The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-25
FOREIGN VESSELS ALREARY AHEAD

Have the United States Senators opposing the shipping bill now before the Senate, no pride in an American Merchant Marinr2 Do tley expect the American flag to be seen in tl'c leading ports of the world, when de- serted by those claiming to be patriots9 SucL a situation is most amazing
 More than three billioin dollars were cx- pended by the Federal Government, during and after the World War in order to sec an Amer ican Merchant Marine large enough and powerful enough to carry at least ne-half of titc ocean commerce of the United States.
 Before 1914, the year the World War opened, only about 14 per cent of our imports and only about 8 per cent of our exports, were carried in American vessels. The bal ance. both imports and exports, was carried in foreign vessels. In that year, commodities valued at $3,7O0,OO0OO0 were carried to and from the United States and foreign countries, and onlv about $360,OO00OO carried in Ameri- can ships ',- .--
 Because of the war and strenuous and also extravagant efforts on the part of the United States, in 1920 about 42 per cent of our imports and 53 per cent of our exports were carried in American vessels
 The tide turned in 1921, continued during 1922 and is likely to be a flood against us in 1923 unless the Senate acts promptly. For eign ships, and more especially British ships, arc passing American ships in the ocean carry
 ing trade; and unless something is done the old figures of from five to eight per cent in American vessels, will come back.
 In the twelve months ending with June 30 1921, only 40 per cent of our imports and 39 per cent of our exports were carried in Ameri- cline was still greater, only 32 per cent of our imports and 36 per cent of our exports being carried in American ships. In August, 1922 only B per cent of our imports and 3S per cent of exports were carried in American ships. In September, 1929, only 29 per cent of our imports and 35 per cent of our exports were carried in American vessels Tho de cline will still go on, unless the Senate does something, and that quickly.
 The cost of ocean transportation IS about & per cent. The figures thus show that the United States in the year 1922 paid foreign ship-owncrs more than $2S9,0O0000 for the transr rortation of merchandise imported into and exported from the United States ,.>
 Why not pay this to American ships, or at least a large part of it? Great Britain boasts that this immense ''invisible credit" is helping to make the United States a debtor instead of creditor nation. Will the enemies of the shipping bill in the Senate take a pencil and pad and figure it out how long it will take Great Britain at this rate, t. become the great creditor nation again? Already gold is beginning to be eX- ported in iucrpaSinU vOlump. which may hp1D 10 restore the exchange value of foreign eur rccny especially the pound sterling, but will tcl,d 10 make Great Britain a creditor nation a9 gain, and may make the United States 8 da.tor nation a4aln.
 :, is tlnN .su in economies and unwiso in t,.e matter ol national defense to neglect our Merchant Marine and permit foreign countries to transport the largest proportion of our imports and exports.