The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-04
SHIP OWNERS COLD
TO REGISTRY PLAN
Herbert Barber Says Laws Must
Be Amended, Not Merely
Suspended.
NO FLAG CHANGE PENDING
Inquiry Fails to Discover Auy
Companies Negotiating
for L. s. COlOrs.

Inquiry made yesterday at the offices
Of the large American corporations own
Ing steamships flying foreign fags failed
to discover any present intention to trans
fer the ships to United States registry
under new law.
The answer to questions OF how soon
transfers Of flags would be accomplished
brought the answer usually that under
present circumstances the time has not
been set nor the transfer agreed upon.
There Is still a desire to come under
the American flag. but until Washington
taxes definite stand, which will con
tinue In the days OF peace as well AS
during the present war, nothing will be
done, II was said.
At the office OF W. r.. Grace & Co
which has large fleet flying the Brit
ish flag. II was said that It had not
yet been decided to change flags. A sim
liar answer was returned at the ONCE
or the Standard OIL Company Of New
Jersey. No Information was obtlinable
at the Office OF the United States Steel
Corporation, which owns Ave ships and
mas permanent charters for thirty-hve or
forty others. all under foreign flags.
United Fruit Company representatives
said that no decision had been transmit
ted from the Boston headquarters of the
company.
Barber & Co. who own a line plying
to South American ports. announced that
they had no present intention Of taking
advantage OF any act
Running a steamship line Ia a matter
OF business" said Herbert Barber. presi-
dent OF the company we must look at
the proposition In that light and no
other. our company. for instance, would
like to transfer three ships TO the Ameri-
can flag, but until we know exactly and
definitely how we are going TO come on,
will lfo
enough that there will be 4 suspension
= VS. which handicap ships under the
American nag In competition with ships
or other nations the laws themselves
must be changed
Il do not know of any company which
contemplates seeking American registry
for its ships at this time II is safe To
say that one of tho strongest reasons
against such action Is the determination
OF the Government Itself to purchase ships
and compete with private capital. Amer
lean business men Will not and cannot
compete with Government owned lines
II they buy the ships they will have the
field to themselves.
I'VE hear much of the crying need at
this time for ships TO carry American
commerce to foreign ports, particularly
South America. | do not think the men
who are setting up that cry are well in
the ports OF the United States able and
willing to carry all the commerce the
United States will supply. They are
begging for safe charters
THE trouble in building UP n foreign
commerce does not lie there. II lies In
the fact that the countries where we want
to build up trade have not the means TO
pay for the goods or have not the vehicle
TO pay at this time. We can point to
Argentina. for instance II does not seem
20 be known to the men who are crying
for foreign trade that three ships left
tho port of New York last year for Bucnos
Ayres each week They were anxious
for cargoes and in the early part OF the
year all went with full ships
Argentina herself had hard times later
on and these three ships found themselves
sailing with thousands OF tons of empty
space. II has continued until the number
OF sailings has been reduced. All the ships
in the world would not remedy that con-
dition. and II would not remedy condi-
tons existing in other countries.
THE whole thing sums itself up in n
matter OF dollars and cents to pay the
shipper. not the lack OF transportation
and YOU cannot legsate agataS. that
situation"