Evening star., 1936-02-09

in 1920 Americas percentage, by value,
of its foreign commerce had moved up
again from the 10 per cent of pre-war
days. to 40 per cent In 1924, however,
it slipped back to 363 per cent. 1t
was testified at the Senate hearings
last year that in very few yards Of
the United States have there been
shipbuilding activities since the end
ing of the Governments wartime
program.
Handled One-third Last Year.
In 1880 American ships handled 338
per cent by value. or 40 per cent by
volume, of the Nations foreign COM
merce. and for 1885 it carried 36.2 per
cent by value. or 80 per cent by volume.
In other words. it handled last year
one-third of the Nations foreign
commerce The pending bill starts out
with a declaration of policy that 1T IS
necessary for the national defense and
development of its foreign and domes-
tic commerce that the United States
should have a merchant marine Suf-
ficient to carry its domestic water
borne commerce and at least one-half
of its foreign export and import COM
merce.
How do the merchant ship facilities
of this country today compare with
the other maritime nations?
At the Senate hearings last year
testimony was presented showing that,
considering the shipping facilities
available for international trade
throughout the world, the United
States stood third on the basis of gross
tonnage. When the speed of ; vessels
based on their tonnage was considered,
the United States ranked fourth.
When the age Of ships was taken into
consideration-ships of 10 years or
less in age-this country was found in
eighth place among the principal
maritime nations.
Since last year, according to Com
merce Department official, there have
been slight changes which place the
United States second in gross tonnage
and third in the factor of speed. But,
when the age of large part Of the
American tonnage Is taken into con-
sideration, the indications are that,
without program for requirements in
the immediate future, this country's
merchant. marine standing will de-
cline.
The Senate committee has been told
that of the American vessels operating
in the foreign trade, about "a per cent
are over 10 years old.
Alfred H. Haag, chief of the division
of shipping research in the Depart
ment. of Commerce. told the Senate
Committee last year that the proper
yardstick to employ in measuring the
relative standing Of merchant fieets Is
"that which we might call the COM
petitive power, which takes into con-
sideration, along with the capacity Of
the ship, its speed and age"
$50. we must consider all three fac
tors, a combination of these elements,
in order to determine accurately the
relative standing of merchant ma
rines," Mr.. Haag testified. In view
of the fact that we are so far behind
our competitors in the matter of mod
ern tonnage, 1t is of primary i'm
portance to consider the building up
of our merchant marine with modern
types of ships, not only in order to
make it q competitive merchant ma
rine, but also to make it a prosperous
one.
Would Create Authority.
'Now, unless there Is definite pro-
gram outlined, perhaps predetermined
over the next seven years, we will have
q feet that will fail in its purpose
because we will then have too many
old ships. Remember that IS per cent
in number and n per cent In tonnage
of our subsidized fleet viii have
reached an age Of 20 years; that Is,
providing no ships are built"
p The pending legislation would Gre
ate board to be known as the United
States Maritime Authority to adjust
Continued on Ninth Pase.)