The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-19

Fisheries. ma written 10! 'hr surftnt
number of the Scicntifc american a de-
fence Of the Administrators policy IN
seeding the enactment OF the Govern
mert ship purchase bill. He assails the
motives and the arguments of those vino
have opposed the bill and AYERS they
have slight regard for the general well
fare,
Chairman Alexander declares that 10
private concern tNat gives adequate sc.-
vice at reasonable rates has any rea-
son to fear Government connection in
the shipping business. lie Instances tho
creation Of the War Risk Board M a
Government activity In the Insurance
business ard makes the point thu. NJ
objection wds raised 20 Il. He cites
othe- activities TO show tina Govurn-
ment ownership in this country r. No
new thing.
After the ship registry act and tho
act creating the War Risk Board were
passed." he says. ~ was represented
to the Administration md - The com
mit,ecs IN Congress having Jurisdiction
% the subjec: matter that IN account
ot the disturbed financial conditions
I growing cut Of The war In Europe Il was
Impossible for priva'e persons. Arms and
corporations 20 purchase foreign ton
mage and bring IL under the American
rag. unless 'he Government would guar
lntee Their bonds. o. lend them money,
Or IN some other way give them a!d
This wBs the situation when I intro
duced 'he s;'p purchase BIZ.
with our foreign paralyzed
and our utter dependence on tho ship
ping ~ Great Britain for service ard
her interests sharp" an'aronistic %
our own. with rccan freight rates
mounting higher and higher every dav
and facilities under our Gag distress
irgly inadequate. y was thought by
those charged with the RESPONSIBLE. 90
N the promises that II tho Government,
mast arr nj, these burdens In the m
terest OF private shipping and give pri-
v,te shipping n free hand 70 exploit,
our and charge ali the traf-
- would bear, u would be wiser %
provide By law for a Gov"rriner' owned
aHi ccntroHed merchant marine on
Grated II the interest o. IN" trricul-
.ural. manufacturing and commercial
interests OF the United states. and give
hat service NJ reasonable rates and
~ I'll" same time ccuipe' other lres
20 % Likewise.
And r.ga; here IS tie rub Tf,-c
Is 10 reason to believe that tho Gov
rme will enter Into conpeti. ~ with
nc established liUcr where they ar"
giving tho people good service and n
reafonable rates II would be Jolly 20
10 so.
powerful private interests ere g.
ravcd aEa'rs. this BIZ" says Chat
man Alexander. after outlining .;s pro-
Wis The responsibilities OF spoci1!
privilege ard the powerful o.gaa ~
Zion E.ova rs the skipping trls', w,th
rs a:"',i'.o~s ~ the domestic anil
'orcigu trade. oppos" H. They ar"
20 '!fe.ous J." the expression 90 t.ei'
fears tim, tie passage 81 'hc h!" NIL
.avolve ~ = grave complications W.t1
~" bell!Cerc0's The may be cOintei
their benefit ard ~tii inr~cas" their
profits. but v.ew with gray concern
legislatio1 TO- the general welfare.
Another class opposes Govcrnnert
ownership. honestly believing II = no
= proper function o. the Government.
The FRS; class also takes vantage OF
;hc reasons urged by the 'at'cr 2" de-
Feat this legislation. None TO: thee"
classes has proposed 4 rotInrn' plan ~
a substitute for the AdmiU,strt..o bill
Chairman AleNandc' Ncattou, '1'
Panama CANA. thu Panama flllr'Ni
,rI the Panama Railroad steamship
Company. the war RISK Insurance VI-
reau. the parcel post and the AidsNh
Railroad as examples OF Government
activity that have been or VII he pro-
motive al the general welfare.
lie charges 'hat the interests which
urged the passage OF the sI'p registry
act and of the Wa Risk B>lrd lax
d.d so because they sought Government
aid to rorno their selfish purposes
and that these same interests 1r now
opposing Government activity hccausc 8
Will rebound to the benefit of some n
else rather than themselves.