New-York tribune., 1918-11-25
The Draft of
Shipping
To the Editor of the Tribune.

To the Editor of the Tribune
Sir: l read with much interest this morn
ing Mr.. Clarence H. Mackay's letter to
Postmaster General Burleson in reference
to the taking over and operation of the
Postal Cable Company by the Postmaster
General, and cannot resist the temptation
to place before you the position of various
American steamship companies whose earn
ing power was commandeered in its en-
trety by the United States Shipping Board,
which allowed them in return what it con-
sidered fair charter rate, based on the
gross tonnage of the vessels taken over.
Imagine, if you can, steamship com
pany that has been in operation for about
ten or fifteen years and has had all the
obstacles to overcome that have been
thrown in the way of the American mer-
chant marine, and has lost money continu-
ally or perhaps made a very small profit
up to the time the war began, and in the
lace OF all competition has stuck to it, and
finally, through the tenacity and brains of
It's officers and operating force, has pulled
through and, finally surmounting them sees
the light when the United States Shippino
Board steps in and acquisitions the entire
fleet not because it is needed by the War or
the Navy Department, but because thew are
American vessels above $500 gross tonnare
For the upkeep Of the piers, organization
and operating force they allow nothing
they are instructed to go ahead and operate
the vessels the same as if they were being
operated for themselves. The Shipping
Board, therefore, gets the benefit of fifteen
years of hard work and organization.
Nv Ill, n.
nation to allow the Postal Cable Companv
only half of it's profits, | wonder how he
would feel if he were allowed, as the shin
owners are, about one-fifth of the profits
He asks in all fairness, Cannot n man
keep his own?" and says that the action
OF the committee is not American and that
the American people will not approve of
it, also, that it is a misuse and abuse of
power The American ship owners have
felt that way ever since the war started.
| dare say there is not a company among
them that woul d not have cheerfully given
over its ships for actual War or Navy
department purposes, but there were ships
Communicated at the beginning of the war
that are to-day in the trades they were in
wnen the war started and are being oper-
ated by the original owning companies which
are compelled to turn over the entire gross
earning power of these ships Why is this
necessary?
Why is it that the ship owners not onlv
have to give over their entire proceeds or
gross revenue, but in addition are COM
PEELED to pay the large war tax on the
remainder of their earnings allowed them
by the government charter hire?
If an armistice has been signed, whv is if
that the ships not in use by the Army or
the Navy Department, but which are beinp
operated by the owners for account of the
Shipping Board, have not been returned 70
them? What is the necessity of this con-
tlnued requisitioning, and how long will the
ship owners be Disseminated against in this
manner?
The plea Of Mr.. Hurley when all boats
were taken over was that it would be un
lar for some owners to have their ships
taken over by the army and navy and
others retain their vessels and reap enor
nous profits. Is it possible that thev mean
to hold all these ships until the army and
navy get ready to turn over the very last
snip which they are at present operating?
If this is the case, it will be years before
we may expect the return of the American
ships to their owners, and if it is not the
case. why not start now and return a
portion or the tonnage reQuisitoned to the
companies TO which it belongs? K. f. L.
T.. Jersey City. NJ j.. Nov. q. 1918.