The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-28
NEW SHIPPING BILL
READY FOR WILSON
1t Authorizes $4,000, O0N
Panama Canal Bond Issue
to Buy Vessels.
McADOO PLAN FOLLOWED

wAsHrNGToN, Dec. c7.-As the result,
Of several conferences between Congre,.
leaders and heads OF departments in,e,.
ested. the President will receive SOON
after his return from Hot Springs a
COPY of the Administration shipping p.a
which is supposed to be the last word
OF he Administration on the form o.
Government ownership and operation 70
merchant shipping.
THE bill has been practically complete
ms the result Of conferences between Sec.
retary McAdoo, Secretary Isedne,d, 50
Ncitor Thurman of the Department ..
Senators Fletcher and sim
mons and Representative Alexander.
chairman Of the House Committee d.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries. The
measure follows closely the general ou,.
line Of the shipping plan recently sug
gested by Secretary McAdoo
II the President approves tho work ~
his advisers the measure will be intro.
duced soon after Congress
Senator Fletcher will probably presen,
IL I'm the Senate and Representative,
Alexander in the House. Senator Clarls
of Arkansas would DO the logical man 10
introduce It In the Senate, as no Is chair
man of the Committee on Commerce. but
lie opposed the bill last session. There
Is some doubt about his position yet, Blu,
the claim was made In the recent Demo.
cratic caucus involving Senator Clarke
candidacy for reelection as President pr
tenn. that he had come around 20 The sup
port OF the bill II certain notifications
were made in Il.
shipping Board Proposed.
The new bill will provide for the pur.
chase or construction OF merchant YES
sells by the Government acting througn
a Government shipping board which
is authorized to charter or lease the YES.
sells thus acquired to individuals or CO...
porations.
Provision will be made In every lease
or charter for the Government TO regain
possession OF h vessels for military uss
either as naval auxiliaries or army trans
ports whenever the emergency may arts.
The Government will also retain the
right to use the vessels in the merchen'
shipping IL II SO desires.
The bin Just drafted provides that n.
Secretary of the Treasury may issaA
$50. 900, 0Oe Panama Canal bonds ar4
use the proceeds to acquire the vesse's
100000 0 being made immediate
available to put the act into force with.
out delay.
To obtain this money the Secretary Of
the Treasury IS authorized 10 sell TIA
amount Of bonds Il year. The shlpNing
board. the personnel OF which WAS 'hs
subject Of much contention In the last
Congress, will consist OF the Secretary %:
the Navy. the Secretary of CONNER IS
and three civilian commissioners to ""
appointed by the President, subject 4
confirmation by the senate. The c!viliAi
commissioners will each receive a salary
Of 10000 a year. The board vii h-
called the United States Shipping Boarc
Under the proposed act the Iresiier.
may charter, lease or transfer such duA
iliaries, transports or other vessels OF
the army or navy or the Panama Ea
road that can be spared for commerce.
Control Over Rates.
The net gives the shipping board com
plete control over common carriers b
ate as the Interstate Commerce Con
mission regulates carriers by rail, eve
to the point of fixing rates n charg,
and passing upon practices OF the ear
riers. After January, 1917, no vcsss
may engage in m without n
getting a license from the shipq'' e
board.
Just what the attitude OF the opp.
nents of the bill will be in the Srra,e
not yet clear. but some of the old ~
| rlors of the shipping battle las, ,e
say they will fight. Others say ="
| they are ready to give the Admin!stI.
ton full sway in its policy OF Govr.r =.
ment ownership after making a dtsr.fo
protest to the country against 49,.
tendency.
Not very long ago Senator Weeks
Massachusetts expressed the opinion '
II the ship purchase legislation Ncr" o.
vived the Republicans i'm the S,Ht.
would not flibuster. hut would lac ''i
tent TO rest their cas-" o. q pro'e'
against Government ownership
In the House the fate Of tho mei. o.