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March, 1915 bined with operation, is unwise, and advocates its avoidance, which opin- ion also seems to be the general ver- dict of the business world. Our gov- ernment might better profit by the successful experience of others, and not establish the precedent of even temporary experimental competition with its own citizens. “Government operation is un-Amer- ican, is likely to be more extravagant and expensive than private control, and will seriously interfere with in- dividual initiative and retards the enterprise of our citizens. “The alien lines now ’ operating. would be forced into competition with our government, or joint co-operation would have to be entered into or acquiesced in, if uniformity of rates was established; an action which might lead to undesirable complica- tions. If the government operated vessels of considerable speed, and rate competition was severe the lower speed steamers of the alien lines would make money, while the gov- ernment line would lose heavily. “The great problem of your com- mittee is to determine if our desires can be realized in a better way than by the government program, as we fully appreciate that a policy should not be disapproved unless such disap- proval is based on good ground, and also accompanied by suggestions and feasible plans to accomplish better and more economically the purpose de- sired, so as to appeal to public senti-~ ment and to congress.” Submitted to Referendum The plan that is. advocated by the committee received 163 ayes and 90 nays, but as a two-thirds vote was required to pass it, it was obviously defeated. The convention then voted to submit the report to a referendum of the individual chambers of com- merce throughout the country. — It had previously, however, registered an overwhelming vote against the csovernment ship purchase bill. In discussing the report of the com- mittee, Mr. Douglas said he regretted that the question of our merchant ma- rine has not been treated in a non- partisan manner. He said that it would continue to be treated as it has heen until the business men of the country imperatively demanded that it be taken out of politics. He said the committee had approached the subject in a spirit of fairness, equity and justice to the American people. He added that those who are voting for the ship purchase bill are not ex- ercising their own convictions, but are simply voting to support the ad- ministration. He declared that gov- THE MARINE REVIEW ernmental aid is absolutely necessary to meet the competition of foreign ships which operate under conditions that impose a heavy handicap upon American tonnage. . Defending the loan of $30,000,000 by the general government to the pro- posed Marine Development Co., Mr. Douglas said the loan would be per- fectly safe ‘and secured by interest- paying bonds. He declared, how- ever, that his mind was open to con- viction, and he would not object if that provision was stricken from the report. He said the plan was not a bill, but was put forward. in order that a common’ ground could be reached. The plan was discussed pro and con by a number of speakers and was finally, as previously stated, sub- mitted for referendum. Torpedo Boat Destroyer Cushing The torpedo boat destroyer Cushing was launched from the yard of. the ‘Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, 'Mass., on Jan: 16. She is 305 feet 3 inches long, 31 feet in breadth, 18 ‘feet 3 inches in depth, and has a displacement of 1,050 tons on a mean draught of 9 feet 5% inches. She is of the usual torpedo boat destroyer design, with high forecastle—the mod- el for which has proved so successful that it has been practically standard- ized by the navy department for this type of vessel. The hull is built entirely of steel and is divided by watertight and oil- tight -bulkheads into 14 _ principal watertight compartments. All «the strength members.of the hull are of a special high tensile stéel, which in-— creases the strength of the vessel by 105 -about 33 per cent. Fuel oil tanks are incorporated in the vessel’s structure capable of carrying about 93,000 gal- lons of fuel oil for firing boilers. The armament of the Cushing con- sists of four 4inch rapid-fire guns and four twin torpedo tubes—all hav- ing a: large: are of. fire. An elaborate electric plant is in- stalled with powerful searchlights and a radio telegraph equipment. In view of the strenuous life ex- perienced during maneuvering and in warfare by the officers and crew of vessels of this type, special attention has been paid to the living spaces, and very comfortable quarters are provided for six officers, eight petty- officers and 86 men. The propelling machinery consists of two sets of Curtis turbines in com- bination with cruising turbines and reduction gears—all of the latest de- sign and most modern type for driy- ing the vessel at a speed of 29 knots per hour. There are four water-tube boilers of the Yarrow-Fore River type, placed in two watertight com- partments, fired by oil fuel and de- signed for a working pressure of 265 pounds per square inch. The Cushing will be launched with smokestacks and mast in place and will be about 85 per cent complete when she enters the water. Work will be rapidly pushed to completion with a view to the vessel going on ker trial trips within the next few weeks. The Submarine Signal Co., Boston, Mass., has issued a little calendar containing a reproduction in. colors of the Rainbow, of 750 tons, formerly engaged in the China and South American trade. TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYER CUSHING