AMERICAN SHIPPING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 7

AMERICAN SHIPPING.

SUBSIDISING MAIL STEAMERS. \ — — — By Telegraph. — Precs Association — Copyiight. NEW YORK, 4th February. The Senate's Committee on Commerce has reported favourably on a Bill introduced with the object of increasing mail subsidies for steamers trading between tho United States and the Philippines and Australasia. Many Americans view with alarm the gr.idu;il disappearance of the ocean mercantile marine, which has been almost oniirely ousted by tho European — and chiefiy the British — shipowners. In season and out •of season they have urged President Roosevelt to recommend the passage of some- measure which shall "rehabilitate America's ocean marine," and, as illustrating the- necessity, they point to the utter inability of the United States to supply colliers for coaling Iho Atlantic fleet on its way to tho Pacific. The Prcsidont in nis Alessage to Congress practically urged tho enactment of a, new .Shipping Bill, fathered by that well-seasoned ship-subsidy exponent, Senator Gallinger, whose chief object at present is to secure the creation of new mail lines to South America and n^rosi the Pacific. To secure a subsidy from the Government and to. create ;i fav/jivablc public opinion Senator Gallinger nns declared 1 that, the United States could largely disuincs Europe as caterers for the trade of South America ii new direct lines vere organised, and the same contention, he says, applies to the Pacific. "The American ship subsidy men are (recently reported p New York correspondent) enthusiastic nt the prospect, as thjy think, of seeming seme of tho British carrying trade. It is futila to tell these subsidy partisans that 'Great Britain is by far 'the best customer of the United States, i-nd k>st year took SO per cent of th? totp.l American exports to Europe, the British total bein" £117,000,000, whilo America's total imports from the United Kingdom amounted to the value of only £42.000,000 dutiable goods, and that a little lcciprocuy in the way of benefiting lhe English ships, which do the work of transport very well, and much more economically than American ships, is really a good thing all round. It' is equally futile to point out that the shipping trade goes to England becauco you Britishers can build, man, and run shipping more economically than America, and that t-ven America, would not tolerate a subsidy sufficient to redress tho balance of difference. 'Let's make a start, anyway,' s.tys the Arnerjcan shipsubsidy advocate. 'Give us enough of the people's money to make a start in the South American and Pacific trade, and we will see whao can be done elsewhere.' The ship-subsidy movement was founded, and is supported chiefly by American shipbuilders, and there is no chance at present of ship subsidies on a big scale being sanctioned by Americans generally."