352 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



the series of startling marine disasters which "have shocked the world 

 within the last few years. It is, therefore, evident that any changes 

 that will bring the cost of either building or operating vessels down to 

 the foreign standard must be very radical changes, and will inevitably 

 be opposed by very powerful interests. I do not mean to say that no 

 attempt should be made to effect such changes. American ingenuity 

 and adaptability have been able to make a success in many lines of 

 industrial activity where foreigners had distinct initial advantages, 

 and I believe that we should find means to overcome in ocean trans- 

 portation some differences in cost of both instruction and operation, and 

 that changes might ultimately be accomplished which would make it 

 possible to overcome the handicap. It is too evident for argument, 

 however, that the accomplishment of any such result will be tedious 

 and difficult, and that the present conditions should not be allowed to 

 continue for the years that must elapse before such result could be 

 reached. 



The pressure of these facts and conditions has been felt in congress, 

 and at the last session several bills were introduced aiming at either 

 the development of the merchant marine or the provision of auxiliary 

 vessels for the navy, or both. There were hearings before the House 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries at which these bills were 

 discussed quite fully, and majority and minority reports were submitted 

 from that Committee. At the present session a new bill has been intro- 

 duced by Senator Stone which was referred to the Committee on Com- 

 merce, and has been favorably reported from that Committee. This 

 bill creates a "shipping board" consisting of the Secretary of the 

 Treasury, Postmaster-General and the Secretary of Commerce. Sub- 

 ject to the direction or approval of the President as to its more im- 

 portant functions, this Shipping Board is authorized to subscribe to any 

 part, not less than a majority, of the capital stock of a corporation 

 undertaking the purchase or construction and subsequent operation of 

 merchant vessels to ply between ports of the United States and the 

 ports of Central and South America, and perhaps elsewhere as necessary 

 to meet the requirements of commerce. It is further provided that 

 government bonds up to $30,000,000 may be issued for the purpose of 

 purchasing or constructing vessels to be sold to such corporation, pay- 

 ment therefor being made in bonds of the corporation. This bill con- 

 tains a further provision authorizing the President to lease or transfer 

 to such corporation not only vessels purchased or constructed under the 

 provisions of the Act, but also such naval auxiliaries as are suitable for 

 commercial use and not required for use in the navy in time of peace. 

 It is further provided that vessels purchased or constructed under the 

 act shall be, as far as possible, suitable for use as naval auxiliaries and 

 that the government shall have the power to take them for naval pur- 



