge:
more for the fleet beyond a doubt,
'riS possibly demonstrate the neces-
ity as well as the value Of a mer-
hant marine TO the ohiee.ors Of
be country without costing a penny
'ntil the demonstration IS made.
his is briefly one angle Of the prob +,
m.
>"Another is. ought we to have a :
merchant marine? Personally 1
elieve we should. This is an age
transportation. Under modern !,
iscoveries in power and machin-
ry. the whole world has become a |.
reat market. II makes no diff !.
arence that it means transportation
z the water.
I'VE should not let foreigners
ONE In and control our railroads.
r public highways. nor our inter.
e. waters and coastwise trade. I
All to understand the argument Of
hose who say il will cost more than
= we leave our Atlantic and Pacific
ommerce TO japanese. or the Nor
seeian or the British merchant ma J
ine." {
Representative Layton said he
ouid not understand why the Mid
Ie West should not be the most
rdent advocates OF all forms of s
-arsportation inasmuch as IL needs I
aansportation most I'm nv judg-
fent" he continued, "a great nation l
se the United States. the greatest
! agriculture, manufacturirg and :
nning. should carry its own pro- Q
vets under its own flag, into every
ort of trade throughout the world" a
He also pointed out that the
reatest nations of the past owned
nd operated their own shipping a
. fact the measure of their ship 1
ing was their shipping power and
nuence. In the late war we paid I
) heavy price for the lack of ship b
ing, which would have cost most
anons their national existence,
nd came near changing an allied
aetory into a German victory there
2 Changing the history of man and f
ne destiny OF nations" (
:. Representative Layton said he was '
nrprised at the report that union
Bbor opposed the subsidy. THE q
'in Of all labor especially of or
'anized labor is, or should be, to j
reate employment as well as con-
erve the interest Of the employed"
le declared. 1T is obvious that il q
re abandon all idea OF a merchant j
aarine these results will inevitably
ollow: First, the practical akan- I
onment of the ship yards of the
ountry, second, the resulting un- /
'nployment OF all Americans now
nployed in manning our vessels :
agaged in international commerce, :
scept so far as they may obtain
Enjoyment on foreign ships and I
ct foreign wages and be under I
,reign conditions generally The
suit in substance will be that for
gn ship yards will be busy, ours
tserted. foreign sailors will be en- y
Dyed. ours will be idle. c
I'm considering this remark rep r
sentative Layton said: This meas '
e involves not only the interest Z
the nation in this generation, but II
q national interest of generations e.
come. involving as il does the
Itional profits, prosperity and g
,wer.'" b.