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March, 1910 "TAE. MarRINE. REVIEW 99 Naval Architects and: Marine Engineers (Continued from February issue.) R. Nixon: Is there anything that would I do not think so, but I am prompted to ask in- our by-laws prevent that? the question because I had an idea in the beginning that we would not attempt at all If this associa- to influence at our legislation meetings on this subject. tion is interested in this subject suf- ficiently, I think it would be a good thing to have the motion carried. Chairman Taylor: The chair will not look for anything in the by-laws ° at the present time on that question. The chair wishes to say that he looks upon this question of the merchant marine as one of vital interest, not only to ourselves as naval architects and marine engineers, as I said yester- day, but as patriotic citizens, and ibe- cause we are members of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine En- gineers, is no reason why we should not have an active interest in anything that will produce what I believe, and what I believe you all believe, will be a great benefit to the country at large. (Applause.) : I met at the chamber of commerce dinner last evening a well known banker, who is largely interested in ship building; that is to say, in a large shipbuilding yard. He put up to me this novel proposition--if it was bad taste for shipbuilders to ad- vocate an increase of the navy, sim- ply because we were ship builders? Now, I dissent entirely from any such position as that, and, for the reasons that I have already given you, I am not inclined as chairman to look for anything in the by-laws to prevent this motion from being put before you, and I trust that no one else will try to do it. The ques- tion is before you, on Mr. McFar- land's motion, seconded by Mr. Strat- ton, and we will be glad to hear from any gentleman who desires to speak on that question. Clinton H. Crane: I should only like to say that if there is something in the by-laws which forbids us to put such a motion, we should abro- gate that before putting the motion. Let us be regular in the matter. Discussion by Mr. Stevens. E. A..Stevens: May I explain, Mr. Chairman, that this paper was the subject of discussion in the council as to the propriety of presenting it to the meeting, That question was pretty thoroughly threshed out. I be- lieve the sentiment of certainly a large majority of the members was that under a fair interpretation of the rules, this subject "and "paper could not 'be properly presented to the meeting. The subject is one of vast interest, not only to the naval architects and marine engineers, but to ship owners all over the country, and we felt that no narrow. interpre- tation of the rule could possibly ap- ply there. The wording of the rule is that the discussions shall be con- fined: to. subjects. relating to .the art and science of shipbuilding. If the very existence of the art of shipbuild- ing is not related to the subject of shipbuilding, I do not know. what the word means. Spencer Miller: . It seems to me it would be of tremendous value if this society could put into concrete form its suggestions to Congress as to the way of encouraging a merchant ma- rine. If the committee can meet and arrive at a concrete suggestion, that is not too long, it would be of im- mense value, and it seems to me it would be proper for the committee to be appointed to ascertain the opin- ion of the members of this society. It is a question, a very grave ques- tion,).in. my: opinion, as. to whether we want to appoint a committee to go to Congress and lobby, because I am not quite certain that the so- ciety might be ready to stand behind the committee in all that it might do, but if we can get out opinions con- centrated into a printed form, it seems to me it would be of tremend- ous value. Perhaps the council, therefore, if it is left to them would say how far that committee should go--I am a little hazy as to the powers of the committee. I think that we can well afford to leave the matter to the council for the appointment of the committee, and especially the elabor- ation of their work. Chairman Taylor: Since Mr. Mc- Farland made his remarks on _ this paper, there have a number of gentle- men come into the room. The gen- tleman who has just spoken has real- ly expressed what Mr. McFarland suggested before this meeting, and I will ask Mr. McFarland to again state his remarks as briefly as he can, and to the point, as to what he wishes this committee to do, for the infor- mation .of those who were not here before. A Most Appropriate Body. Mr. McFarland: I find there is one point in the written statement, which I have prepared, to which I did not refer when I addressed the meeting verbally before, and it is worthy of reading, simply as show- inig why it is eminently proper that our society should take up this mat- ter. I feel, too, that "our society 16 probably the most appropriate unof- ficial body before which this subject of a ship subsidy can be discussed. The bulk of our members being in- terested in ship building have a vital interest in the subject and those mem- bers who are ship owners are inter- ested from that side. Certainly no other body has the information and the. great personal interest which are calculated to bring about a discus- sion of the highest value. Our society has already committed itself favorably to the general policy of ship subsidies, so that I take it the object of the discussion today should be rather as to details than as to the general policy, on which our views can hardly have changed in the last few years. When it comes to discussing details there will, of course, be a great variety of opinions as Mr. Dickie seems to have anticipated in the closing paragraph of his paper. It really seems to me that best re- sults would be obtained, if we do not rest satisfied with a discussion to be spread upon the minutes, but rather if we appoint a strong committee repre- senting both the ship owners and the ship builders, with instructions to consider the subject carefully, formu- late the reasons which would be like- ly to appeal to Congress for a sub- sidy, and then be authorized to ap- pear before the committees of Con-. gress as representing our society. Secretary Root's South American is Trip. What I mean by that, is this--you will all recall at the time in 1906 when Secretary Root made his fa- mous address at the Trans-Mississip- pi Congress, a committee of our so- ciety was appointed, of which dear old Uncle Charley Haswell was the chairman, to prepare a suitable reso- lution of thanks to Secretary Root expressing the fact that this society heartily endorsed his stand. That is what I mean by saying that the so- ciety has already gone on record as