The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-23
Carry Ninety Per Cent. of
L. S. Goods in American
Bottoms Is Urged.
SHIP CONFERENCE HELD
Sale of Government Built
Craft to Private Firms
Advocated by Page.
RATES TO MEET RIVALS
Subsidy Plan Offered to Help
Trade-Building Programme
Is Rushed.
RATES TO MEET RIVALS
Sp,c;ai Despatch 10 TIE sry.

Special Despatch 10 TIE sry.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 22.-The opening
o, all American shipyards to foreign
orders and the sale of Government
,uilt ships to private interests on
reasonable basis were advocated to-
day by Charles r. Page, member of
he Shipping Board. In an address
before a general conference Of all Of
the individuals and organizations in
terested in the merchant marine ques-
ton Commissioner Page said he felt
that the Shipping Board saw the prob
lens TO be met much as he did. He
declar al, We feel very firmly that
the shipbuilder OF this country should
re permitted to take orders for foreign
account" He was opposed to Govern
ment operation OF the feet as likely to
lead TO disaster and as an issue tied
lip with Government ownership.
The conference was called by Sena-
Tor Eansdell I.a.) with a view to the
formation Of a great national organi-
,ation TO get behind the idea of a great
merchant marine for the United States.
one that will restore the conditions OF
q century ago. when more than 30 per
cent. ot American trade was carried
in American bottoms.
Question of Rates.
One of the. outstanding features Of
the conference was the development OF
:sn,iinent for some form of subsidiary
that would permit American merchant
ships to compete with those OF any
Other country on even. terms at least as
20 rates while maintaining American
standards of wages and living condi-
tons. y $50,
Addresses we're delivered by many
members of Congress and by some OF
the leading shipbuilders and leading
authorities in the country on shipping
questions.
In opening the conference Senator
Rarsdell asked those attending TO ger
together on a programme that could DC
consistently urged on the Shipping
beard and upon Congress.
Many forms of subsidy were recon-
nended by the different speakers
rs sufficient to maintain the place OF
American merchant fleets upon the high
teas There were suggestions Tor
amendment Of the seanen's act and Tor
Government guarantees on hxed trade
routes laid out with view to extendins
American foreign trade.
Much attention was given to the
future Of the shipbuilding programme
and whether it should be pressed at this
,me during the prevalence of high costs
Mos. of the speakers agreed that the
nation could not wait in the face ol
competition that has already arisen and
mat the real question for determination
vas how the costs we're to be cared for
10 that the ships would be profitable.
Major Problems Here.
Commissioner Page said there were
three major questions to be determined
with respect to shipbuildinz. FIRST th'
question Of construction second, dispo'
s',oa az the completed product, anc
third, the question of operation. H'
fskei the conference whether the pres
IN. programme OF something like 1900
900 tons Of wood and steel ships should
be carried or sale OF some of them should
BE- made to foreigners and other commit
rerts cancelled. The latter course. h'
s1il is fraught with possibility OF dam
age to an important industry with TN
possibility of Generalization OF labor a
bad time.
NJ. rage warned of the danger o.
tAe construction OF great merchan
marine, that the country could not use
i would be poor policy. he said, to carry
70 completion a building programme tina
- going TO cost more than the Vessei'
a9s worth and possibly create somethns
ilat il Is beyond our power to use III
J'inted out that ships built to NEE
'1e var emergency were because of de
Nsn and motive power not particular!
suited to peaceful commerce and wer'
a type that few ship owners woul(
order except in exceptional cases.
These problems, he concluded. woul'
'are 70 be solved by the Shipping Boar
after 1t had learned the wishes Of tn
teop.c.
Disposition of Fleet.
On the question of disposition OF tn
Rect, Mr Page said:
~ zee. that II We look TO Government
o.eration--to an extent 1t Is true tha