New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-05
House Committees Agree
on Government Mer-
chant Marine Bill.
PANAMA RAILROAD
SHIPS MAY SERVE
Vessels Not Required by Navy
To Be Enlisted at Option
of President.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Sept. 4.--The House
Committee on Merchant Marine to-day
agreed to amendments to the admins
trRtion's shipping bill which will pla-
cate members Of the Naval Affairs
Committee, who were preparing rival
measure. After a conference between
Chairman Alexander Of the Marine
Committee and Chairman Padgett Of
the Naval Committee, Mr.. Alexander
introduced the amendments providing
that in creating a corporation con-
trolled by the government to enter the
foreign shipping trade efforts should
be made to build or purchase vessels
which might be utilized as naval aux
iliaries.
The conference between the rival
chairmen was held with the approval
Of the President. The amended Alex
ander bill will sidetrack the bill which
had been approved by a subcommittee
Of the Naval Committee and the con-
cession regarding naval auxiliaries will
enlist the support of members Of the
latter committee.
At a special meeting to-day the Mer-
chant Marine Committee approved the
amendments to the bill it had already
reported. lnese read:
"Thst the President of the United
States is hereby authorized to charter,
lease or transfer such naval auxiliaries
now belonging to the naval establish
ment of the United States as are suit
able for commercial use and which are
not required for use in the navy in
time of peace and vessels now owned
and operated by the Panama Railroad
Company to any corporation now or
hereafter organized as in this act pro-
Vided, upon such terms and conditions
as the President of the United States
shall prescribe. The vessels purchased
or constructed by the United States
through the Shipping Board, with the
approval of the President of the United
States, shall be CT a type, as far as
the commercial requirements of the
foreign trade of the United States may
permit, suitable for use as naval aux
iliaries in the naval establishment Of
the United States.
THAT the President of the United
States shall at any time have the right,
upon giving written notice of his in
tention to the corporation using the
vessels under the provisions of this
act, to take possession for use as naval
auxilisries in the United States navy
or for other purposes of any vessels
used by such corporation at a reason
able price or rental"
The final step in opening American
registry to foreign built merchant
craft was taken at the White House
tonight, when President Wilson signed
an executive order suspending from
operation sections of the navigation
laws, as authorized by the new registry
bill. These require American watch
officers on American ships and that in
spection and measurement for registry
shall be made by United States officials.
At the marine insurance bureau
which was open for business to-day, il
was expected applications for change
of register and for war risk protection
would follow quickly on the signing OF
the suspension order Several Ameri
can companies which operate fleets Of
foreign register steamers have already
signifed their intention of flying the
American flag hereafter. Their ships
number more than two hundred, anC
with The suspension order in effect il
is expected their applications will be
| received within a few DAVIS