The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19

move swiftly II we are to take the place
In the worlds markets which some OF
our leading Industrial competitors have
been forced to abandon. If we do IL now
we can establish ourselves so firmly
that we cannot be dislodged upon the
return OF peace.
This is a vital problem which the
shipping men OF our great country Will
have to help determine. And 1t is OF
the utmost Importance that the control
and operation of our future great Amer
lean merchant marine be placed in the
hands Of those experienced and shrewd
shipping men who have heretofore dem
onstrated their wonderful business abil-
ity and who have proved beyond doubt
their stanch loyalty to everything dis
tinctly American.
THE Shipping Board recommends pri-
vate ownership and operation as a fun
damental policy for commercial ship
ping The Government should, there
fore, contemplate retirement from COM
mercial ship building. ship owning and
ship operating activities at the earliest
date which may be convenient and prac-
teal in order:
First. to give our overseas trade the
full benefit of competitive service and,
second. to impart to present and pros
pective steamship operators that con-
fldence which \they must feel before
they can be expected to invest their
money in existing ships and to place the
orders for new ships, without which the
outlook for the American shipbuilding
industry will not be encouraging.
THE Committee on the Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries of the House has en-
deavored since the opening of the pres
ent special session of Congress. to Sc
cure all the valuable information with
respect to the various phases of ship
ping that it could possibly obtain for
the general purpose of acquiring that
knowledge which is so essential in the
making of sound and intelligent legis-
lation.
with that end in view the committee
has held a series of hearings on prac-
tically every phase of shipping, includ-
ing the subject of marine insurance and
the mortgaging of vessels, and Its gen.
eral views are well embraced in the bill
which was recently introduced by me as
chairman of the committee.
To Repeal Present Acts.
This bill provides for the repeal Of all
the emergency shipping legislation and
cancels all the extraordinary powers con-
ferred upon the President for the re-
questioning of ships. wharves and other
property. 1t also repeats the power to
control ocean freights and charters and
eliminates any further extension of the
Shipping Board house building pro-
gramme. 1t also specifies that all prop
erty acquired under acts should be trans
| ferred to the Shipping Board While
! the power conferred upon the President
to operate under the emergency shipping
legislation has been exercised by tho
| Shipping Board under order of the Pres
dent, it is nevertheless evident that q
dual control exists. This bill concen.
trates all power in the board.
THE bill then arranges for the sale
OF ship and provides for extended pay
ments up to ten years upon them. Pro
vision is also made authorizing the board
to accept mortgages. and prescribes tn,
| terms Of the mortgages. 1t instructs tn,
| board to discontinue shipbuilding so fal
as Is consistent with good judgment, re
quires that the board make no furthe
| investments in new ships or plants anC
further insists that they shall endeavo
to withdraw as quickly as possible from
all investments made by them and turn
| the money into the Treasury of tn,
United States. 1t states in addition tina
all requisitioned property in which tn
| Government has no financial interes
must be returned to the owners.
ct Is apparent to everybody who
| familiar with the shipping problem tina