New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-04
Merchant Fleet for Ger
many After the War
Part of Scheme
Discovered by the
Shipping Board
New Bills Presented to
Regulate Charters, Rates
and Sales

WASHINGTON, Arril 3.@Nast cxtch-
sion of Federal powers over ship
building. ships, shipping rates, docks
and terminals has been asked of Con
gress by the Shipping Board and is
proposed in two bills introduced to
day by Senator Fletcher, vi Florida,
chairman Of the Commerce Commit
Hurley.
The Pres dent would be authorized
by the legislation to prescribe. through
the Shipping Board, charter and
freight rates. and to take over ships.
docks. wharves and terminal facilities
IN one bill. The second measure,
amending the law creating the Ship
ing Board, would extend its authority
over ownership and transfer of YES
sells, existing or under construction,
Both bills have been referred to the
Commerce Committee.
In explaining the new legislation to-
day, Senator Fletcher said the Shipping
Board had discovered and :H"artcd at
tempts of German caDltal to secure
control OF vessels owned or under con-
struction in the United States for pres
emit profit as we'll as to provide Ger
many with merchant feet after the
war To enlarge the powers of the
board to deal with such attempts is one
of the chief purposes of the proposed
laws.
Could DisapprOvc Charters
Resides authorizing the President TO
prescribe crates terms and conditions
under which American vessels may be
chart ed, one Of the bills would su
thorize him to disapprovc existing
charters, prohibit cnarterinG of any
specified class OF vessels; prescribe
freight rates for American vessels.
coastwise or ocean-golng; to prescribe
in any United States port rates,
charges and terms for dockage, wharf
age. stevedoring, handling and bunker
ing of vessels" and rentals of docks
and terminal facilities.
1t also would empower him TO pre-
scrbe priority of wharfage service.
priority in which cargoes may be car
ricd and direct the routing of Amerl-'
can vessels or foreign ships under
charter TO American citizens.
Another clause of the bin would en-
power the President to regulate "voy
ages, courses and use OF protective de-
vices and any other matters affecting
nav lRdliOn, tQUtpH!eit, 1uciiiIS, PdiHN~
ing and arming" of American vessels
and to exclude vessels from danger
Zones.
American citizens and others within
American jurisdiction would be pro-
hbited from chartering any foreign
vessel without the Presidents APP
prevail or to import or export goods
exceeding 900 tons in weight on terms
requiring the seller and buyer, respect
ively, to pay transportation costs
Duration of Powers Limited
The Presidents powers under the bill
would be limited TO six months after
the war. or, if he should deem shipping
shortage warranted, for an additional
year Heavy penalties five years i'm
prisonment and $4,000 fne-are pro-
posed for violation Of the Presidents
regulations.
The second Fletcher BILL relating to
ownership of vessels. would penalze,
during the war, sale, transfer, lease or
charter of vessels owned in whole or
part by American citizens without APP
proval Of the Shipping Board. 1t also
provides that all ship construction con-
tracts must receive the board's APP
prevail and prohibits clearance Of
American built vessels without its con-
sent.
Transfer of shares of stock in ship
ping concerns also would be SUBJ ect to
the boards censorship. Senator Fetch
err said this provision especially was
designed to prevent German capital
from securing an interest in American