The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-02-03
SHIP BILL GIVES
CAPITAL OPENING
Revised Measure to Give PR.
vate Concerns the First
Chance In Building
Up Marine.

Washington, Feb. "details Of the
revised federal ship purchase bill were
made public today. The bill will be In
troduced in the House at once by Rep
resentative Alexander. chairman OF the
House committee on merchant marine.
Alexander will lead the fight for the
passage of the bill. Public hearings
will begin soon. President Wilson is
expected to appear before the commit
tee in behalf of the measure.
The striking differences between the
new bill and the one which failed in
the. Senate last year are modification
of the government operation feature
and broadening of the powers of the
shipping board. which it is proposed to
create. Government operation under
the new bill would be entered upon as
a last resort, II private capital fails to
respond to the enterprise. The ship
ping board would be empowered to reg
ulate all interstate and foreign COM
merce in American waters, as the In
terstate Commerce commission now
regulates railway traffic. Every effort
has been made to draw the bill so as to
encourage American capital to help up
build the merchant marine and to pro-
tect it from unfair foreign competition,
and government vessels never would
operate on lines where an American
service was furnishing satisfactory SER
government ownership feature of the
old bill aroused so much opposition
that 1t was general conceded to have
been one of the primary causes for the
failure of the measure.
To Sell Canal Bonds.
An initial appropriation of $4,000
600 for the purchase or lease Of vessels,
to be obtained by the sale of Panama
canal bonds, and the appointment of the
shipping board Of five members are the
first objects of the new bill. The Sec
rotary Of the navy and the secretary of
commerce would be ex-officio members
of the board and the other three men,
bers would be men Of large practical
experience" in foreign commerce. They
would be appointed by the president
and receive $4,000 a year. A secretary
would receive $4,000 q year and the re-
mainder of the board employees, except
an attorney, would come from the civil
service lists of the federal government.
With the $50, 900, 000 the board would
organize corporation to lease, buy,
charter or build ships. 1t would be re-
stricted to the purchase OF as many
American 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. Failing to interest
private capital. however, the board
could operate vessels.
Subject to Use In War.
Both vessels, controlled by the board
and those in private hands by lease or
charter, would be subject at all times
to the call of the president for use in
war. Members of the crew and officers
could volunteer at any time for service
in the naval auxiliary and would re-
ceive from IS to 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 that
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 inter
state commerce commission acting
Jointly could permit railroads to make
special rate shipments in connection
with steamships to encourage interior
points to participate in foreign trade
Ali common carriers foreign and
! domestic operating in American wa
tiers, would be forced after January /.
1917, to obtain revocable license from
the board.
mo vessel registered or enrolled I'M
der the laws of the United States could
| be sold to q foreign country without
permission from the board. Failure to
| observe that restriction would subject
the vessel to refusal OF clearance papers
and the owner to a charge OF commit
| ting a misdemeanor.
Vessels might be resold or leased
only to other United States citizens
and with the boards approval"