of money yearly since it has been in this business, in the Zeppelin undertaking and endeavor to establish this industry. Mr. SIROVICH. To establish the Zeppelin industry? Mr. HART. Barring destruction or irreparable damage, Mr. Stillman, what would be the average life of the Zeppelin? Mr. STILLMAN. The present Zeppelin is over 10 years old; the present ship, the Los Angeles, is over 10, and the present Zeppelin is some 7 or 8 years old. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Stillman. Mr. STILLMAN. I am obliged for your attention. The CHAIRMAN. Now Mr. Walter, a Member of Congress. has asked to be heard. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANCIS E. WALTER, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA Mr. WALTER. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my appearance here is the result of a conference that was held this morning between the Representatives and Senators from our State, Pennsylvania, because of the language in section 802. Perhaps we have been unduly alarmed at this language, but we in Pennsylvania have been quite proud, ever since 1889, of the fact that the school ship, Annapolis, maintained by the State and assisted through Federal appropriation, has turned out some of the officers in our merchant marine, and we believe, under this section, it would be possible to create a school that would mean the elimination of our school ship. I respectfully call your attention to the language on page 36 of the committee print, line 12: The Secretary shall make all rules and regulations necessary to carry out the pruposes of this section so as to train such citizens in seamanship— And so on. Now that, in my opinion, gives the Secretary authority to enlarge the scope of the school to such an extent that the training of men for licenses would be possible. If that were to be done, I am quite certain the Federal Government would not make an appropriation, such as was made in the naval bill we recently passed, of $25,000. The State of Pennsylvania, I might say at this time, has appropriated $90,000 for the maintenance of this school ship for this year. Now if you will go further in the bill, you will find in the same section, on line 19: On the conclusion of such training, certificates showing that such training has been had shall be issued by the Secretary to each individual who has satisfactorily demonstrated his skill and capacity, and the holding of such a certificate shall be a condition to the procurement of a certificate as an able seaman as now provided by law. Unless some safeguard is written into that section, conceivably the Secretary of Commerce could establish a school in my good friend, Dr. Sirovich's city of New York. Mr. SIROVICH. I think we are entitled to one there. Mr. WALTER. Undoubtedly, but not any more than we are, and that would in all probability eliminate our school. This is purely a State institution and, as I see it, quite similar to the National Guard. The CHAIRMAN. Do not you think there is room enough all around for these schools and for additional schools in the country in order efficiently to train men for the American merchant marine? Mr. WALTER. I am for that; I will say that, too, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. That is the purpose of it. I have no idea there is an effort to eliminate them. Mr. WALTER. That is the purpose, but under this language a man could not receive a mate's certificate or license unless he had been graduated from a school established by the Secretary of Commerce. Mr. SIROVICH. That does not eliminate those who now have certificates; that only talks for the future. Mr. WALTER. Exactly. Mr. LEHLBACH. Where do you find that-that a licensed officer must be a graduate from one of these schools? Mr. WALTER. If you will read from line 19 on, it is mandatory. The word "shall " is in line 23. The CHAIRMAN. That is for able seamen. Mr. WALTER. It is exactly the same thing; because these men cannot take their examinations unless they have that seaman's license or certificate. The CHAIRMAN. I question myself whether it is limited entirely to schools for able seamen, Mr. LEHLBACH. I noticed that but have never happened to mention it before, but the entire merchant marine would have to be graduates of these schools. The CHAIRMAN. I think that point is well taken. Mr. LEHLBACH. That language ought to come out. Mr. WALTER. It ought to come out, as we see it. The CHAIRMAN. It is desired to supplement, rather than to tear down. Mr. WALTER. That is my understanding and it being the desire to supplement, let us make certain it does not destroy the institutions that have existed since 1889. Mr. SIROVICH. Are not there many other States that have the same kind of institution? The CHAIRMAN. Not many. Has not New York one? Mr. WALTER. Yes; New York has one; Massachusetts, California, and Kansas. There are four. The CHAIRMAN. As a matter of fact, rather than keeping them in the States in which they are now, would it not be better to have them all brought under the Department of Commerce and build them up on a larger scale? Mr. WALTER. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, I still retain some of the Jeffersonian ideas of government. Mr. HART. I go along with you on that. Mr. WALTER. It is rather difficult, I will admit, Mr. Hart, but I do not believe we ought to centralize all of these activities. The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean necessarily to centralize Mr. WALTER. That is what this means. The CHAIRMAN. But to get a larger participation. Mr. SIROVICH. How many men do you think would avail themselves of this opportunity throughout the United States. Mr. WALTER. I have not the least idea. I do know this, that in our school we can take care of approximately 90 young men a year, and we have applications, odd as it may seem, that come from the interior part of the State more than they do from along the coast, for at least five times that many. So that there is a potential membership in this nautical school from our own section of 3 or 4 hundred a year. Mr. LEHLBACH. If you will eliminate that necessity of graduating from one of these schools in order to hold an A. B. certificate, there is nothing else in the bill for the establishment of these Federal schools that would render superfluous or interfere with the conduct of the State school for the same purpose? Mr. WALTER. Precisely; and that is what we have in mind. Mr. LEHLBACH. Just the same as the State university and private university in some States-they go along together all right. Mr. WALTER. Yes. Mr. WALLGREN. In lines 22 and 23 and the holding of such certificate shall be a condition to the procurement of a certificate as an able seaman as now provided by law— if that were eliminated, would not that pretty well take care of your problem? Mr. WALTER. If that language were stricken out; yes. The CHAIRMAN. That is what you desire to be stricken out? curement." Mr. RAMSPECK. But it limits it to schools established by the Secretary of Commerce. Mr. WALTER. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. And there is a question as to whether you ought to limit the selection of able seamen entirely to these schools, for the present, at least. Mr. WALTER. It is mandatory under this language. Mr. SIROVICH. That would be like saying only those who are graduates from West Point shall be officers in the Army. Mr. WALTER. Precisely. The CHAIRMAN. Or soldiers in the Army, because this relates to able seamen. Mr. WALLGREN (reading): The holding of such certificate shall be a condition to the procurement of a certificate as an able seaman. Mr. LEHLBACH. What are you going to do with the great mass of sailors you have on your boats now; put them out of business? Mr. WALTER. That is just it; and I would like to point out at this time Mr. SIROVICH. Have you perfected an amendment? Mr. WALTER. No; it is suggested that the language be stricken out commencing with the comma in line 22, page 36, of the committee print-strike out the comma and the language beginning "and the holding" on down to the last word on that page. The CHAIRMAN. That that be eliminated from the section? Mr. WALTER. Yes, sir. Now, may I ask that the report of the Pennsylvania State Nautical School, school ship Annapolis, be included in my remarks? The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The paper above referred to is as follows:) REPORT OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE NAUTICAL SCHOOL, SCHOOL SHIP "ANNAPOLIS ", JUNE 1, 1932, TO MAY 31, 1934 The Pennsylvania State Nautical School is conducted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the board of commissioners of navigation for the River Delaware and its navigable tributaries, in accordance with the provisions of the act of assembly approved July 8, 1919 (Act No. 300). Its purpose is for the instruction of youths in navigation, seamanship, marine engineering, and all matters pertaining to the proper construction, equipment, and handling of vessels, or any branch thereof. It is intended to prepare the students to become officers in the American merchant marine. During the period covered by this report the school was continuous and conducted aboard the school ship Annapolis. When in port the ship was berthed at Pier No. 1, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, and through the courtesy of the commandant of the fourth naval district our cadets were permitted the use of the recreational features of the yard, including the library, gymnasium, and motion pictures. APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION During the 2 years 672 young men filed applications for admission to this school, 42 of whom were disqualified for failure to file their certificates of medical examination or other reasons, 88 failed to report when called, and 542 appeared and took the written test. One hundred and seventy-three obtained a passing average of 70 percent or over, and from this number, due to our limited accommodations aboard the school ship, only 97 having the highest averages were selected as cadets. All candidates were between the ages of 17 and 20 years at the time of their examination, and resided in various counties of this Commonwealth. Their papers were signed by either a parent or guardian who was also a citizen of Pennsylvania. Those who were selected as cadets each paid $125 for the first year and $30 for the second year to defray the expense of dress uniforms, technical textbooks, etc. Examinations were competitive and held by an examining board in May and October of each year in the Bourse Building of the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa. GRADUATES, ETC. Eighty-two cadets graduated, a large percentage of whom received immediate employment aboard vessels engaged in ocean commerce. During the 2-year period 5 were dropped for various reasons, 7 resigned, 2 were dismissed for infractions of the rules, and 1 died of scarlet fever. PRACTICE CRUISES The Annapolis sailed on her summer practice cruise to coastwise ports on August 2, 1932, and after covering approximately 2,500 miles, returned to Philadelphia on October 4. During this cruise calls were made at Greenport, Long Island, N. Y., New London, Conn., Provincetown, Mass., Gloucester, Mass., Boston, Mass., and Newcastle, Del. The winter practice cruise of 1933 started on February 7 and finished on April 4. The distance covered was approximately 4,500 miles and the ports visited were St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; Martinique, French West Indies; Trinidad, British West Indies; Curacao, Dutch West Indies; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Newcastle, Del. The school ship departed on July 6, 1933, on her usual 3 months' summer Cruise covering 9,320 miles and touching the following ports, namely, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Gibraltar, Marseilles, France, Naples, Italy, Funchal, Madeira, and Newcastle, Del. The winter practice cruise of 1934 was canceled due to the lack of State or Federal funds to accomplish urgent and necessary repairs. The physical condition of the Annapolis is fair. It has been customary for the Navy Department to dock and repair the school ship at the expense of the Federal Government and to furnish additional equipment from naval appropriations, but during the fiscal year 1934 the support was withdrawn. The various Federal administrations were appealed to for funds to make urgent and necessary repairs, but our requests were rejected. This action on the part of the Federal Government and the lack of State funds, due to a 10-percent cut in our appropriation for the biennium 1933-35, made it necessary to cancel the winter practice cruise (1934) in view of which the Annapolis remained in port from October 1933 to July 1934. During the lay-up period temporary repairs were effected, to the extent permitted by our State appropriation, by the ship's force. The superintendent and commanding officer of the school ship and chief engineer are both retired naval officers. The remaining officer personnel consists of graduates of this school who have had at least 3 years' sea experience in merchant vessels and held papers up to those of master and chief engineer. All officers are instructors. CADET CORPS There have been approximately 90 cadets, the total number which can be accommodated aboard the school ship at all times. The general average of the personnel of the student body has been excellent. With the exception of an epidemic of scarlet fever during February 1934, the health of the cadets in general has been good. The physical side of cadet life continued to improve by association with the athletic teams of other colleges, high schools, etc. The day's work of the student body, weather permitting, started with a period of exercises that cannot help but make them physically suited for the life and profession they have chosen. CURRICULUM Attached hereto and made part of this report is a copy of the study schedule covering the port and sea terms of both divisions (deck and engineering) of the cadets, together with a copy of the regulations of the school. The textbooks in use were as follows: American Practical Navigator, H. 0.9; Azimuth Tables of the Sun, H. O. 71; Navigation Tables for Mariners and Aviators, H. O. 208; Nautical Almanac; Ship Notes (prepared on board); Ship's Sanitation and First Aid, Hart; Standard Seamanship for the Merchant Service, Rissenberg; Know Your Own Ship, Walton; Stowage of Cargo, Taylor; General Rules and Regulations, Board of Supervising Inspectors; Ship's Notes on Signals; Mechanics for Marine Engineers, Sommerscales; Mechanical Drawing, French; Essentials of Electricity, Timbie; Guide to Electricity, volume II, Hawkins; Marine Engines (Diesel), Ford; Ship's Notes on Engines and Boilers (prepared on board); Charts and Sailing Directions as required; Gyro-Compass, Sperry Gyroscope Co., Inc. Financial statement, June 1, 1932, to May 31, 1934 |