The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-23
SOUTHERN PORTS MUST HAVE FULL
 SUPPLY OF SHIPS,
 DECLARES HURLEY
Operation of American Mer' chant Marine in Peace Times Discussed From Every Angle at Ship
 ping Conference
By Associated prsss


 Washington, May 22.--Oper- ation of the government-bult merchant marine in peace was discussed from many angles today by representatives of na- tional labor, agricultural and industrial conferences called by
 the shipping board.
 eve all have different points of
 view" Chairman Hurley told the gath ering. "The shipper wants reason able freight rates The carrier wants
 reasonable earnings. These two objec-
 tives are not inconsistent. Efficient
 opera tion can achieve them both. "The ports of Wilmington, Sa- vannah, Chnrlcston, Brunswfcks
 Jacksonville, Pensacola. Mobile. New Orleans, Galveston, Port Arr thus, Los Angeles. San Francisco, Portland and Seattle have devel- oped wonderfully during the past few years in the production of products for export, and arranEe- ments must be made whereby each one will have every opportunity to establish through steamAhip lines in connection with It's railroads 70 that every community may receive first-clnss service.
 '-rhese ports are improving thcir terminal facilities and when these in- prov ements are made. not only will American ships be carrying cargo overseas and return imports from oth- CT countries. but foreign ships will be | entering these ports for the cargoes they require"
 NEEDS ARE OUTLINED The great national needs of the mer- chant fleet were outlined by MT. Hurley as follows:
 l |. Maintenance of an American ocean mali service capable of covering tho world. He said this would necessltate char ging the law to permit compensat- | ing ocean carriers on business basis, bringing it down from the realm of ! impracticability and make 1t apply to
 the sseagoing units which we actually possess"
 | 2 Esta abiishment~o a centraliy-con- ftrolled wireless Ttefegraph service s~rs promoting safety of life and pras
 at sea and for giving AmeriS4a sla sl 1 ping and shipping interest thS s5s vantage of constant inform es Atf Hurley said the service shpalsi es s,sf der control of the navy. l !. Provision for training c1lcers SO 1 that American ships always would go
 to sea in charge of American citizens. l James O'ConnelL representing the American Federation of Labor, de- clared the seagoing man wanted to
 know which would give him the best l working conditions, government or pri- vate ownership of the merchant mu- rne. He said the federation had not l directly indorsed government owner l ship of ocean transportation lines, but 1 that action may be taken at the con vention in June, due to war experience which will lead to that conclusion" | Private ownership was advocated by l w. H. Knox, representing the foreign | trade counsel
 Government supervision of the mer-
 chant marine should be limited to the 1 fixing of maximum freight rates MT. Knox asserted.
 1 Mr. Leach presented resolutions adopted l at the Chicago meeting of the associa- ton, opposing immediate institution Of
 private ownership, favoring instead gov ernment control until the merchant ma rine is established firmly and new trade ] routes mapped out.
 We want return to private ownership l by gradual stages" Mir. Leach said We want also full recognition Of gulf ports, l so that they may take their proper parc l in the nations commerce. | J. s. Taylor of Mobile. another member of the committee sent by the Mississippi | Valley association, said that when normal conditions returned American shipping
 was faced by some problems of bitter for eign competition and the result of the
 war. He said that the time had passed when 1t had cost less to ship grain to
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