The Panama bill provides that no foreign vessel shall be admitted to American registry for foreign trade which is more thin five years ol1. The reason that was then inserted was that we did not believe the American merchant nmrine should or could be upbuilded by "a lot of old worthless ships placed In American foreign commerce for the sake of having the nunber of ships increased upon ouir foreign register. Secondly. this bill changes the existing law by granting to the President the authority to allow foreigners to act is watch officers instead of requiring Americans. including naturalized citizens. as has been the law for 50 years: and. thirdly. it gives the President theauthority to suspend the law as to Inspection. survey. .ind measureluent of ships. by this me:ins not requiring a certain standard of ffliciency. thus practically allowing the President in an emergency to admit almost any sort of ships. with any sort of otlicers and men. Now. I agree with the gentleman from Missouri that an emergency does exist. and I also agreewith hini that I do not think this measure will greattly hell) it.
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naturalized