REPORT OF AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE COMMISSION. 13
can merchant marine—wages, food, quarters, etc.——are superior to
those in foreign services, but that the discipline is often more exacting
and the work more arduous. These seamen witnesses frankly acknowledge
the beneficial effect of legislation enacted in recent years by Congress,
but they ask for further measures of relief. The Commission
would, therefore, commend to the friendly attention of the proper
committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives requests
offered by the sailors as to the load-line law, the adequate manning of
seagoing ships, imprisonment for desertion in foreign ports, and certain
standard qualifications of scamen.
It will readily be recognized by Congress and the country that it is not
enough that American seamen should be merely on a parity in wages,
treatment, and comfort with foreign seamen. That will not suifice to
draw American boys in any considerable numbers into our merchant
fleet. The conditions of life in American shipping ought to be not only
as good as, but distinctly better than, in foreign shipping. They are
better already in most respects; that is unquestioned. But they ought
to he made better in all respects.
And above all, there must be a constantly increasing number and
tonnage of American ships, for American boys of the right kind will
not go to sea or into any other calling that is lagging and unprosperous.
They will enter no profession that does not offer an opportunity
to get ahead. There was a time, not so very remote, when American
boys by the hundreds, from high schools and sometimes from colleges,
were every year entering cheerfully on the hardships and perils of a
sea life, hecause it was, as it still is, a brave and adventurous life, irresistibly
appealing to their manhood, and because beyond the forecastle
they saw prospects of profit and command. When America again has
her ships on every sea the boys will be forthcoming. All they ask is
a square deal and a fair chance of advancement.
FOREIGN SUBSIDIES AND BOUNTIES.
y ‘on ships and the lower cost of
vy er first cost of foreign ships m eo Tower
Hey tel he es i ships—due in both cases pri; imine or
ie i ig a third serious handicap upon Ang 0 DD
wages —there is 1 ounties bestowed upon a part or all 0 he NA
ihe Salil - vents. These subsidies and bounties, 3% le
90 of uncle BO rhe Commissioner ot Navigation for 1901, are
piled from the report of the LU
as follows:
Austria-Hungary...
Denmark.......
France ......
Germany ..........
Great Britain. .....-Italy
.......
Japan (oo...
Netherlands. ....
Norway _...
Portugal... .
Russin..cooununn
Jpain....
Swoden.
Country
ail.
#1, 288, 201
%2, 470
3,019, 700
1,825, 657
Pq R74, 240
1.757. 81
2, KG, R37
367, 468
48,338
63 300
1,629,927
81.849
19,904, 778
Jeneral.
Total.
TaR6 270
3698, 720
62, 360°
1,061, 639
76, 465
TTTg9, 218
TUTROA 01
e1,944,471
S2, 455
§, 643, 423
1, 425, 651
5, 536. G12
2,819,451
2,942, 296
367, 458
137. 456
6:3, 500
1.595. 701
1,629, 927
a1’ 840
7 oem 582 | 27,670, 160
Total ..
1 New Cunard subsidy of $1,100. 000 not included.
