The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-28
Government Has Launched One
for Handling of Railroads.
Private Ownership, but With
Government Control, Plan.
HURLEY IN Recommendations
Merchant Marine Should Go
Over to Private Concerns.
There Are Opponents TO the
Policy Outlined for L. 5.

Washington. March 2S.-The gov
eminent has launched its .'feeler' to
the country on the question of private
ownership, with limited federal super
vision, of major utilities.
Chairman Hurley's recommended
tons in New York last night along
this line as applied to the war born
merchant marine were regarded here
today d move to sound out public
opinion. 1t may be stated that Hur-
leys views are personal, however, not
the announcement of a fixed govern
ment policy.
He believes the merchant marine.
built up by the government, should be
turned over to private concerns at
prices determined by the world ton
mage market with part of the payment
deferred and with half of the ships
earning in excess of per cent to go
into q public fund.
Ship purchasers would give mort
gage for the unpaid balance, the mort.
gage to pay per cent, l per cent of
which would be turned by the govern
ment into merchant marine develop
ment fund.
Prevent Watercd Stock.
Governmental regulation would be
designed to prevent watered stock and
assure the use of vessels on trade
routes designed to promote the well
fare of the United States.
II believe this is the answer to the
ship discussion" Hurley said recently
while discussing the plan. Il believe
it will appeal both to Democrats and
Republicans. The time has come
when such questions as this must be
decided from the viewpoint of the
greatest number. This plan rebounds
to the benefit of the American people,
at the same time it leaves it's develop
ments to the initiative and skill of
American ship operators and still alb
solutely prevents the watering OF
stocks"
Despite some evidence that there
may be strong opposition in congress
to selling the merchant marine, Hur-
ley is planning to go ahead with his
work of preparing the vessels for sale
along the line he has suggested.
Experts are now at work in the ship
ping board compiling data on tonnage
costs all over the world to determine
what would be a fair sale price for the
American vessels. simultaneously
other experts are at work developing
the most advantageous trade routes
for the ships when they are turned
over to private concerns.
The Ship As We'll.
THE idea" Hurley says, lis to get
all of these matters in completed form
that when the project of turning the
vessels over to private concerns Gull
inmates, we can put the ships on the
easily into the channels of foreign
trade"
In connection with Hurley's plan,
strong sentiment has developed,
both within and outside congress re-
Gently for handling the railroads as
private undertakings under moderate
federal supervision.
Hence, the reaction of Hurley's
plans is expected to have an impor-
tant bearing on the ultimate DISPOSE
ton of the railroads and perhaps even
the wire communicating systems of
the country now being operated by the
government.
Hurleys plan is not without its OPP
poEents, however. Senator Fletcher,
ranking Democrat member of the SEN
ate commerce committee and late
chairman of that committee. is oppos-
ed to selling the ships now, expressing
the belief that they would eventually
get into the possession of a few of the
shipping interests which are already
waiting to take them over