The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-13
new BILL PUTS
SHIP BOARD ON
PRE-WAR BASIS
Greene's Measure Stops All
Buying of Vessels and
Checks Construction.
RESTRICTS BROAD POWER
Congress Expected to Pass 1t
Pending Final Decision on
Marine Policy.
RESTRICTS BROAD POWER
speeia, DespatcA to Tnn sus.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 12.-Strong oppo-
sition to Government owned mer-
chant marine or the continuance OF
the Government in the shipping busi-
ness on large scale is evident in the
House Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Committee. as the result of several
hearings on the nations future marine
policy.
This is reflected In a bill, Represen-
tative Greene (Mass.). chairman Of
the committee. has introduced and
which orders the Shipping Board and
the Emergency Fleet Corporation to
call halt on their construction work.
dispose Of their property as soon as
possible, and turn their investments
ana revolving funds back into the
treasury. The bill revokes all the
broad executive powers granted in the
wartime shipping legislation.
Members of the committee do not be-
lieve the future merchant marine policy
~an be formulated at this session of
ping Board should continue its work I'M
restricted until this policy Is determined.
For that reason II has been determined
to pass the Greene bill as soon as
possible.
Details of Proposed Law.
Explaining the measure, Representa-
tive Edmonds (Pa.), ranking Republican
on the committee, said tonight:
The future policy to be pursued by
the Congress. in order to keep the mer-
chant marine upon the sea, will be facili-
, tated by the bill introduced Friday by
Representative W. S. Greene Of Massa-
chusetts. This bill provides for the re-
peal of all of the emergency shipping
legislation, and cancels all the extraordi-
nary powers conferred upon the Presi-
dent for requisitioning ships wharves
and other property. II also repeats the
power to control ocean freight and char
fers. and eliminates any further extern
sion of the Shipping Board house build
ing programme. The bill arranges for
ali property acquired under these acts
to be transferred to the Shipping Board.
The power conferred upon the President
to operate under the emergency ship
ping legislation has been exercised by
the Shipping Board under order OF the
President, resulting In a dual control
which this act prevents by concentrating
all power In the board.
1.-THE act then arranges for the sale
of ships and provides for extended pay
ments up to ten years upon them. 1t
also authorizes the board to accept mort
cages and prescribe the terms of the
mortgages.
stops Purchase OF ships.
TT instructs the board to discon-
tinue shipbuilding as far as is con-
sistent with good judgment. and IN
structs the board to make no further
investments In new ships or plants. and
further insists that II shall endeavor to
withdraw as quickly as possible from
all Investments made by II and turn the
money into the treasury.
Provision Is made for the operation
of ships remaining in possession of the
board, but, of course, under the original
shipping act operation of regular lines
probably will only be engaged in where
the natural business is not adequately
served by American lines
"Requisitioned property in which the
Government has no financial interest Is
TO be returned to the owners.
at is expected that this act properly
carried out Will clear up all the con-
fusion caused by the many different
acts passed from time to time as the
war progressed. and will eventually re-
suit In the Shipping Board returning to
It's pre-wsI status to continue under the
original act creating the Shipping
Board"