The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1922-05-19

@ I'D so 81 ML-]JL]
URGES U. .. TO OWN MERCHANT
MARlNE-THE SHIPPING BOARD
HEAD TELLS WHY WE SHOULD
STOP OTHERS FROM DELIVERING
OUR GOODS.
BY Hon. George e. Chamberlain,
Member U. 8. Shipping Bard.
Editors Note-George Fl. Chamber
lain, a member Of the United States
Shipping Board presents herewith an
article written from standpoint OF
long and careful investigation. His
position in the executive forces Of the
government is indicative Of his ability
to handle such project. International
shipping is a subject that touches ev-
cry citizen of the nation from scme
angle. Every man should be familiar
with it's most outstanding needs.
A question that is often asked by
shrewd business men and others. i'll
considering our merchant marine prob
lem, is: "What is the necessity Of
American-cwned ships II the foreign
ship-owners can and will carry our
ocean freights cheaper than we can
do 1t for ourselves?"
This question should have been an
swered to the satisfaction of everyone
by the World War. Then we were
driven tc' acknowledge the necessity
Of such fleet. when the ships OF those
who were later our allies were divert
ed from commerce to war purposes
and could not, or would net, carry the
freights that we were earnestly seek
ing to deliver in foreign ports. Then
we entered the war and heard the cry
of our allies for "Ships. more ships"
and were compelled to admit cur pow
erty. Humil liating as it was to the
pride of rich America. boasting the
possession of all that goes to make
up a powerful and efficient nation, our
gallant seldiery was rushed to the
front and to our place in the fighting
lfne in ships flying the flags Of other
nations: else we would have remained
at home. impotent and ignored. Under
the spur and lash Of Necessity we
brought a splendid fleet of merchant
vessels into, being. which is today the
largest single feet Of merchant ves-
sells in the world
Now. in time of peace. with the ex-
to serve as a lamp to guide our foot
steps. shall we listen to those in cur
own country and to the propaganda of
our commercial rivals and make no
effort to maintain and to use that fleet !?
Shall we abandon these ships. leave
them to rot and decay. and leave our
selves an easy prey--commercially and
otherwise - to those great Powers
which. with characteristic energy
backed by the experience OF hundreds
of years, are reaching out for world
commerce and the dominance of the
sea:
We have just witnessed a great
disarmament Conference (which has
determined the naval standing of the
great powers. It behooves us to as
sure for ourselves-not for military
purposes. but for the protection and
development of our commercial as
well as national defense--that we hold
our routes on the sea by the mainte-
nance of cur merchant marine in orr
der to keep a relative position. at least
with the other maritime nations under
the ratio that has been established for
capuital ships OF the navy.
Superfically. at least. 1t is true that
foreign-owned ships costing less to
construct. operated under a lower
wage scale. and aided by government
subventions because of the service to
all the people. can carry our freights
at a lower rate than we can carry
them for ourselves. Whether or moi
they can carry them cheaper. taking
all costs into consideration, is quite
another matter. We can consequently
meet this foreign competition only by
adjusting this differential through
subvention. direct or indirect. and per.
mitted by congressional action.
During the past year immense car
goes of cereals have been shipped ou
OF the United States in ships flying
foreign flags. because these ships were
able to underbid both the United
States Shipping Board vessels ant
those Of independent American opera
tcrs 10 1t cheaper. in the long run
to permit this possibility to continue
with all that it involves. while ou
own fleet. built at the cost OF grea
investment. lies idle. earning nothing
deteriorating and going to ruin? Is |
cheaper fer US to forfeit our own in
dependence at any cost?
For the past one hundred years tn
foreign commerce of the United State
has amounted to the unthtnkabl
amount Of nearly one hundred and hft
bill Of. dollars. Seyenty-stx pc
cent OF this was carried In foreig
ships, which collected as tribute fror
the American shippers the freight
thereon and took that much none
out Of the country and cut OF the peck
cts Of our own people. The amour
that our industry and production thu
poured into foreign Golfers for freight
insurance. and to banking interests
amunted to no less than twenty-elxh
billions Of dollars-a tremendous IN
dtctmeut against the apathy OF ou
interest In American ships and over
seas trade. To just that extent hav
We depleted cur own resources and n