The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-26
PAYNE WOULD END THE OIL
 SHIP DISPUTE

W ~<oN' -o. AeAllo AC1
 the construction of 100000 dead
 weight tons of shipping to 3sbalanee"
 the Government merchant marine, as suggested some time ago by John H.
 Rosseter, are now being drawn up by
 the, Shipping Board and will be pre- sented to the next Congress.
 This new shipbuilding programme
 is distinct from the emergency war
 programme and will not be entered
 upon by the Shipping Board unless
 specifically authorized by Congress,
 according to authoritative informa-
 ton.
 As the situation now stands the
 Shipping Board is endeavoring to
 bring all present building to an end
 during 1920. With this purpose in
 view all contracts are being cancelled
 which would run over into 1921.
 An illustration of this policy occur
 red several days ago when a de1ega-
 tion of North Carolina men, headed
 by Senators Overman and Simmons.
 went to the Shipping Board to pro-
 test against the cancellation of con-
 tracts for four vessels at Wilmington,
 N. c. They pointed out that the
 Government had spent money for the erection of the yards and that the city itself had raised funds for the purchase of land.
 No Discrimination.
 Shipping Board officials then called attention to the fact that the four keels could not be laid before ne-t summer, and that the actual con- struction would continue we'll into the summer of 1921. It was shown that the cancellation of the Wilmington contract was no discrimination against that city, but was only the general policy of the Shipping Board
 Both Shipping Board and Govern ment officials hold the view that the war programme should be terminat- ed definitely, and the end of 1920 has been selected as the date. If Congress and shipping interests feel that further shipbuilding is neces- sary, 1t is held that this should be | authorized by new legislation on the part of the government.
 Some confusion as to the building of the 100000 additional tons has i been caused by an imperfect under i standing of the situation. It has been announced that no new con- tracts would be let, and this is cor rect so far as the Shipping Board 1 policy is affected by existing legisla- | tion. Present indications point to the 1 adoption of the new programme. The l Shipping Board is in favor of the project, and it is known that the 1 testimony of former Director of Op- l erations Rosseter before the House l committee produced a favorable inn l pression.
 | Great Need for Oil Tanhers Among the ships included in the
 contemplated tonnage are a number 1 of oil tankers. Lack of vessels of l this character has been felt keenly l by private interests as we'll as the 1 Shipping Board. Other ships to be
 recommended are medium sized car l go carriers. It is pointed out that l the smaller ships cannot be operated
 with large a percentage of profit
 as those from 5000 to 10000 tons. Prospects for the establishment of
 a new shipping line to Australia do
 not appear favorable at present, ac-
 cording to intinations from shipping Board officials. While some of the l to be in favor of closer connections with that country, the ruling opin- l ion just now seems to be against fur l ther allocations to that route. A representative of Australian
 farmers was in Washington recently ] seeking to convince officials here that 1 government vessels could be run 1 profitably in that traffic and offer l ing to guarantee adequate return car l goes It was said that a co-opera- tive organization of Australian farm CTS could furnish 100000 tons an nually It was understood from this l representative that if efforts to in- terest the Shipping Board failed, he
 would confer with private lines in New York, including some of those recently formed with strong capital behind them, Dissatisfaction with the service of British conference lines was said to be the reason for the attempts of the Australians in seek ing American connections.