davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Problems in Shipping Industry
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

A reorganization of the entire ship
ping business of the world, with prob
able change in national policies toward
the merchant marine, appears to be a
certain outcome of the period of busi-
ness depression. 1t seems likely that
the granting Of ship subsidies by ma
tions which have sought to build up
merchant navieS against the natural
grain of their commercial interests will
be abandoned, save In the cases of those
powers whose colonial interests make
ships under their own flags imperative.
When fewer things are made, when
the whole world is economizing. ship
cargoes diminish just as car loadings
diminish on land. An idle ship is an
expensive luxury. Costs of ship opera
ton under power steam or motor, are
high. A ship must be kept busy plying
its trades to earn q return on invested
capital.
Prices of all major commodities in the
world have declined. Rates chargeable
for freights must bear a harmonious
relationship to the value of the goods
transported. When prices of basic COM
modities decline In world markets own
erS will not pay so much for transport
because the freight cost will represent
too high proportion of the value Of
the cargo and leave nothing for profit
in trade. Therefore, in such times ship
ping companies are faced by a situation
in which there is less volume to haul
and what Is offered for transport can
afford to pay less freight.
There has been a strong trend toward
the merging of shipping lines. Econo-
mics have been effected wherever pos
sible. Ships have been retired, lines
abandoned. The tramp ships, save for
an occasional venture, are the first to
be laid up but with continued strait
ened times, even the regular lines re-
duce the frequency of their service.
Shipping companies have resorted to
all sorts of expedients to add to their
earnings in the last two years. There
have been richly advertised world
cruises, special cruises to the Mediter-
ranean, to the Orient, and to other
holiday parts of the world. BY using
big liners for this type of travel some
profits have been picked up outside the
normal paths of trade, but in depressed
times fewer people are making holiday,
fewe, san afford to travel anywhere.
The floating university has been an
other experiment, groups of students
being taken on long cruises, continuing
lectures abroad and supplementing book
learning by the educational advantages
of actually seeing the places they are
learning about.
Shipping Idle In Ports.
In spite of these desperate remedies
for declining employment on the seas,
idle shipping of every major maritime
nation has increased until now the
world shipping picture presents the
same aspect as 1t did in 1922 Some
1882 900 gross tons of shipping now
is tied up in the ports Of the world.
New construction has dropped to a
new low postwar record and the banks
OF the Clyde, the Belfast yards, the
great American, Scandinavian, and
other shipyards no longer resound to
the clang Of fabricating metal.
The rate at which shipping has fallen
idle since the depression began can be
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Reparations All Important,

President Strawn of the Chamber OF
| Commerce of the United States, back
| from a survey of conditions in Great
Britain, France and Germany, declares
that an accord on reparations is in
dispensable to European economic re-
covery Until it is achieved there can
be no substantial improvement in world
trade or finance Overwhelmingly, ac-
cording to President Strawn, the prob
lem of reparations lis the most urgent
and immediate question before all Of
the important European countries"
1t is an open secret that it is ques-
ton of vital Importance to this country
as well. The Lausanne Reparations
Conference in June will not be many
hours ole before it will be borne in
upon the American people that any de-
cisions taken there will have a direct
repercussion upon the United States.
1T is said,' remarked Sir Arthur Bal
four, distinguished British industrial
leader, the other day, that war debts
and reparations are not married. But
they have been living together for q
long time"
Sir Arthur's homely figure of speech
is not far wide of the mark Certainly
war debts and reparations have been
indissolubly linked since last June, when
President Hoover proclaimed the famed
asks and receives, as there is accu-
mulating evidence that she will, anoth-
er extension for reparation payments,
it is impossible to imagine that Amer
ica's European war debtors will not
expect a corresponding and automatic
prolongation Of the Hoover moratorium.
The issue will not have to be faced
at Washington until next December.
when the first semi-annual debt pay
ments following the existing mora
torium will fall due. Between now and
then American public opinion will have
to make up its mind whether it is in our
own interest to grant our debtors a new
PNAAON VA 6AoSSJ Vi SAliPAy dSQulCoSC All
their becoming at least temporary de-
faulters. In Europe's present mood, as
it finds recurring expression, there is no
sign Of willingness to continue paying
the United States war debt installments
If Germany ceases paying reparations
Premier Tardieu made a statement in
the French Senate Friday night that
bears significantly on the international
debts situation. France, he says. is
willing to consider adjustments in the
reparations schedule but is absolutely
opposed to the reputation of sigma
lures to debt agreements. This indi-
Gates that Germany will be permitted
to postpone. but not to cancel, repara-
ton payments. Applied to European
debts to America, M Tardieu seems by
the same token plainly to renounce the
idea Of reputation of those obligations.
If France will not allow signatures to
German debt agreements to be re
pudiated," she must be equally hostile
to the thought Of disrespecting her own
signature to the Mellon -Berenger debt
agreement
Evening star., 1932-03-27
New York Taxpayers Strike"

Mayor Walker has a peculiar facility
for returning from vacation Just In
time to walk into enough trouble to
send him on another vacation. Back
from Hot Springs on Monday, he will
find appointments listed for him that
afternoon with spokesmen for the New
York and Brooklyn Real Estate Boards.
come to present alternatives for avoid
ing a taxpayers strike. These alterna-
tives lie in raising subway fares to
make the subways self-supporting, a
downward revision of assessments in
line with "the true value of property"
and a pairing of municipal expenditures
by eliminating unnecessary work and
unnecessary officials.
The interesting thing about New
Yorks present financial stringency,
however, is the injection Of the subway
issue. Taxpayers strikes may be talked
about and threatened in New York,
but the recourse to such drastic step
is improbable for the simple reason
that a taxpayers strike hurts nobody
as much as it does the taxpayers them
selves. 1t impairs the city's credit,
tends to disorganize all municipal func-
tions and most severely penalties those
who have been honest enough and able
enough to meet their tax obligations
But the injection Of the subway issue
is another thing entirely.
The subway issue and what the
Herald Tribune calls the sacred nickel
is a pet of the politicians and has been
used exclusively by the politicians as a
| means to an end with tacit agreemen,
from property-owning taxpayers. Dur
! ing the sweet times Of prosperity the
taxpayers were willing enough to foot
the bill of a five-cent fare, and SO busy
were they with other things that the
clamor to retain the nickel fare left
them relatively unmoved.
Now, during this general time o
awakening TO the realities Of life, the.
have discovered how many evils hav'
been worked upon them in the name o
the nickel fare and all that it repre-
seVts. Assessments have been boosted
Evening star., 1932-03-27

diScerned from a glance at the figures.
At the beginning of 1880 idle shipping
in the world amounted to only 3.21s,000
gross tons. A year later it had mounted
to 8,665,000 gross tons and now stands
at ll,392,000 gross tons.
The United States leads all other
countries in the extent of its idle ship
tonnage American flag merchant ships
now tied up in the ports of the world
aggregate 3,03l 900 gross tons, or more
than one-fourth of the idle shipping for
the entire world. Privately owned
vessels have suffered more than those
OF the United Stats Shipping Board:
in fact, the Board has diminished its
idle tonnage. The figures show UP in
this light partly because the Board has
got rid of good many vessels, dimin-
ishing its whole tonnage. In 1928, for
example. the Shipping Board had 2,37l,-
600 gross tons of idle shipping. The
year 1882 has started with this figure
cut down to 1855. 900 gross tons. The
other, private ship operators under the
american flag, in 1928 showed only 544.-
QUO gross tons of idle shipping, whereas
now they have 1,646. 900 gross tons idle,
an increase of about 200 per cent.
Great Britain is in almost as bad
shape as the United States in extent of
IDLE tonnage. She now has 2,9I9,OOO
gross tons Idle. However, Great Brit
ans merchant feet is much larger
than that of the United States. so She
has more ships still in operation.
smaller proportion of her total feet is
idle.
Ocean Freight Rates Decline.
The pressure of all this idle shipping
on tne level OF freight rates was ire
s1stlble, and during 1881 there were
Sn4Tn rllfS in
price of coal declined and wages of sea
men were lowered. Fuel oil for the
greatly increased number Of motor ships
also declined in price. Most of all as a
factor and in order to keep ships busy,
even II not paying well, ship owners
nave cut profits to minimum. in some
cases being willing to operate at cost.
When Great Britain went off the gold
standard last September it was foreseen
tnat there would be some stimulation
OF her foreign trade as result. It be-
came possible for other countries. still
on gold basis, to buy British goods at
lower prices. This did not work out
uniformly to the advantage Of the Brit
Ism shipping companies, however. IN
deed, In many trades there was a dis
advantage. 1t is necessary for a shin
to buy coal and oil and other supplies
IN foreign ports. Alert masters and
agents will seek to route ships and
handle supplies so that purchases can
be made in favorable ports. On long
voyages this is not always practicable
SO 1t Is that some English ships And
themselves required to buy In gold
standard ports with deprecated English
money. ThiS means more shillings and
home. '-A "'
All OF these factors put together make
the shipping business unattractive at
present. An index of rates which can
oe charged for ocean hauls shows them
at only 81 per cent Of the 19ll-i3 or
pre-war basis. That is, line gets onIv
s8l Tor carrying the same amount Of
cargo Tor which 1t received $500 before
Evening star., 1932-03-27

One of the most beautiful and s,lg-
gestive prayers in the Prayer Book is
that for Easter morning. 1t expresses
one of the deepest yearnings of the
human heart.
Almighty God, who through Thine
only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. hast
overcome death and opened unto us
the gate of everlasting life, we humbly
beseech Thee that, as by Thy special
grace preventing us, Thou dost put into
our minds good desires, so by Thy con-
tinual help we may bring the same to
good effect, through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord, who liveth and reign
eth with Thee and the Holy Ghost ever,
one God. world without end"
1t brings back to mind the lines of
the poet:
"Tis life whereof our souls are scant,
More life and fuller that we want"
1t also reminds us of the ancient word,
He hath set eternity in their hearts"
Turn where we will the world over.
We find the passion for life, the larger,
the more expectant life. universal
There is something that inheres in hu-
man nature that makes man reach out
for an expectant life beyond the grave.
Tennyson expresses it in his noble poem,
Crossing the Bar where he says:
Il hope to see my pilot face to face
When 1 have crossed the bar"
Literature of every sort and kind
pagan and Christian. expresses the deep
hope that after the shadows of the night
are past there shall come the new
morning. No matter how tragic the cir
cumstances of life may be, no matter
what its hardships its trials and its suf-
ferings, there is the normal hope that
there shall come at length peace and
quiet and the fulfillment of the deepest
desires of human nature. Cardinal
Newman expressed it in his beautiful
prayer:
Lord, support us all the day long
Of this troublous life, until the shadows
lengthen and the evening comes and
the busy world is hushed and the fever
of life is over and our work is done
Evening star., 1932-03-27
THE GATEWAY OF LIFE
BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, d. d, IL. d,
Bishop of Washington.

then of Thy great mercy grant us a
safe lodging, a quiet and peace at the
last
The great American orator who lee
tured against the accepted beliefs Of
the church when he stood at the grave
of his beloved brother expressed in
poetic language his hope that there was
life bevond the shadows of the grave.
The monuments and memorials that
mark the resting places of the good and
the great are inscribed with words that
cypress mans universal yearning for
the fulfllment of his highest desires
Easter comes to us to find the
churches of every name thronged with
waiting and reverent worshlpers. Upon
no day in the year Is there more
manifest interest or finer expression
of spiritual yearning. There is some
thing in the message which the risen
Christ brings to the world that makes
its appeal to men of every class and
kind They may not be able to express
in the formal words of creed their
beliefs: they may refuse to recognize
the dogmatic teachings of the church,
but. irrespective of these things, they
gladly respond to that which the Easter
message brings. Some one has well
said, There is not man that lives
that has not known his Godlike hours"
These Godlike hours find us thinking of
those deeper things of life that con-
Germ its large development and richer
fulfllment. 1t is this expectation, this
yeaning, that nightly affects the whole
course of life. 1t prompts us to deeds
of service and sacrifice that otherwise
we would neglect. 1t compels us to
think in terms of character building
that otherwise we should be unreSpOn-
sive to- If on this Easter men could
highly resolve to reconstruct this old
world upon a basis of more kindly judg-
ments, more of generosity and consist
ency in human dealings, more of the
evident spirit of Him who went about
doing good we should greatly set for
ward that Interpretation of life that re-
CARDS it as being on the threshold of
its eternal becoming
Evening star., 1932-03-27
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
The Vast Machine.

The Vast Machine.
Machinery we often find
OF help in the eternal grind,
AS to its wondrous aid we look
To build house or print a book.
And yet by persons erudite
Who try to keep US going right,
We're often saddened and surprised
They say we're too much mechanical
And yet here comes the morning sun,
Night brings the stars out one by one
We hail for better or for worse
This vast machine, the universe.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

every side. But the popular demand Is
largely based on general disapproval OF
the undue severity of the sentence. and
perhaps in a still larger measure on
the universal objection to the trial by
military courts during times Of peace
of causes which rightly come under the
Jurisdiction of the civil courts, and
which can only be fully investigated
and properly disposed Of by those tri-
bunals. What the result Of these ex-
pressions of popular opinion will be re-
mains to be seen. It can hardly be,
however. that they will be entirely
without effect. There Is no doubt but
a large majority Of the people Of this
country desire the pardon Of Mason, or
at least mitigation of his punishment.
and this is a country in which the
majority rules, or is supposed TO riils-"
Evening star., 1932-03-27
All Other States and Canada.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
to the use for republication of all news dis
patches credited to it or not otherwise cred
tted in this paper and also the local Lews
published herein. All rights of publication OF
special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Even amid stupendous problems af-
fecting the prosperity of nations it is
possible to stir up a vigorous argument
in social circles as to the relative mer-
Its OF crooners and husky" mezzo-
sopranos.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

One OF the advantages of having Clar-
ence Darrow on a case is that he gives
the principals an opportunity for re-
pose by taking on himself the chief
burden of publicity.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Sovietists who contemplate possibility
OF war In Asia will have to formulate
the next prospectus with something
less simple in view than five-year in
dustrial plan.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Could Henry Ford have known how
much the high-powered automobile was
to figure in the annals of crime, he
might as conscientious man have re-
Trained from promoting it so efficiently.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

A party organization may show its
experience concerning exIgencies similar
to those of the Government by showing
difficulty in balancing an old campaign
budget.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Not So Bad. After All.

From the Altoona Mirror.
A statistician has found that Congress
spends $840 per week for printing
speeches that are never delivered. But
think how much worse it would be If
they were delivered.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Many political critics assume to dis
cover that what was regarded as the
keynote of Alfalfa Bills character is
adroitly managed comedy relief
Evening star., 1932-03-27

So long as Congress issin a generous
mood for making laws it might enact
one to provide especial penalties for the
cruelty of practical joking.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

A heavy tax might seem less burden
some if it could be construed as q
philanthropic contribution to a most
worthy cause.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Russia needs no more workers. Dis
contented citizens of other nations are
advised to stay where they are and
keep the soap-box oratory going.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

japanese craftsmanship sometimes has
way of mentioning war or peace as
If they were to be turned on or off
under the direction of Toxic.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

1t is evident that Trotsky still cher
ishes ideas of reorganizing the world
by means of magazine and lecture
bureau
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Unjust penalties are visited by kid
napers. 1t is not the fault of the little
ones that their parents are rich or
famous.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
A Handicap.

From the Lowell Evening Leader.
The tax increase before Congress, we
are told. will touch all but those in jail.
Illustrating once again that there are
limitations TO the enjoyment of freedom
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Rate bx Carrier Within the Cit,

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Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone
National 5000.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

The earnest reminders that Easter
Sunday brings were never more needed
in troubled world.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

China is still doubtful as to where the
historic open door leads to.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
The Non-C0mbatants.

The nations who are looking for
Excitement cause a furry.
They 60 ahead and have their war
And let the others worry.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Tight.

A man has Just found In his foot the
needle he swallowed In 1866. and if he
is a tinid soul he will consider himself
reprehensible hoarder.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Not Kept Under

You cannot keep a good man down.
We sometimes notice with froWn
That, of the underworld, anew,
The same remark Is sadly true.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Jud Tl1nkins says he has seen times
in the past when what the people were
calling depression was to large extent
only impression.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Oars a pot O. gold at de end of de
rainbow" said Uncle Eben. de way it
never gets into action looks to me like
somebody must be hoardin'."
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Fellow Feeling.

"All the taxes you're demanding, -
said the constituent, "are going to leave
lot Of us in debt"
That state of affairs may not be
disadvantageous," answered Senator
Sorghum. It'll enable all of us to
understand more clearly how Uncle
Sam himself feels these days"
Evening star., 1932-03-27
BOOkishness.

What were you telling that book
agent?" asked Mr. Dustin Stax
That you already had more books
than you needed" replied the secretary.
You are right" said Mr. Dustin Stax.
And you might have added that those
I wish I could get rid Of are the ones
that have too many figures written in
red ink"
why invent new weapons to show
how terrible war may be-" said Hi Ho,
the sage of Chinatown, when it is
something we have known for CEN
turies."
Evening star., 1932-03-27
The Evening Star Newspaper Company

18th ct. and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York once: ITO East 42nd st.
Chicago once: Lake Michigan Building.
European once: IA Regent 6, London,
England.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and virginia.
Evening star., 1932-03-27
Mercy Is Asked
For Sergt. Mason.


the District Jail over the person of
Guiteau, the assassin of President Gar
field. attempted to shoot the prisoner
Mason was tried by court-martial and
sentenced to dishonorable discharge
and imprisonment. The Star Of March
25. 1882, says:
That Sergt. Mason gave offense In
wantonly firing at man he was de-
tailed to protect no one would pretend
to deny, and that he should be ade-
quately punished therefor will be as
generally admitted. The conviction is,
however. deeply rooted and widely en-
tertained that the penalty inflicted by
the court-martial was out Of all pro-
portion to his transgression, and it no
doubt Is largely out of this feeling that
springs the demand on every side for
his pardon, or at least q mitigation of
his sentence. Unquestionably the de-
testation everywhere felt toward the
assassin and the common dissatisfac-
ton with the manner in which he has
been treated In prison, as compared
with the harsh experience Of Mason
during his confinement here, have had
an influence in creating this sentiment,
as well as in quickening the active SYM
pathy for his family manifested on
Evening star., 1932-03-27

The origin of the word filibuster
is Dutch, thence to the Spanish cor
ruption. fllibusteros and the English
freebooter, with a definition that can
literally be extended to include pirates
or any lawless persons. There are
really two kinds of filibuster: That
common to the House, which Reeds
rules put down, and that employed in
the Senate by unlimited debate, plus
quorum calls. Under the House rules,
prior to 1890, it was possible to pyra-
mid allowable motions force roll call
upon roll call and break a quorum by
refusal to vote. Thus the House would
find itself in labyrinth Of dilatory
motions without technical quorum,
notwithstanding the actual presence Of
physical quorum. One such House
nlibuster covered period Of two weeks
continuous session.
Evening star., 1932-03-27

Appeal was taken to the United
States Supreme Court in behalf of