The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
MERCHANT FLEET AND WAR


chant marine bill, participated in by both
Democrats and Republicans, is one of the
outstanding entertainments in Washington
at the present time. It is said that the
curious are thronging the galleries to wit
ness the spectacle and to hear the more or
less amusing speeches uttered for the sole
and even ayowed purpose of preventing the
measure from coming to vote There is no
longer question of argument as to the mer-
its of the ship subsidy and the pressing neces-
sity Of doing something definite and substan-
tial with our merchant fleet. The bill it.
self is hardly mentioned. The opposing sides
have their minds made up and there has de-
veloped contest as to which side can hold
out the longest, the friends Of the measure
passively, and the opponents of the measure
actively by time-consuming speeches. 1t
appears that the task of the friends of the
measure is the hardest, for they have TO
remain on guard and listen to the speeches,
than which doubtless there can be no more
grueling test of human endurance.
Of Democrats of the Gulf states, it ap-
pears that Senator Underwood dsapproves
of the filibuster, and that the two senators
from Louisiana openly support the mer-
chant marine bill. The others oppose the
measure. 1t is somewhat difficult to under
stand why the senators from the Gulf states
are not impressed by the disastrous effect
the failure of the measure is bound to have
upon Gulf shipping and the development of
Gulf ports. Because the apportioning Of
the proposed subsidy is based on mileage,
the steamship lines operating from the Gulf
ports to Europe would be placed on parity
with lines operating out of North Atlantic
ports Because Of the much greater dis
lance from Gulf ports to Europe the Gulf
lines would be unable to compete with
North Atlantic lines in rates, unless there
were some plan whereby the disadvantage
may be counterbalanced. In its national
aspect this factor is of significance, for if
goods from the mid-south and middle west
are not routed by way of the Gulf they must
be transported over the longer and more ex-
pensive route by rail to the North Atlantic
seaboard, causing return to the dominance
of the eastern railroads and to the one-port
system which caused such congestion dur
ing and after the war. To develop an ade-
quate number of port outlets and to escape
dependence upon a few railroads easily con-
gested, form consummatton demanded by
the public welfare. More than that, in time
of war such congestion would be of direct
and incalculable injury to our movement of
essential materials, just as it was of i'm
pediment during the recent war.
All this is to say nothing of the fact that
the opponents Of the ship subsidy seem to
forget that this nation spent hundreds
of millions under stress of war to build the
ships we had neglected to build at far less
cost during times of peace. Now they would
permit this fleet to be scrapped for the lack
Of few millions to insure its permanence
as national asset. Should we allow this
fleet to perish, and should another war
come, then we again should be compelled to
build merchant fleet under duress of ne
cessity, of limited time and of extreme high
costs. Perhaps another time we should not
have sufficient period in which to make
ready for such fleet.
The danger of war is not remote. Mr..
McAdoo, whose farsighted judgment has al
ready carried this nation triumphantly
through extreme crises, believes that an
other war is inevitable, unless the situation
soon changes, and that we cannot avoid
being drawn into it even more promptly
than before. All army and navy authorities
agree that merchant fleet in time of war
is indispensable, and second in Importance
only to defensive equipment. Perhaps there
may evens arise a situation in which it
would be the most important factor in our
national preservation. The prospect is not
sufficiently dim for US to view the loss of
the fleet with calm and indifference. Still
less should political filibuster delay decision
on great national program of vital concern.