Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-15
|PROULE FLAYS
SHIPPING BOARD
doubts F e deral Body
Knows Business and Is
Gloomy Over Prospects
HITS PRODUCTION COST

George +. Sproule secretary OF the
commissioners of navigation of this port,
ping Board knows much about the intri-
cacies of the shipping business.
In statement today Mr.. Sproule says
the United States can not continue pro-
fltably in the shipping business unless
we change our maritime laws, reduce
the cost of building our ships. and estab-
lish a national ship subsidy.
England. Mr.. Sproule declares. is
building and operating ships at half the
cost prevailing here. our shipping has
grown and prospered, lie points out, only
because of abnormally high freight
rates. When they fall Mr.. Sproule can
see only disaster for American shipping
unless we make provisions to meet the
competition of normal times.
Mr. Sproule's statement follows in
part:
zone of the most important subjects
before the American people is the re-
habilitation and maintenance Of our
merchant marine. We have paid dearly
for the position in which we found our
selves at the breaking out OF the wal
possessed of only l,376,S09 gross tons
y OF shipping, suitable for overseas com
merce.
Pessimistic over outlook
"In the year preceding the war but
per cent of the worlds foreign trade was
carried in American bottoms. II the pro-
gram of the United States shipping
board is carried out we will soon have
1900, 900 deadweight tons of shipping.
There are so many difficulties TO be over
come in order that our ships may be
proftably engaged in the foreign trade,
that practical men are rather pessimisttc
concerning the outcome. our navigation
laws must be amended and a subsidy
must be paid our ships to enable them
to continue in the foreign trade.
ut is patent to every one that with
the present rates of freight American
vessels can be successfully operated in
the overseas trade. but what Wiz be the
result when rates assume again the nor
NAL?
Inexperienced shipping men are rather
discouraged over the way in which the
ships are now being operated by the
United States shipping board, and, in
deed, regret to say that this body has
not the public confidence. 1t is often
questioned whether any study of the in
tricasies of the shipping business has
been made by the shipping board. Ger
tainly their actions do not indicate ii.
Cites Enormous Freight Increase
"As Mr.. Hurley has said, we now have
quite a number of American ships EN-
ployed in the foreign trade, but is this
ito be wondered it when there is cited,
as an example, the case of a four masted
schooner here loading oil for Birken-
head, England, at SIC a barrel? In
normal times three shillings (seVenty-
four cents) barrel would be regarded
as fair rate of freight
THE same conditions prevail in all
other branches of the ofreign trade.
.Mr. Hurley is encouraged by the
fact that the American flag is now seen
on the seven seas Of the world, but
this is not remarkable, and such will
be the case just as long as the freight
2 rates are maintained at the present
high figures.
1--WE are constantly reminded by the
shipping board of the time when the
United States was such a factor in the
foreign trade, but it is not stated that
this was all due to the fact that in
the early f1fties, when our merchant ma
rine was at the height of its glory. our
ships were produced for nearly $50
ton below those of our keenest Competi-
y tor, Great Britain These were days
when we maintained supremacy not
only of the western ocean trade, but
also of the China tea and Australian
wool trades. Today the reverse is the
condition.
ship Cost Double That in England
.'rhe United states Shipping Board
Is producing ships at over twice the cost
of Great Britain, yet, Notwithstanding
the fact that it takes twice as much
to man one of the shipping boards YES
sells in comparison with the Britisher
they are still advancing, rather than re-
ducing, the cost of operation.
Recently there was revived the posi-
tion of 'supercargo' for these ships. and
one of the conditions of this position
seems. to be that the incumbent, who IS
appointed by the shipping board, Is to
rank with the captain and be paid S175
per month. Such a position on a ship
Is wholly unnecessary and somewhat de-
grading to the master. 'Supercargoes'
were Invaluable in the olden days, when
cargoes were taken to foreign ports to
be disposed of, but now with the cable,
any instructions can be transmitted the
g master, who should be perfectly compe
tent to carry them out.
Most of the 'sugercargoes' that have
visited Philadelphia on shipping board
vessels seem 10 have been men from the
interior OF the country without the
slightest knowledge of maritime practice
''Shipping men are hopeful that the
nuew Congress will adopt some drastic
measures that will serve to halt the
present extravaganza and place the
management of the American ships on a
4 practical basis.
tissue is Ia ken with the latest state
fnent of Chairman Hurley. that the ship
ping board intends to build a number
of 12,500-ton steamers. 1t is only in
snrxa faW Instances VpgSelS pf
pacity can be successfully operated. The
ideal cargo ship is between 5000 and
1900 tons dead weight"