Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-01
DETAILS OF MARINE
BILL MADE PUBLIC
Chairman Alexander of Shipping
Committee Will Introduce
it Today.
HEARINGS TO BE HELD LATER

WASHINGTON, Jan. s1.--Details Of the
new administration ship bill to build a
merchant marine and naval auNilaries.
revised TO command the votes OF dissent
ing democrats. were made public tonight
for the first time. IL will be introduced
tomorrow in the house by Chairman Alex
ander OF the merchant marine committee.
who will lead the fight for its passage
on the floor.
Public hearings. at which President VIII
son and others viii be asked TO testify,
will begin in few days.
The striking differences between. the
new bill and tho one which failed in the
senate last year are modification OF the
government operation feature and broad
ening OF the powers Of the shipping board
which II is proposed to create.
Government operation under the new bill
would be entered upon only as last
resort II private capital fails to respond
TO the enterprise. The shipping board
would be empowered TO regulate all inter-
state and foreign commerce In American
waters as the Interstate Commerce COM
mission now regulates interstate railway
traffic.
TO rncouraRe u, 5. Capital.
Every effort has been made to draw
the bill so as to encourage American
capital to help upbuild the merchant ma
rine and TO protect II from unfair foreign
competition and government vessels never
would operate on lines where an Ameri-
can service was furnishing satisfactory
service at fair rates The out and out
government ownership OF the old bin
aroused so much opposition that Il was
generally conceded TO- have been one OF
the primary causes for the failure OF the
measure.
An initial appropriation of so. .OoO, 900 for
the purchase or lease OF vessels. to be
obtained by the sale OF Panama canal
bonds. and the appointment of the ship
ping board Of five members are the first
objects of the new bill The secretary of
the navy and the secretary OF commerce
would be ex-officio members of the board
and the other three members would be
''men of large practical experience in
foreign commerce.
Named by President.
They would he appointed by the presi-
dent and receive $4,000 a year. A secre-
tary would receive 5000 a year and the
remainder of the board employees. ex-
cept an attorney, would come from the
civil service list OF the federal govern
ment
With the s5oOoc.OOO. the board would
organize a corporation to lease, buy.
charter or build ships. II would be re-
stricted TO the purchase of as many
American made vessels as possible.
Ships constructed in foreign countries
would be limited to foreign trade only.
The board would offer stock TO citizens
OF the United States and II all were
subscribed, the board need never oper-
ate a ship. Failing to interest capital.
however, the board could operate YES
sells.
Subject 40 War Duty.
Both vessels controlled by the board
and those which had passed into private
hands by lease or charter would be sub
ject az all times 10 the call Of the pres
ident for use I'm war. Members of the
crews and officers could volunteer Al
any time for service in the naval auxil-
larry and would receive from S. 70 SIS a
month from the time OF enlistment
Liberal regulations for United States
shippers and more rigid rules for for.
eign interests are contemplated by thai
part OF the bill prescribing the powers
OF the shipping board. Here are some
OF the features of these clauses:
The shipping board and the interstats
commerce commission. acting Jointly
could permit railroads to make special
rates for shipments In connection with
steamships 20 encourage interior point,
20 participate in the foreign trade.
All common carriers. foreign and do.
nestle, operating in American waters
would he forced after January 1. 1917
70 obtain revoeable license from IN
board
No vessel registered or enrolled under
the laws OF the United States could b,
sold TO a foreign country without Der.
mission from the board. Failure TO OBJ
serve that restriction would subject IN,
vessel TO refusal OF clearance paper,
and the owner 20 a charge Of commit
ting a misdemeanor.
Vessels might be resold or leased onl,
TO other United states citizens and wit
the boards approval.
The outlook for the passage Of tn,
bill in the senate. where Il was kiles
, last year because Of a party revolt le,
by Senator Clarke. now Is eonsidere,
favorable The president has had fre
quent conferences recently with sen
ators who opposed Il and many change
were made az their suggestion