Evening journal., 1916-07-28
W OF THE MEASURE THAT HAI
THE sENATE's ACTION.
(From the New York SUM-

sell, lease or charter all OF part Oi
its fleets TO private persons or TO op-
crate all or part itself. In the hrst
case. will the board pick and choose
among applicants? Or serve hrst
who come frst? Or will it invite
competitive bids? Important ques-
tions these, should there be a rush
for the ships. but as there seems to
be no reason why one wishing TO
buy, lease, or charter would be ad-
vantaged by applying TO the Govern
ment, we may fairly anticipate GOV
ernment operation.
In this event what Of the operating
corporation? What Of the powers OF
the board over the service and the
routes? What of the status of the
ships? And how will the intrusion
of Government into the shipping helo
affect the development Of a merchant
marine? .
Congress creates a shipping board,
the board forms. under the laws OF
the District Of Columbia. q corpora
tion TO purchase, construct, EQUIP
: vessels in the commerce Of the Unitea
States The board is obliged to holo
and vote at least 81 per cent. OF the
stock and is authorized to do al
things necessary 10 carry out the
purposes of the act. The directors are
e dummies. So are the officials. MI
nority stockholders, if eccentric in
T vestors. should Unexpectedly sub
scribe must not only submit to the
q will of the majority, but are forever
a incompetent to gain control by buy
? ing stock. On the dissolution OF tn
corporation the ships revert" to tn
e board. In truth, they never leave II
p The Corporation" is 4 part and a
= arm OF the board, just as the boar
d is a mart and an arm Of the Govern
n ment-"Cerberus, three gentlemen a
. once" -
c. Even il the ships could be differ
entiated from the railways by pom
70 ing out that ocean transport Is 20
d essentially mobile TO be directly re-
ulated by Congress, it would only a.
"a centuate the folly of the leglslatul
he in heavily subsidizing an enterpris
he wholly beyond It's directory powers.
OF while the bill provides that all We
g sells purchased. chartered or leas'
m from the board shall be subject
le- all laws. regulations and hablnu
in governing merchant vessels, VIVA
ly ever the interest OF the United stat
a therein il does not place in this cat
in gory ships operated by the Cover
I'M ment.
he presumably these public vessels
the United states will be operated
to full accordance with the atores'
m laws and regulations, but what
ate liability in case of damage or
ous breach Of contract?
Tho titular owner-the corporau
seems 20 lack assurance OF mi
cial responsibility. Doubtless u
'rts have a modest working capital
pol we can hardly look for accumula
ora nrofits
ON The real owner. the United sta
luse cannot be sued without consent
for Judgment cannot be satisfied W
ms, out an appropriation by Congress,
far The ordinary remedy OF lbeil
less the ship is not clearly applicable
iers these public vessels, but by cur
en- this defect they would be oroa
cIassed with ordinary merchanth
an what now of the employment
por- these public ships as neutral tra'
Dill in maritime war?
'iers For all its vessels our Governn
by is entitled to demand or other
ernments a constant and uniform
in spect. for whatever their emp
sure nent this is dictated essentially
er a nublic policy which is as implici
,ient the voyage OF a ship carrying g
shall az in that of a man-of-war
D to II the employment of these p'
the sbins shall not add another que'
in regard 10 neutral trade In n
vater time war il will only be because
? to come into service too late tor
ubic worldwide emergency, which
which ever been the sole but insuthcien
tever cuse for the bill.
nued should the ships come into Sc
lively before the end Of the great wa
ction NAV expect offerings Of cargoe
S" Of non-blockaddi ports OF the Ce
Freely Powers or TO neighboring ne
NAV norts should the Government az
the Entente Powers would either
'aters the ship with the assurance. or
e full lihood of supplies reaching e
lag il country. or seize her with the
RS of Of arousing resentment in the l
led to states by the detention Of
these vessel.
1t the Referring to our vast export o
S NAV nitions. which by the fortune OF
de- are carried to one belligerent or
ize Of the displeasure of the other; =
the standing that our sole but cor
fiction justification for this discriminat
the wholly private nature OF the
e sole fc. we perceive a gross violatl