Evening star., 1914-08-20

view to taking action upon it at once.
The committee listened to arguments
urging the necessity Of the bill II for
eign-built ships are to come under
American registry through the smer.
act Urging the bill were. Seth
Low. E. H. Outerbridge, ]. 2. Kir-
lin. Hamblin Chubb. John H. Fahay and
John ]. Arnold of the business mems
committee which proposed the legislation.
800 Ships Are Waiting.
They explained that approximately 800
foreisn-built ships are ready to apply
for American registry If they can get
government war risk insurance such as
Great Britain. France. Germany and
other foreign governments already have
provided.
J. Parker Kirlin explained the technical
details Of the bill, and advocated some
minor amendments in phraseology When
he concluded the committee decided to
report the bin Immediately to the House.
Representative Stevens Of Minnesota
objected, and declared that the commit
tee had practically no Information upon
which to report a bill Of such 1mpor-
tance. He reserved the right to oppose
the bill on the floor.
President Wilson Is given autnority
under the emergency shipping Dill Io
suspend requirements Of American navi-
cation laws relating to tonnage meas, ;,,
put American ships on equality with
foreigners in this emergency" said Mr
Kirlin. I'VE are given to understand
that the President is ready to exercise
his discretion in this matter"
Mr.. Kim said the majority OF foreign-
built ships now owned by Americans which
will come under American registry II In
surance Is provided by the government
now are flying the British and German
flags. Other ships, he said, would pc
bought outright by American companies
IAN these ships will come from coun-
tries that recently have undertaken gov
ernment war risk insurance" said Mr.
Low. without such insurance by this
government, we cannot expect many for.
eign built ships to take advantage OF
the emergency shipping act.
Discusses Contraband.
Mr.. Underwood said that the insur-
ance bureau would have no difficulty
in determining before a cargo was
insured whether or not 1t was contra
band He instanced the shipment Of
which might later be shipped into
Germany for use by a belligerent.
IF we ship goods to a neutral coun-
try there could be no possible inter-
ference with It," he said. IF our peo:.
pie trade with Holland. neutral
power, we should have to protect them
in that trade, whether we insure car
goes or not"
THE immediate need for this legisla-
ton is this" said Mr.. Underwood: I'VE
owe European countries a great deal OF
money. Now. We don't want to send
our gold over there to pay these debts
This insurance plan will help us to
send our wheat, corn and cotton to pay
our balance abroad. I do not think
that in the end this insurance will cost
slight. / think that conditions will re-
quire this bill on the statute books only
a short time"
Representative Lewis of Maryland
ernment to handle all marine insur-
ance. opposed the emergency bill, de-
claring that 1t was attacking the prob
lem piecemeal He advocated the gov
ernment engaging in the entire marine
insurance business permanently.
Favors Permanent Plan.
Mr.. Lewis asserted that the cost o,
marine insurance in the future may vel
be just one-half Of what it is now.
Mr.. Low and other members of the
conference committee of representative
business interests appeared also before
the House committee.
ut is not at all to ask the government
to go into the insurance business" ex.
planned Mr.. Low, but to meet the pres
ent emergency"
rs 1t true that it is impossible now tc
secure war risk from private insurance
interests?" asked Chairman Adamson.
'It Is true as to getting adequate war.
risk insurance. This is the last resort
and we feel We have the right to ash
that ships flying the American flag. thai
of a neutral nation. should be put on ar
equal basis with the foreign shipping al
to protection against the danger Of cap
tura and of the plantinG Of Mines