The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-18
ship PURCHASE BILL
GETS SHARP RAP
Foreign Trade Council Tells
Congress Plan Will Not
Work Out.
URGES A SOUND POLICY

WARRINGTON, May ia shipping
Ooiicy. rather than . ship purchase Dill.
n sccentuated az the chief necessity IN
the way Of the development OF an Ameri-
can merchant marine in a statement
submitted to Congress to-day by the Ma
tionsi Foreign Trade Council.
The council asserts that to Increase
the IL per cent. Of American foreign
carried by American ships in
1915 to 80 per cent. within ton or
fifteen years will require between 5000
900 and 10000, 900 gross tons Of steam
ers. costing from $3.50. 900, 900 TO $1,000
600. 200.
The bill now before tho House pro-
vtdes for the construction AZ Government
expense Of 100000 tons of shipping.
Nothing bu, a sound national shiprihf
policy. tho statement continues. viii
achieve the desired result.
The statement Va formulated by th"
merchant marine committee of the Ma
tional Foreign Trade Council, Consisting
Of James Farrell, president o. tho United
States Steel Corporation. Robert Dol
lar Of san Francisco and y y :.
Franklin. vice-president OF the Interra-
tional Mercantile Marine Company.
Asked whether the pending shipping
bill. represented hv us advocates az =
drst step In marine development. Will
lead 10 or permit tho further steps neccs-
sAry. the council says.
with the 10000 900 derived from
che proposed bond Issue not more than
100000 gross tons Of shipping can be
nSoSvlA.A AZ rxiStfp0 yv-tsa1 nr leaS tlun
one-tenth Of the minimum amount neces-
sAry TO establish the United States In
the shipping position above described.
Nothing ike 100000 gross tons Is
available from the few nations which
during the war permit the alienation of
their merchant vessels. American ship
yards will not guarantee deliveries OF
new construction within two years.
In what situation" asks tho council,
docs capital find itself When urged
gradually to finance at a cost Of between
. half billion and a billion dollars the
construction Of 10000 TO 10000, 900
tons OF stea mships? First OF all. II
hnds this country without a definite ship
ping policy. Whereas In England all
policy governmental and commercial has
Tong leaned toward shipping. American
policy has ignored it
The seamen's act is declared To- "im.
pose certain restrictions IN American
vessels which do not apply to certain
ether nations and the pending shipping
bill Is held TO be barren OF encourage.
ment for privately M shipping.
The council adds:
1T is not yet apparent whether the
legislative mind desires 10 consider ship.
ping as an industry which, when prop.
eriy developed. will render economical
service to American foreign trade. or as
Q service which should be so regulated
q barely to exist"
With reference TO the seamen's acI
end other restrictions the council says
ut has been urged that the application
Of the law alike to American and for
eign vessels precludes discrimination and
subjects the American ship 70 no dis.
advantage as compared with the foreign
ship seeking cargoes from tho sam,
American port
american vessels. however, must also
meet in their circuitous voyages the COM
petition Of foreign ships which never cal
At American ports and therefore neveI
will be subjected to tho seamen's ne
requirements as 20 manning and equip
ment. All American vessels will b,
obliged TO meet the maximum require
ments OF the American laws. but onl,
that portion Of foreign shipping whici
calls at American ports will be sim
tlarly burdened."
The council favcrs the creation Of
non-partisan shipping board, compose
Of men experienced In shipping n for
eign trade, but declares against claiming
such a board TO q predetermined polio,
Of Government ownership and operation
Of vessels, or to wholesale regulation o
ocean freight rates. although II does no
oppose the amendment to the Admits
tration shipping bill providing for thu
regulation or abolition OF deferred re
: bates. the use OF fighting ships and othe
AhusAa