It is stated that the wage standard for American labor makes the cost of operating American ships so much greater than the cost of operating the ships of other nations that it is Impossible for the American shipowner to compete with his foreign rivals. This may be overstatement. but whether it is or not. I think it can be said with certainty that public opinion in this country will never permit the passage of any legislation that will reduce the American sailor to the standard of the Asiatic and European sailor. If the President is right in his statement that our laws have all but destroyed our merchant mirine. and if the Secretary of the Treasury is correct in stating that the principal change demanded in order that private capital may build up our merchant marine relates to the wages of the American sailor. I do not see any ground for the expectation of the President that the passage of this bill would result in attracting private capital into the shipping business.
Identified stereotypes
American sailors are held to a higher wage standard than Asiatic and European sailors.