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36 out by the Protective Association that one of the most serious causes of loss from year to year was the disregard on the part of owners to the draught of water at the various crossing places on the lakes it was at once determined that the Lake Carriers' Association should undertake the task of publishing at the foading port the exact draught in feet and inches which vessels might load to in order safely to pass through the locks of Sault Ste. Marie, Lime Kiln crossing and other dangerous places, and to indicate at what draught vessels might safely en- TAE Marine REVIEW ter ports like Conneaut, Ashtabula and Fairport, to say nothing of the Niag- ara river and Welland canal. "Furthermore, to see that these rec- ommendations were properly respect- ed checkers were posted at the Can- adian and American locks at Sault Ste. Marie to note carefully what all vessels were drawing as_ they passed through the locks, notations being made of each ship forward, aft and amidships. "The immense consequences of this action can scarcely be computed at the present time, but it is bound to January, 1910 follow that losses by strandings will] in the end cease to be one of the menacing causes affecting the rate of insurance upon the lakes. "Another important work under- taken by the Protective Association is the supervision of masters, officers and seamen upon lake vessels. Again act- ing in conjunction with the Lake Carriers' Association, who recently de- vised a system of certification of mas- ter mariners, etc., the Protective Asso- ciation undertakes inquiries into the eauses of disaster much as does the English Board of Trade." In Behalf of Our Merchant Marine ONGRESSMAN William E. Humphrey, of Washington, in- troduced the ocean mail bill in Congress on Jan. 4 and it was referred to the committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. _ The proposed bill contains three dis- tinct propositions. First: To increase the mail pay to American ships on routes to South America, China, Japan, the Philippines and Australasia, to $4 per mile outward voyage, where the voyage is 4,000 miles or more. Second: To in- crease the tonnage taxes on the trans- oceanic trade. Third: Free ships; that is, to admit foreign-built ships to Amer- ican register for the foreign trade. The first of these propositions is the most important. It is proposed by this section to amend the act of March 3, 1891, so that on voyages of 4,000 miles or more to South America andthe Ori- ent the Postmaster General may be au- thorized to pay second class ships for catrying the mail the same rate of pay now authorized to be paid to first class ships--that is, $4 per mile outward voy- age. There is but one American vessel fly- ing the stars and stripes, engaged ex- clusively in the foreign trade, but what is running under the provisions of this law. Eighteen years 'of experience has demonstrated that this law will not se- cure vessels to run on the long voyages to South America and across the Pacific. _A first-class vessel under the terms of 1891 is one of 8,000 tons or over, with a 20-knot speed. A second-class vessel is one of 5,000:tons or over with a 16- knot speed. This is the only difference, but it costs much more to run a 20-knot vessel than a 16-knot véssel, and it costs more in proportion to its earning capac- ity to run a vessel on a long than a short voyage. Our tonnage taxes are among the very lowest of the nations of the world. It is proposed to increase the tonnage taxes only on vessels in the trans-oceanic. trade. In this trade there are but few American vessels. Last year the dues paid in this trade amounted to $884,377. Of this sum American vessels paid only $34,419, so that American vessels paid less than 4 per cent. American vessels, by carrying American boys, one for each 1,000 tons of the vessel, can have re- bated 80 per cent of their tonnage dues, which will considerably reduce them be- low the present -rate, so that American ships will have their dues reduced. If this section is adopted it will bring into the national treasury about a million dol- lars per annum and every dollar of this amount will be paid by foreign ships. Under the third provision, that of free ships, any American citizen can buy a vessel, built anywhere, and get the Amer- ican flag to run it exclusively in the for- eign trade; such vessels are not to re- ceive any government aid. Not a single vessel is being built in the United States for the foreign trade and has not been for more than seven years, so no ship builder can complain of this provision. Not a single American vessel would be displaced or have increased competition, sO no One operating American vessels can possibly be injured. The National Association of Manu- facturers, through its committee on merchant marine, has adopted: resolu- tions recommending to Congress the immediate passage of an ocean mail bill providing for sufficient postal compensation to establish a swift and regular service in. American built steamships to the principal countries of South and Central America and to the ports of Australasia, Japan, China and the Philippines. The January is- sue of American Industries, the asso- ciation's official organ, is devoted al- most entirely to the presentation of facts favoring the above policy, saying editorially; "The attitude of the National As- sociation of Manufacturers in giving its approval to the efforts in behalf of an adequate merchant marine, is based entirely on 'business. 'The as- sociation 'believes that a greater trade and a corresponding industrial benefit will come from the rebuilding. of an American merchant marine in Amer- ican shipyards for the purpose of car- rying American-made goods to other countries. The association does not believe in registering foreign-built vessels. "The demand for an adequate Amer- 'ican merchant marine is based upon a purely 'business view of conditions. The average American manufacturer not only believes--he knows--that a great fleet carrying the mails and cargo to foreign ports will mean an increased foreign trade and an in- creased production of domestic goods extending through innumerable chan- nels. Beyond this, of course, is the increase of our prestige as a nation." The Merchant Marine League of Louisiana met at the Progressive Un- ion Hall and adopted a constitution. The following resolution was adopted: "Wihereas, the carrying trade for the products of the United States is almost entirely in the hands of other countries, who control foreign mar- kets by means of subsidized ships, and, "Whereas, no relief can come to the manufacturers, merchants and farmers of the United States until the American flag may be found floating from merchant vessels ion every sea and in every foreign port; therefore, "Be it resolved by the Merchants' Marine League of Louisiana, That congress be memorialized and_ re- quested to enact such legislation as will tend to' the re-establishment of