Evening star., 1938-02-01

development, and who has been a stu
dent Of the growth and evolution Of
labor law, the present Merchant Ma
rine Act as 1t affects labor gives tre-
mendous encouragement and marks q
great advance for the worker in the
history Of the world, and especially in
the history Of our own country. If the
act as 1t is now before us should be-
come law in every particular, even in
those few particulars that the labor
representatives who have testified be-
fore our committees have emphasized,
the bill marks 4 tremendous advance
for the sailor at sea and for his rights
and his privileges. Thus no one could
honestly speak Of the present act in
disparaging terms. We can, though.
point out some things which labor in
its present condition of growth and
organization would prefer to see other.
wise.
Training Given Attention.
Let me emphasize what said be-
fore about the comparatively progress
sive advance which the bill offers. The
bill is an all-embracing one, where
labor has central thought, where
training of the laborer is given con-
sideration, wherein the subsidies that
are offered are directed as much to
the advantage Of the sailor employe
as to the owner employers. 1t has
at last been recognized that if we are
to have worthwhile merchant ma
rine We must have one which not only
offers subsidy so that men might sail
ships, but which thinks also in terms
of developing the personnel to man
them.
How the training will be provided
has not yet been decided. There are
three suggestions that have been Of
fered. First, that the merchant ma
rine be considered primarily as an
auxiliary to our defensive fleet. and
that. therefore, the Navy should train
the personnel. Second, that probably
instead Of having the training done
under the strict military ideas Incl
dent to our defensive heet, 1t would
be better to have it done by our Coast
Guard, since the Coast Guard must
be trained not only in seamanship
but also in the ideals Of the sea. and
its members trained to give their lives
willingly in line of duty in ordinary
life-saving rather than in out-and-out
defense Of their country. We are
learning from the hearings that the
people Of our country think tremen-
dously well Of our Coast Guard, Of its
ability. Of its morale, Of its fine ideals
and Of the successes it has attained.
Apprentice Method Weighed.
Then. 1t Is suggested that as the
aim Of the merchant fleet is primarily
commercial, 1t would be better to set
up q strictly commercial naval train
ing school directed by our Depart
ment Of Commerce. It goes without
saying that there are, of course. prac-
tical sailors who feel that the only
training that is ultimately worth while
is the actual training in the service
and that the best training comes
from the serving Of apprenticeships
on board ocean-going craft.
Then, too, there is that reaction
which is always found among organ
lied labor and organized professional
classes; that Is, that there are too
many Of their class in the country
and that training would probably pro-
duce a surplus Of workers or profess
sional men and that that would cause
q reduction In the standard OF work.
manship and the income Of the par
ticular class. Competition for posi-
tions. it is thought, would be 80 keen
because of the many workers and the
comparatively little work that owners
would take advantage Of the situation
and drive pay down, hours up and
make more exacting demands Pro-
fessional men quite as much as labor
resort to this type of argument. Doc
tors feel that there are too many doc
tors. lawyers that there are too many
lawyers and architects that there are