The sun., 1918-12-27
Merchant Marine Puzzles.

In Paris, the present centre of an
optimistic world, Chairman HURRY
of the United States Shipping Board
has given out an Interview on that
always interesting subject the Amerl
can merchant marine. Summarizing
his predictions, the American flag is
TO lily In every port of the world, va
shall soon be able to build ships ms
cheaply as England; we shall carry
the cargoes of other nations as we'll
as our own, although we shall no,
have monopoly.
How is this to be brought abour
Mr.. HURLEY does not say, although
| he repeated his assurance, given in
America few weeks ago. that tho
American merchant ships, as built by
the Government under the presen.
programme of 20,OOO.Oo0 tons. nre n
he made slngularly attractive 10 Jack
Tar, wicl shower baths, messroomS
and the like. Perhaps he considered
II unnecessary TO add that the man
who Is attracted by comfortable sur.
roundings is usually the one who has
n lively idea Of the value of his scr
vices. We have been told for wears
that the American merchant marine
was kept back by the excessive cost
Of building and operating ships: that
the Californian who was shining
pruncs To Patagonia did not care one
whit in what bottom or under what
flag his prunes sailed so long as The
rate was low.
Are the prune orchardlst and his
brothers In other businesses 10 bring
about the renascence OF the American
merchant marine by refusing To shin
in any but American built ships.
manned by Americans and flying the
Stars and Stripes? Probably NOT, ur-
less n Fifteenth Point eliminates COM
mercial competition from the world.
Are ships TO be built on American
ways at prices that will let them slip
into the water costing no more than
British built ships? Mr.. HURLEY
seems to think so, but he does not ex-
plain the process which will bring
about this industrial miracle. 1t Is
experience, in pence ms well ns in war.
that ships are built on the Clyde for
about hal the money that it costs TO
build them In this country.
But the Government is building the
ships now, say the optimistic. Wen.
what will the Government do with
them when they are finished and ready
for cargoes? To this inquiry several
suggestions are made. One Is that
the Government own and operate; an.
other. that the ships he sold at auc-
ton. The latest suggestion comes
from Mr.. HOWARD CooNLEY, vice
president of the Emergency Fleet Cor
pOratlon. He believes that the Gov
eminent should do with the ships what
the city of New York does with its
subways-own them and lease them TO
private operators. 1t Is Mr.. Coon
LEY's theory that the only way for
America to obtain access to new mar
kets Is to establish new shipping lines
and as this adventure would not be
profitable nj first, the Government
should stand the loss, or part of It,
This plan Is less paternal than the
scheme of Government ownership and
operation recently suggested by Secre.
tary DANIELS, but nevertheless in
operation 1t would break the backs
Of the taxpayers.
How 1t runs counter TO the teach
ing 'Of experience is expressed by
the veteran shlpowner Mr.. ROBERT
DOLLAR. 1t Is the owners of ships
who develop trade. the San Franciscan
declares; ship charterers having no
money invested will operate the ships
only as long as they can mike a
profit" Mr.. DOLLAR wants the Gov
eminent to sell the ships to private
ownership on the instalment plan.
He does not say what price should be
paid, but on that point we have a
blunt opinion from Mr.. JOSEPH J.