The sun., 1919-06-23
RAIL ANDSHIP
LINK IS PLANNED
ASAID TO TRADE
Us. Board and Head of Con-
gress Committees COnsid-
er Huge Combination.
To COVER WORLD ROUTES
Cummins Says Project Will
Cut Costs and Make L. s.
Leader in Commerce.
special Despatch 10 The sux.


WASHINGTON. June 22.-An ambitious
programme Of linking the railroad sys-
tens Of the country with the merchant
marine in a plan for carrying Ameri-
can trade cheaply, rapidly and effi-
Gently to all parts of the world is un-
der consideration by officials OF the
United States Shipping Board and the
cAalrmen OF the Congressional COM
n.:ttees dealing with railways and mer-
thant marine.
II looks to extending the Govern
ment regulated instrumentalities OF
transportation throughout the world
b. establishing regular routes over
sss, connecting them with the rail-
road operations of the country. and
keeping the whole under a general
Gomination Of the national authority.
At the basis of the scheme is the
stipulation that there is to be no sub
Sdy for shipping. j. II. Rossiter,
CHEF OF the Division OF Operations Of
the Shipping Board, has assured Con-
yTessional committees there will be no
need for subsidies. The same view is
entertained BY Senator Cummins Ua).
chairman Of the Committee of Inter
STATE Commerce.
Mr., Cumminss committee has TO do
with the railways in their domestic and
oreisn trade relations, while the mer-
lh3nt marine falls within the sphere
Of influence of the Committee on Com
merce. OF which Senator Jones (Wash.) }
s head Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Cummins
have been comforting about the possi-
ollities OF developing the project, OF
which al outline Mr.. Cummins gave to-
day.
Assuming" he said. that American
ships can be operated in competiu,.
with those OF other countries, Il is
proposed 10 link the railroad systems
and the merchant marine in such fashion
as 10 provide routes covering the COM
nercial world, just as our railroad sys-
TEN covers the entire country. After
good deal of discussion of the pos
sibilities with Mr.. Rossiter i am con-
rlnced of its feasibility.
1lr. Rossiter tells me there is no
iced 70 fear the excessive cost Of operat-
ts American ships under present laws.
lie says the excess of cost Of handling
American vessels is not over 2 per cent.
Greater efficiency in management and
operating results. he Is positive. will
absorb the differences in expenses"
Senator Cummins said the plan would
involve organizing the merchant marine
Under shipping board control that
would bear much the same relation 10
me maritime transport that the Inter-
state Commerce Commission does to rail-
way transportation. Thus" he con-
unued, 1t is now proposed TO group
me railways in a number OF great sys-
ems, and the plan we have considered
would apply that plan to maritime
snipping. Companies would be formed
% handle particular routes and ports,
ana each company would have a monop-
oy IN its own region.
For illustration-and il must be un-
ders;ood as merely an nillustration-sup-
pose that survey of the whole shipping
situation would lead to the conclusion
mat the pool shipping should all be
landed through the port of Boston
nat FOR northern continental Europe
,Afough New York. and that for Mediter
.anean countries through the Hampton
ROADS terminals. Then the railroad sys-
sm OF the whole country would oe con-
aected with the oceangoing lines han
cAAs these different classes of business
Fre!ght offered anywhere in the country
,or, say Liverpool. would be received
Pulled through, handled under the system
drecty by the Government controlled
agencies, assured regular and direct ser
wee, and kept under the same general
government regulation that 1t now has
IN rail transportation.
Mr. Rossiter fully believes in the
eaS'a'lity OF the plan and has con.
er'ed me 20 1t. As vice ce-president OF
W j, Grace & Co. he has devoted his
'4' ness fe n this merchant shipping
business and his advice I regard as OF
,'e S-eatest value TO the Government
u Is possible that some comparatively
un'mportant changes might be required
ln To shlnrinr. L. rra