For the last quarter of a century this question has been under consideration by debating societies, chambers of commerce, economists and legislators so that it would seem that some answer satisfactory to a reasonable majority might have been given. Such, however, is far from being the case and the answers given to the question are still as various and conflicting and at the same time as positively given as though it were one of first impression and the Library of Congress did not contain those two thousand books and pamphlets written by person who gave the perfectly obvious and only rational solution. Since a subsidy measure is now pending before the Federal Congress framed in accord with the majority report of the Merchant marine Commission appointed at the suggestion of President Roosevelt, the solution of the problem presented is one of prime importance to-day. Congress is dealing with a large problem and any decision which it may reach must of necessity involve the expenditure of a large amount of money and the inauguration of a policy which from the nature of the end sought can not be temporary but must extend over a considerable number of years, if anything of value is to be accomplished.