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(SThp&imf^-iteipatrh I'abUihrd every day la the year t?y Tkt Tlmr*-l)liip?t(h I'lilillnliluc Co.. Inc.. THK TIMES, founded tSSS THE DISPATCH. founded IS30 AddrrM all communication* TlIK TIMKS-HISIMTCH. Telephone, ltandolph 1. Publication Ofllec 10 South Truth Street South Itlchmond 1020 Hull Street I'ttcnbarg 100 North Sycamore Street IiynehburK .18 KlKhth Street HASDHOOK, STOKV H1IOOKS, rVC., Special Advertising; IlcprcMcntatlven. ,.Vew York 200 Fifth Avenue Philadelphia Mutual I?lfe Uulldlni; Chlca?o rroplc'n (inN llulklliiK SCI1SCHIDTIOX HATES. 11V MAIL, One Six Three One I'OSTAGE PAID. 1 ear. Mod. Mom. Mo. Dally nnd Sunday $11.00 $.'1.00 SI .no $ .(1.1 Dally only 4.00 2.00 l.OO .U5 Sunday only 2.<M> 1.00 .50 .23 lly Tlmcs-Dlnpntrh farrier Delivery Service In Itlchmond (and NuhurhN) nnd I'etcrsb*.rfst Iftilly with Snnilny, uue Ttech in cents Dally without Sunday, one ufi'k 10 cent.* Sundny ouly fi cents Entered January 27, 100R, at Richmond, Vn? an KCCond?clnN.s nmt'er under net of Contcrcns of March 3, INTO. MONDAY. NOVEMBER 2. 1914.. THE TIMES-DISPATCH nnd Ilrenkfnnt are nerved together with unfailing; rcicu larlty In the llcst Homes of Itlchmond. Is your morulnc proi;rnin complete i Autumn Weather HOW beautiful yesterday was Nature, ruddy, smiling, arrayed in that garb of many brilliant hues the artist Autumn builds to her order. The sky was like a globo of amethyst, the air like sparkling wine, the whole country, where Nature rears her altars, tilled with radiant loveliuess. And Nature had her worshipers. They went out from the crowded city in automo biles and street cars, with many on foot. They gathered autumn leaves and absorbed new appreciation, it is to he hoped, of Old Virginia. Yesterday was one of the days when it is a privilege aiul a benediction to live by the banks of the James. Allies Finding tiie Men WHENCE it comes and under whose urgency it would be difficult to say, but there is evident an immense improve ment in the efficiency of the allied armies and of the allied strategy since the war be gan. The improvement shows to no better advantage than in the manner by which fresh reinforcements are brought up to coun terbalance new German armies in the battles along the Belgian coast. The taking of Antwerp relieved 200,000 men for the attack on the channel ports, or so it was reported from German sources at the time. The escaping Belgian array could not have amounted to more than 40,000 or GO,000 men, and the probabilities are that it was not nearly so numerous. To preserve the equilibrium, the allies had to make up this discrepancy, and they have been able to do it without apparent difficulty. Tho Kate of Pine Camp THE statement from an authority so com petent as the Chief Health Oflicer of the city, that the closing of Pino Camp and the consequent removal of its tuberculous inmates either to their homes or to a hospital ill adapted to their treatment, "would be nothing short of a calamity," demands the attention of the authorities. Or. Levy says that to send these unfortu- j nates back to their homes would involve not j only cruelty to themselves, because they aro not able financially to provide proper treat - j ment, but also danger to others. Ho is op- | posed also to sending them to the City Iios- i pital, where they will not have tho advantage of fresh country air. of so much benefit in j cases of tuberculosis. The TuberculosiB Camp Society lia? offered to turn Pine Camp over to the city, free of i any further expense than the obligation to ! maintain ft. If there is hesitation to accept J this offer, it would appear to be based in i part on objections to establishing a perma- I nent tuberculosis colony on the northern ; boundary of Ginter Park, and so interfering with tho development of some of the city's most attractive suburbs. HoSit'atiop is in-1 spired also by the thouglit'-'thtit* Richmond j some day will purchase a municipal farm, ' whereon quarters for indigent consumptives i may be established. Perhaps it is possible to reconcile these . conflicting views. If the city took over Pine j Camp, agreeing to operate it until the munici pal farm is purchased, the Tuberculosis Camp ! Society might be willing to consent that its j property be sold and the proceeds applied *?o the establishment and equipment of a new camp on the property thus acquired. That, at any rate, would be one way out. ' The essential is that the city shall not neglect ? the unfortunates the society is able to care for no longer. That is a compelling duty, \ which cannot be evaded, and which should be met in the best spirit of reul kindness and { helpfulness. Germany's Sen Program ONG before the war, Lieutenant-General JL. Friedrich von Bernhardt, of the German general staff, frankly announced that when England and Germany came to blows on the sea. the Germans would first reduce Eng land's navy by the use of submarines, and then, when they were equally matched, Ger many would come out and make it a free fight to a finish. Well, so far as the censors have permitted news to leak out. and accepting as probably true a story or two from the North Sea that has not been authoritatively denied, it ap pears that German submarines have slipped up under a good, dozen British ships, from scout class to cruiser, and have sent their Union Jacks fluttering down through the opening bosom of the deep. So far, Born- i hardi's boast appears to have been no mere assertion fathered by tlie wish, lie must have known what he was talking about. It is a little disappointing to the lover of a fair fight to read day after day of sub marine attacks, approaches in darkness and silence, the demolition of millions in metal and money, without a blow struck in defense. Somehow or other, submarine attack seems worse than bomb dropping, for one may at least see the aerial enemy's approach. But i submarine attack by the other side would I be Just as covert as by the Germans. Eng- ! lish submarines have had few opportunities j to show their quality, because, the capital! ships of the German fleot have boen kept In their harbors, but the English submarines would welcome a chance for revenge. Soon?nobody knows how soon?the theatre of war will bo on the Boa. England and Germany will surely face each other in that titanic struggle before the war has pro ceeded much farther. When this comes, the grapple on land will bo forgotten. There will be nothing moie tragic, moro dramatic in tho wholo performance, than the sceuo when the nations battle at one time over the water, on the water and under the water with aircraft, ships and submarines. It will bo a moment to still tho guns on land s noisiest fields. Looking to tho Tax Millennium There is much to be commended in tho report of the State Tax Commission, flled Saturday in the olilce of the Governor, but the recommendation for the abolition of the "land grabbers' act" and the proposed changes in methods of taxing railroads pos sess special interest and importance. Tho "land grabbers' act" never had any real justification, anyhow, and has none to day. It permits the acquisition of property at. tax sales, and encourages the unscrupulous I to harry the poor and unfortunate. Tho plan proposed, under which lands oil which taxes have become delinquent must be sold at public auction and after due advertlse I ment, is a vast improvement. | As to railroads, the commission recom ! mends that the tax on gross earnings bo ! abandoned, and that a tax of values be sub stituted. The basis for this taxation is to I be arrived at by the consideration of gross i and net earnings, value of physical property I and franchises, value of securities, and, in 1 deed, of all the methods by which, under various circumstances and In various States, railroads are required to pay their share of S the public expense. ! Summarizing its whole labors and pur poses, the commission says It has sought to effect more complete justice in the matter of taxation among tho individuals and corpora tions of the State?to relieve those who pay too much and to reach with the long arm of the law tlioso who pay too little or noth ing at all. Surely, it is a fair ambition, that deserves to be attained, and that certainly may be ! attained in part by the enactment of decent I tax laws, lint reforms of this character S ought not to r.eglect tho individual. lliere are a good many pfersons, of excellent repute in tho community, who consider tax-dodging a very venial sin. It is true they defend I their course, partly on the ground that the I whole system Is grossly inequitable and part ly because "everybody's doing it, but there I is some casuistry in these defenses. I It is not only the tax law that must be re formed before we attain the millennium to which the commission looks so longingly, but a large element of the population as well. Tax-dodging must bo made as unpopular and disreputable as. say, violating the speed law or permitting your chickens to consume your neighbor's grass. Crimes of Disordered Minds GLANCING casually through a single issue of a dally paper, the following items are found?without search, understand: 1. A nineteen-year-old boy must die In Ohio for a triple murder of his em ployer's family. 2. Three inmates of the State .Ionic for Feeble-Minded at Syracuse wreck a train. _ , , :i. A liquor-crazed man in tialesburg, 111., kills bis three children, wounds Ills wife and commits suicide. ?t A workman near Chicago murders his'wife and baby, sets lire to the bouse and leaps Into the Haines. A crazy lawyer In Steubenvillo. Ohio, murders a banker ami commits suicide, after demanding $20,000. i? ^ nlne-year-olrl boy, irwitntmK moving picture shows, holds up and kills a citizen of San Kranclsco. 7 A girl with pyromanift Urea her father's house In Illinois "Just to see the engines run.'' In these days of much big news, nothing but an occasional minor tragedy can find space. In ordinary times, with the vast amount of material coming over the wire, what one sees In a single Issue of a news paper represents a lot more that was cu out in editing. With seven such eases as tlie above managing to got into print in a tight paper, isn't it about time to think what it means? There seems to be not one of the seven | crimes that could not have been prevented, at some stage. Vicious tendencies could have been checked In youth, insane persons could have been kept under close watch, the feeble minded inmates could have been, as they certainly should have been, under better control. How many persons are there to-day, in Richmond and Virginia, who are at large or unguarded, and who have vicious or criminal tendencies? How many parents are there who. overlooking son.e wayward impulse of I the boy, are possibly contributing their off spring to future criminal history? It's worth thinking about, and planning about, and doing something about, for the disregard of to-day becomes the problem of to-morrow. What of South Africa? ONE thing quite reasonably certain is that Great Britain has too much on its hands just at present to be more than moral ly disturbed by the rebellion in South Africa, j however important or unimportant it may prove in the end to be. South Africa will have to decide its own destiny. | The ties that bind the confederation to j the British empire are not much stronger than custom and sentiment, after all. South Africa is as entirely self-governing as Canada ' or Australia. It has great and difficult prob- j loins, some racial, some financial, some based i on the demands of labor, none of which can j h<> said to be much more than in process of j solution. The time hardly seems ripe to cut loose j from Britain, however advantageous the mili- I tary situation may appear to be. The Boers, I the only element of South Africa's polyglot ! population at all inclined to revolt, are a j hard-headed race. Sentiment, even though i it be the compelling sentiment of revenge, \ will scarce control their action. They are ! more likely to follow liotha than lie Wet. The nearer we get to to-morrow, the | brighter the prospects that the Ninth District is going to redeem itself and return a Demo crat to the House of Representatives. The price of cotton already has begun to jump. Old General Depression probably heard that Richmond had stepped in to help the farmers in their troubles. Italy appears to find the mantle of neu trality a most uncomfortable garment. The trouble la it docs not allow Italy sufficient freedom of action. SONGS AND SAWS . ~] What'* In a Namef What's In a namo? Ho whom wo cnll a dunce AVlll fcol no further shame Nor do more stupid stunts If always in alluding to his vlowu ? A few resounding adjectives wo use. But .stay. Mayhap That very foolish wight If ho should lose his cap And bells and stand upright And gain another name, might, by and by, Bccomo as wise a man as you or I. There may Indeed be something in a name To bridge the space between respect and shame. Itcal L'ufntrnenn. Dr. PIIIh?Don't you ever get sick any more? Jones?Never. I am so abominably well, doctor, that I have become almost ashamed to look you in the face. The Pessimist Say*? The next man who tells me how to set rid of this cold I am going to induce to tako a stroll by the river and then push him in. I have taken advice and trimmings until all the drug stores and rum shops lit town have declared an extra dividend. "What Turkey Will Get. Stubbs?What do you think will be the result of Turkey's entrance Into the European war? Grubbs?Why I believe the Sick Man of Europe will stop needing tho services of a doctor. He'll require an undertaker and an administrator dc bonis non. Sure-KnouRli I're-Erolnence. "Well, sir," said tho Prominent Citizen, "there is one thing In which Richmond holds a deserved and undisputed pre-eminence. We have more dust here to the square Inch, and to the cubic Inch for the matter of that, than can be exhibited or would be tolerated by any other community in the United States. And we make fewer efforts to get rid of it." "Oh, let the markets open!" The hungry ? broker prays. "1 have not shorn a little lamb Kor, lo! these many days." THE TATTI,EIt. Chats With Virginia Editors I There is a lugubrious tinge of humor in this editorial comment from the Radford News, whether Intentional or otherwise: "The bridge ordinance was knocked out by Council. The i fiKht for a free bridge, however must go on. The freeholder should have the privilege of passing on the matter." "Passing on the mat tor" sounds suspiciously like tho undercurrent of waggish wit that llowed through the "rainy J day" stories the same Maginnls was famed for ! in his Newspaper How days. We agree with the Roanoke News-World and give our unqualified Indorsement to the proposition that newspaper puts when it says: "Time is passing rapidly. In a few weeks the year 1014 will slip into history, and the year 1 It 15 will be with us." Whomsoever would challenge tho statement, him we refer to Edl tor Miles. Says the Clifton Forgo Review: "There are two Texans In the President's Cabinet, all of j which calls to mind that Texas Is large enough ' to supply the whole Cabinet and then not ex perience any heavy loss." This looks like an unkind cut at two distinguished HonghornB, each of whom, ns the editor of tho Review well knows, was a valued citizen of Texas un til lie made his residence In Washington. "Air. Slemp moans over the $100,000,000 war tax In time of pence," the Roanoke Times com ments. If tho expectations of the Democratic j campaign leaders in the Ninth are realized November 3, Mr. Slemp will be Justified In pos j Ing as one of our very best moaners. The Northumberland Echo comes across with j this suggestion: "Best wear a tie that Is neu j tral In color." What's the use? The average . man can't color his conversation successfully. And this applies to fellows we know who re mind us of the chameleon that crawled upon a piece of plaid and tried to make good. Discussing the preparations made for a big j rally In the Interest of R. Tate Irvine's can didacy for Congress In the Ninth, the Rig Stone I Gap Post relates: "The Democratic ladies of , the flap have organized themselves Into a band j of assistants to make tho occasion a success. I It was decldcd that the ladles should donate j pies to the dinner, and a vote was taken and ' It was resolved that each lady present should I either donate so many pies or contribute so j much for the purchase of pies." This ante- j election distribution of the pie seems premature ? and in violation of political ethics and prece- I dent. i Curious propositions the Newport News Times Herald Is persistently propounding. "The de stroyer Paulding went aground in 1-ynnliavcn May. Was she trying to Join the oyster licet?" the T.-II. asks. -Hut the oyster Isn't tlcet. Pos sibly reference to tin; turtle was Intended. Again the T.-II.: "We are wondering what has become of those Helglan liarcs!" German | daddy's been a-hunting to get a little Belgian : rabbit's skin lo wrap the little German baby in. Gossip from 41 Down Home" The Durham Daily Sun recites that "Caswell ! County, according' to the Vaticeyvllle Sentinel, lias a game warden who answers to the name of Crow; yet there arc some people who in sist that there's notlUng in a name." Of course not, and it is perfectly safe to say that Game Warden Crow Is not so Mack as he is painted. "instead of the war tax on sleeping car ! berths, the government would have made more 1 by taking the porters' tips." says (lie Roanoke | News. And just think bow much more pop ; ulnr that sort of tax would lie. j The Creenshoro Record hands out excellent advice to its readers, betraying; incidentally, ! its acquaintance with the fact that "for ways ' that are dark and tricks that are vain." the j ordinary Republican rivals the Heathen Chinee I of 13ret Ilarte's verse. Says the Record: "In i this county and in a good many other coun ties of the State, there is practically no oppo ! sition to the Democratic ticket, a situation tbat is likely to cause a goo<l many to think there Is no urgent need to go out and vote. It may not be urgent in sqme counties, but it is im portant. A big slump in tlie vote will encour age the opposition, and if there is none this year, there may 1>c at the next election. Kvery spirited citizen should go to the polls and cast his vote as if a close contest was in full blast. In this.county the Republicans are making no effort at all. so far as can be seen, but this is no sign. They are sometimes very sly.'' "'.Mid all this maelstrom of battle whirling In the world, It is refreshing to Tarheels to read of tlio onward sweep of Carolina through an unbroken serlos of victories to culminate In Richmond Thanksgiving," says tho Newbern Sun. "A triumphant march through South Car olina, Ooorgia and Tonneasee has ended in the fall of hitherto Impregnable Vanderbllt, and the palm of Southern supremacy is already as good as won." However, the Sun is cnlled on | to observe that Virginia beat Vnnderbllt by a J much turgor murgln than did North Carolina. In estimating football victories, ad well an In otlior matters, it Is an awfully bad plan to count your chickens before they are hatched. War News Fifty Years Ago (From the Richmond Dispatch, Nov. 2, 1864.) The following ofliclal report from General L.00 was mado public last night by the War Department: "General Hampton followed tho enemy on their withdrawal from Rowanty Creek, driving their rear guard across the stream and pursuing tho cavalry behind tho lln'.s of tho Infantry. Several hundred prisoners were cap tured, and' the enemy burned somo of their caissons and ambulances." Another official report from General Dee Is as follows: "General Early .reports that the enemy attacked Lomax's forces at Mllford on the 25th with cue brigade and (wo ploces of artillery, and were repulsed. The next day the enemy attacked with two brigades and six' pieces of artillery, am) were ngntn driven back. General Liomax reports our losses as being slight." There was nothing doing yesterday on the north side of the James, below Richmond. It being the first day of the month, military Inspec tion was tho order of the day. Tho Yankees Inspected and dress paraded nil day, and these things were done in plain sight of the Confed erate troops. The wild rumors of big fighting down tho river which were current on tho streets yester day afternoon arose from the noise that wns made by tho testing of some new guns at I3ello Isle. There was truly noise enough for a battle, but that was all. On October 31st, according to ofliclal reports. General Mahonu penetrated the picket lines of the enemy after nightfall near Petersburg, and swept the line for a half a mile, capturing 230 officers and men, and did this without tho loss of a man. Mahone, the midget, Is always doing something wonderful. According to General A. P. Mill's report to General Leo, the number of prisoners captured on the 27th ultlmoe below Petersburg was "23. Otey's Battery was cut oft and overrun by the enemy in the Plank Road fight, but later the Infantry rallied, charged over the field and retook all of the artillery and all of tho men .who had been supposed to have been made prisoners. The sensational story of a big battle in tho Valley proved -yesterday to have been a mero rumor. Thero has been no big battle slnco our last reports, only a little skirmishing here anil thero nr.d artillery duels now and then. In Charleston yesterday one of the shells fired by the Federal gunboats struck In a private houso where officers of tho Confederate army boarded. The shell exploded, and three officers were killed outright, a fourth one being severely wounded. This is the only serious effect the enetnv's shells have had for over two months. Two hundred and fifty-two prisoners were received at Llbby yesterday fresh from Peters burg. Queries and Answers A Correction. P.y a compositor's oversight, "Rosegill," instead of "Rosewoll." was used as the name of the old Page place in Gloucester In tho recent statement! about the location of the Pocahontas-Smith rescue. Divorce. In what two countries of th?? world arc divorces rarest, and In what two commonest? Give the figures. It. E. M. Per KiO.000 of population, Austria, 1; England and Wales, 2; Japan, 215; United States, 73. Shampoo. Please tell me where to get the shampoo mixture called . MISS J. II. Your local druggist can tell you a)l about It. j We do not even publish the names of advertised articles, much less give Ihn addressee where they may bo got. and you send no stamp for private reply. Wedding Annlvernnrlen. Please state the recognized wedding anniver saries. B. Fifth, wooden: tenth, tin; fifteenth, crystal; twentieth, clilna; twenty-fifth, silver; fiftieth, golden; sixtieth, diamond. The "diamond wed ding" Is sometimes located at Iho seventy-fifth anniversary. There are many celebrations besides these sometimes observed, but those given above are commonly "recognized." Hurlr-Parl y. Please toll me the derivation, etc., of "hurly burly" of frequent use Just now. EDWARD DAWSON'. "Hurly" is an excellent old English word for tumult, confusion, etc., and the compound form coinos from not unusual reduplication. The' doubling Is considered to make what Mr. Weller j would call "a more meanlnger word," Implying more of tumult and confusion than tho simple i term, and "hurly-burly" camc to Its present shape by the operation of very simple laws of linguistic growth. The Bright Side of Life A Technical Error. Husband?It seems to ine that slif.ipncl has been the cause of most or the casualties. Wife?Hut, George, isn't he a war correspon dent: not a general??London Opinion. Ilnrri Time* Everywhere. The Fisherman (.soliloquizing)?This day last year I caught twenty-five,sand to-day I've been here seven hours and haven't had a bite. This Confounded war is spoiling everything.?Sketch. On the Veranda. "I love the bunny hug." "I don't know it." said the young man regret fully, "but I'm a bear at the plain old-fashioned Variety." And then the moon considerately withdrew behind a cloud. A Plcnnaut Cull. "And you actually went to ask old Bollinger for hia daughter's hand?" "Yes, I did." "llow'd you get along?'' "Fine. Not the least hit of trouble, lie talked war talk all the time 1 was there, and never gave mo a chance to say a word."?Cleveland Plain Dealer. A Hidden Pnrpoae. Mrs. Drown (a visitor)?"What a disagree able neighbor you havo next door!" Mrs. White?"Yes; but I don't condemn the man. Ho is disagreeable for the sake of his boys. He is trying to exasperate me so I'll put up a spite fence that they can use for a backstop."?Puck. tender Hnrvent .Moon. Last year the harvest moon looked down On bounteous fields of grain, A peaceful scene where lovers strolled Along the shady lane. In happy homes the mothers sang Their evening lullaby, And little children had no fear Of danger lurking nigh. lint now the demon war is loosed And terrors fill tho night, The dangers of the burning home. The dangers of the filght. Mothers and children hide and wait, They listen, fear, and pray. While shells are bursting all around And armies pass their way. To-night upon tho harvest field. The moon Is shining bright, Where soldier forms lie mute and still With faces ghastly white. Oh, what a reaping! Oh, what loss! Tho flowers of earth cut down? The volco of mourning'In the field And by tho ruined town! S ?Springfield Republican. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE SHADE: "DID YOU HOPE TO SUCCEED WHERE I FAILED?" One of tlic Day's Best Cartoons. ?From the N>*? York Kvenlnr R?n. I gfttvrrtf<yr-=?? The Southern Commercial Congress, In advocacy of the Alexander bill, now pending in Congress, providing for the establishment of an American merchant marine, prepared the, following x.tate nient In answer to criticisms thai have been advanced against the rvoposod measure. The announcement from the White House convoys the Information i that President Wilson favors the en actment into law of the Alexander bill, and that the administration will put forth every cITort toward that end when the sixty-fourth Congress con venes. The committee on the merchant ma rine of the 1 louse of Representatives in its report of September S, 1914. on the government ownership and opera tion of merchant vessels In the for eign trade of the Untied States, tiald . "We shall not discuss the desirabil ity of having an American merchant marine. We will assume that there Is no difference of opinion on that point." So one can honestly take issue with that statement of the committee. In order to establish an American merchant marine, the above committee, after full deliberation, favorably re ported a bill authorizing the govern ment, acting through a shipping board composed of members of the Cabinet, tinder the direction of the President, to acquire and operate merchant ves sels In the foreign trade of tha. United States, these vessels also to be avail able as naval auxiliaries. OIIJKCTIO.VS DKVKLOI' l-'ltOM TWO SOI HCKS Objections to the shipping bill now before Congress have developed from two sources. Jt was to be expected that there would be objection by ship ping interests, which have been reap ing the benefit of American Inactivity in the foreign shipping trade. It was also to be expected that certain finan cial .Interests and their adulations, es pecially those interested in foreign shipping, would object to a govern ment merchant marine. Opponents to the bill have advanced arguments to sustain their position, but not one of them will stand analysis. Many newspapers and periodicals are opposing the bill, but the fact that they enjoy considerable advertising and other patronage from the steamship lines and the financial Interests that are opposing tiie bill, may go far to wards explaining their position on this great question of an American mer chant marine. %1. Opponents to the ball says that there are a large number of ships at present in American harbors unable to get cargoes, he.nce theic is no need for a government merchant marine. A recent investigation has proved this not to be true. Ships seek cargoes at all times, but the present chartering market is very firm: anil when the question of foreign credits is settled and commercc begins to move, as it must very shortljv there will be a posi- j live famine in ships, as over 5.000.000 tons of German and Austrian shipping are completely out of commission, to ] vay nothing of the large number of British, French and Russian merchant ships, which have been taken over by their respective governments for trans ports and naval auxiliaries. There are, all told, considerably less than 100 American ships in the foreign trade in the whole world, including all of the ships which have just taken American registry to secure the protec tion of the (lag on account of the war. Xone of these ships is idle. Therefore, even though there were hundreds of Idle ships in every American harbor, it would ? not alter the necessity for passing the shipping bill now before Congress, as all such ships would be | foreign ships, and the object of Ibis i bill is to establish an American mer- ! cliant marine. liACIv OP ATTRACTION FOR PRIVATIO CAPITAL J 2. Opponents to the bill say that ifj the government will not enter the-ship- ] .ping business, private capital will pro- j vide an American merchant marine. Tills Is rather inconsistent with their statement that the harbors are full of idle ships, for, if that Is true, private capital will find no attraction In the chipping business. What likelihood is there lo obtain private capital for this new business, especially to I he amount contemplated by the shipping bill, $40,000,000, when long established, going concerns find it impossible to obtain money except at heavy rates When tbo city of New York must pay 7 per cent, including bankers' commis sions, for a loan'of $100,000,000; when the State of Tennessee found it most difllcult to obtain a loan of $1,400,000, it is quite certain that private cApital will be unable to provide an American merchant marine, especially as it did nothing In the matter whllo the oppor tunity was open during the. past fifty years. . . (S) Opponents to the bill say that .ho government will lose money in this business. This nrgumtnt Ims been their favor ite one. The buna-boo ol Increased U'.xph. "loss of th?> initial Investment every throe years," anil much more of the-same nature, has been circulated in an effort to defeat the bill. The shipping business is one of the most profitable in the world. "Special I'iplomatic and Consular Reports," page 30, savs: "The White Star Line, in 1910, earned a net prollt of 540,1100 pounds sterling on a capital of 750,000 pounds sterling after writing off 370,016 pounds ster ling for depreciation. A dividend of .'?0 |n-r cent was paid In that year." The ilnlland-Amerlka Lino earned about 50 per cent net on its capital during the fiscal year of 1913. The Hamburg-American Line earned about 3(i prr cent net during Its fiscal year of 1913. These- are only a few spe cific Instances of steamship lino earn ings. They are not at all unusual, but arc the regular thing in the shipping business. R K. Dlxor Co., of London, who own and operate a largo fleet of "tramp" freighters, showed earnings of about r.O per cent net last year, which proves that steamship earnings are large in the Irregular services as well as in the regular *11 ties. In fact, the profits of the steamship business are so large that frequently the en tire cost of a ship Is earned in two years | This question will arise, why have I not Americans gone irtto such profp j able business'.' The answer is. for the ! same reason that Americans have neg ; lected the vast foreign export trade? I they have been too busy with their in dustries at horpe. But, unlike the export trade, which | each manufacturer can work up in dividually, to establish an adequate merchant marine is so large an undor ! taking at this time and Involves so larpe an amount of money that. If it. [is to be done at all, It must be done I by the government. ItltaiTS AS XKUTUAI.S ? AS AVI5I.L. AS DUTIES (1) Opponents to the bill say that there will be danger of the United ' Stat-* violating neutrality If It operates merchant ships at this flme. The report of the Committee on the Merchant Marine says: "We have rights as neutrals, as well as duties to be be observed. ? ? ? The President will have the Slate De partment to advise him on all ques tions affect ins our rights and duties as neutrals. ? * ?. We should sasume that the President and shipping board, in the exercise of any powers ftrant ed or duties Imposed by this bill, will keep well within our rights as neu Uals." (5) Opponents to the bill make an alternative proposition that wo should bulhl up an American merchant marine I v granting subsidies. Subsidy seekers have managed to create a belief'that the merchant ma rines of Kuropean countries, especial ly the merchant marines of the two greatest maritime countries In the world. Great Britain and Germany, have been built up by granting subsidies to , Its slilpplng. Neither of these coun tries grant subsidies, except to a very limited extent, and for very special service. The Hamburg-American Line, the largest and perhaps the most success ful steamship company in the world, has never received a subsidy. A mod erate subsidy was granted by Great Britain to the Cunard Company in con nection with the steamers Mauretania and Lusltania, but that was chiefly to keep the Cunard^Company from selling out to the International Mercantile Marine, the combination organized by J. l\ Morgan & Co. Over 90 per cent of the total tonnage of Great Britain does not receive a farthing of subsidy. It will surprise many to know that the United States pays a larger sub sidy to four American ships?owned by the* International Mercantile Marine? namely, the New York, Philadelphia. St. Paul and St. I .outs, than is paid by any foreign nation for similar service. This country pajfs to these ships an annual subsidy of about $735,000, and obtains practically nothing in return for this, except the carrying of the mails on these steamers, which, at regular rates, would amount to only a trifling fraction of the amount of thtv subsidy. As a matter of fact, most of our mall goes forward on foreign ships, as they are much faster and they sail more frequently, the subsidized American ships being ? among the smallest and most out-of-date steamers In the north Atlantic trade. The extraordinary large profits in tho steamship business show that steamships can be operated profitably under the Amorlcan flag wlthout a sub sidy,- In splto of the somewhat higher rvages and better living requirements of American seamen,?