New Britain herald., 1919-11-03
BY END OF 1920 ENGLAND AND AMERICA WILL CONTROL SEAS
Such is Prediction of Sena- tor Jones, Explaining Bills to Extend U. s. Shipping Policy.

Washington, Nov. 3.--Predictions that ships flying the American flag will almost equal the tonnage of Great Britain by the end of 1920 were made in the senate today by Senator Jones, republican, of Washington, chairman of the senate commerce committee III introducing his bills proposing alter native plans for a permanent federal shipping policy. Both bills were re- ferred to the commerce committee for future consideration
 Will Control Worlds Shipping.
 With prospective completion of the governments war shipbuilding pro- gram by December 31. 1920, Senator Jones said the United States, including coastWise vessels, will have a merchant fleet of about 1S,00O,00 tons, nearly that of Great Britain. and. he added, the two nations will control about two- thirds of the worlds tonnage.
 Ready for Emergency.
 we do not desire and it is not our purpose to drive other nations off the sea, said Senator Jones, but we do want to do, and we ought to do at least our prOpOrtionate part of our own and the worlds carrying trade, so
 
 chance in the worlds markets and that we may hereafter be fully pre- pared for any emergency
 Regarding the governments future shipping policy, the senator said about S,00O00O of the 12,00o, 900 tons under the American flag in foreign trade will be government owned.
 Government Ownership.
  ownership" he said, but that can hc no issue here. The government owns these ships, whether we will or no. We must not allow private parties 1o take the cream of this shipping and let the government hold tho balance to dispose of at a great sacrifice. Grant that government ownership should end as soon as may be, it must be brought about as nearly as may be witho dt sacrifice.
 No one can reasonably hope that private enterprise and capital in the face of foreign competition and han dlcapped by our own ineXperience, will be able to absorb and take ovHr all this shipping in a short while.'
 Would Build Larger Ships.
 Senator Jones also contended that
 
 the plant constructed by the govern ment at Camden, N. J., and now opcr- ated through the New York Shipbuild- ing Co.,, it should be retained and used for the construction of the large ships for which there are no other facilities. In explanation of his bill to create merchant marine corporation under government control to operate tho government fleet for not more than 90 years, but without competing with private established linoS Senat or Jones said in conclusion:
 Advises New Corporation.
 We now have the l.. $. shippins s board acting in a dual capacity. It was intended to be a great regulatory governmental agency. and is in fact doing the work of a great corporation 1t cannot well serve both ends What l propose is to divorce the shippin 2. board entirely from building, selling or operating ships, and allow it to do the things it was created to do and create a corporation separate and in dependent of it to operate, maintain and dispose of our ships in such a way as to give us an adequate merchant marine on permanent basis"
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