The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-27
FLORIDA SENATOR
OPPOSES SALE OF
MERCHANT SHIPS
Would Have Govern
ment Operate Vessels Or
Allow Private Corporations
to Use Them Under U. S,

WASHINGTON, June 27.-Sale Of gov
eminent merchant ships to private in
teFests recommended to congress re-
Gently by Chairman Hurley. OF the
snIpping board, was opposed by Sem
ator Fletcher, OF Florida, ranking Dem
oerat and former chairman Of the SEN
ate commerce committee. in an address
To- me senate Thursday on shipping leg
An undeterminate policy of govern
ment operation OF the new merchant
Ileet, either by the government itself
or through private corporations char
Iereo or controlled by the government,
was advocated by Mr.. Fletcher. Wheth-
er The government should continue CON
struction Of ships, Mr.. Fletcher said.
Is a matter for future determination.
preservation OF the governments
great shipping enterprise, established at
great expense and now showing large
profits IN ship operations, was urged.
the, public INTEREST," Senator Fletcher
said c a for the making of tha in
dustry secure n permanent. At great
expense and Infinite labor we have gone
through the stages required for its
I~oundation its development and its
completed structure.
Why make junk of our equipment,
facilities, machinery n fixtures, by
the employment Of which we have been
able to lead the world in construction
and output?"
With an expenditure of 50, 800, 900, 900,
Senator Fletcher said. the United States
would have about one-fourth OF the
worlds shipping.
I'VE have been expanding about
1900, 900 a day In carrying out the
great shipbuilding program" he said.
The government nov owns 555 steel
cargo ships, ~aggregating 1885, 900 dead
| weight ions. nd has IInHpT RnnfP l nj
! 1895 more Of 9,225, 900 tons, Unless
further cancellations take place we
should have under our flag next year
l6, 732, 900 lightweight tons.
Needs Pressing.
There is no need so pressing as
ocean transportation. We are prepared
to build ships, not only to meet do
mestic requirements, but to supply the
world demand"
Cancellation of shipbuilding contracts,
Mr.. Fletcher said, will cause a loss OF
about $50 per ton, while the same bot
toms can be operated with much profit
and, he added, rates will continue high
for a considerable time, although lower
than the wartime rates.
Senator Fletcher said II the govern
ment should operate its own ships 1t
need not interfere with existing pri-
vate lines, but could develop new lines
and mail routes. An initial loss, he
said, would result finally in profits.
II will be sorry management" he
added. II the government should give
to private interests the profits 1t could
make in operating the present and
building fleet,
Instead Of organizing a force and
opening up offices for the purpose Of
disposing OF the ships, why not con
tribute an organization for
the purpose of operating the ships?'
he asked.
Sale of the governments ships to
\ private persons, Senator Fletcher pre-
dicted, would mean transfer Of many
to foreign registry.
ut would seem entirely feasible, "
he declared, ito form responsible OPP
Grating companies to become the OPP
Grating agents for the government. II
this is not feasible, / would rather
charter the ships to private operating
companies"
Mr., Fletcher deplored the alleged
prejudice against wooden ships, and
declared many built by the govern
ment are operating profitably. He also
declared concrete built ships are prov
ing successful.
Regarding the future permanent pol
icy OF government shipbuilding, Mr.,
Fletcher said:
at is somewhat too early to deter
mine now and a decision might well
wait until we have the light and BEN
eft Of at least a years experience.
Some high-class mail and passenger
ships. however, ought to be designed
and ordered now by the government,
and the yards should be permitted, as
now agreed To build for foreigners"