Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-13
NAVIGATION LAWS
Must Be Revised to Fit
Present Emergency
Re. adjustment Necessary to Plaes
New American Merchant Marine on
Firm and Successful Working
Basis.

see the American merchant fleet not only
regain but retain its former high position
among the worlds shipping are urged by
the National Foreign Trade Council T.
cooperate with the United States Ship
ping Board in an effort TO revise the navI-
cation laws SO as to lift the handicap
from American vessels.
The removal OF and inequalities and IN
justices from the American navigation
system, enabling American shipping TO
i.lantain itself upon an equitably compet-
tive basis with other nations with due
regard to American standards OF living
and compensation, is absolutely essential
to the rcrmanency of the forthcoming re-
Mobilization of the American merchant
marine asserts the Foreign Trade Coun-
cil IN report and resolution it will sub
init today 70 the Shipping Board
The Council urges all who are inter
cStcd in insuring the permanent restora
ton OF the American flag to the recog
nized place it formerly held in the carry
ing trade of the world. generously to CO.
operate with the United States Shipping
Board FOR the purpose of securing the
navigation laws in time to render efec-
tive service in the operation of the new
American fleet"
Accompanying the resolution is report
prepared by the Councils committee OF
Merchant Marine, and signed by James
A, iarrell, chairman Of the Council anc
president Of the United States Steel Cor
poration. and r. a. 5. Franklin, presiien
Of the International Mercantile Marine
Company. Edward y. Hurley. chairman
of the Shipping Board, is member O
the Council
The report shows that the program o
the shipping Board covers tho construc
ton and other acquisition of $500 vessel
of total dead weight tonnage Of near
Is 1900, 900 tons.
| The committee points out that the ex
perenCe Of Great Britain has proved
that less than 60 per cent. Of British
/ foreign trade is carried ii British DO:
toms.
! IF the carriage of 90 per cent OF Ara
erican foreign trade in American shirs
say the committee, would render tn
United States reasonably free from Il
chant n rine for its carrying trade. h
program # the hipping Board and I'm,
Urgency fleet Corpora; on at present ~
der eX acution would accomplish the IL
sired result
In l5l5." continues the report. ISL.
@i3 tons Of American Shipping carrie
one-seventh, l4.3 per cent. OF the tota
foreign commerce of tic United states
On this basis a fleet Of H. SDl ton
would have been required for the trans
rortation OF the entire foreign commerc
of the country. But on the basis o
British experience. an American feet .
$4,000 tons would do the proportion o
carrying Of American foreign trade tina
naturally would fall to American ships
The present American program that i
calculated to produce an aggregate Q
nearly fourteen million tons Of shippin,
within two Years. will furnish on th
basis OF estimating, ample provision 70
the carriage Of the normal so per cent
Of American foreign commerce in Amer
lean bottoms, with n liberal surplus o
American shipping COR participation il
the carrying trade of the rest OF IN
world"
The report calls attention to the fac
that SIN months after the proc.a mation o
peace the emergency powers delegated t,
the President cease, and that five wear
after the end of the war all opera ton o
merchant vessels by the Emergency Flee
Corporation must cease. Thereafter tn
Shipping Board may sell. lease or char
ter government vessels to private citi
zens and it must not undertake opera
ton Of these vessels through govern
ment agencies until after a bona iide Of
fort 10 secure their operation through
private enterprise has failed. The re
port continues.
The question. when peace comes. Wi
be Of operation rather than Of prov.
sion Of more ships. The shipbuildjng in
dustry nf the country, enormously stnn
ulated by war conditions. will face cur
talmcnt rather than further expansion
The huge development for construction .
wooden ships. made possible only ~ W
and the ravag-s ~ tho submarines mue
be almost wholly abandoned or rr-"r
canized for other services.
when tho government comes 10 s.I
or charter the vessels Of its mcrchan
feet 10 private organizations there vii
re the opportunity "a arrange conrer
cnces in tho different trades which ~
establish rates IN harmony with cots y
operation and ~ levels which viii IN
courage the growth o. American trad.
with all markets, fair to both shipper an
shin owner: control tonnage ingurinc =
sufItc Ut suppl" FOR ~ requirements: IN