New-York tribune., 1919-06-13
Shipping Board Outlines Its
Plan and Will Go Ahead
Unless Money Needed Is
Denied by Legislators
Hurley's Ideas Favored
Thirteen Million Tons to
Be Completed, and Fleet
Sold as Demand Permits
By Theodore M. knappen
Ne1U York Tribune
WdShinOton Bureau


WASHINGTON, June 12.-With the
ping Board to-day of a definite plan
and scheme Of legislation relative to
the future of the emergency fleet and
American shipping in general, the
board has put the responsibility for
the future of the American merchant
marine squarely up to Congress.
The building programme recon-
mended by the board and which it in
tends to carry out unless Congress
refuses the funds, was laid before the
legislators Monday. The two phases Of
the colossal undertaking as submittes
by the board to Congress are:
Completion Of some 100000
deadweight tons of government ship
ping at an additional cost of $685.
100000, and total cost of $780,
100000.
Transference of the fleet to pri-
vate ownership as rapidly as the de-
mand will permit, vessels to be
operated in the mean time by the gov
ernment through the charter or oper-
ator and managers arrangements.
and in some cases, possibly, directly.
AS to the first phase, the indications
are that Congress is disposed to give
the board all the money it needs to
complete it's revised and reduced pro-
gramme.
Concerning the second phase, Com
missioner Stevens of the board turned
in minority report, and much differ
ence of opinion is expected to develop.
The two reports were laid before the
Senate Commerce Committee to-day,
which will consider them at length.
The majority report follows much
the same lines as the policy suggested
by Chairman Hurley some weeks ago.
Mr.. Stevens differs in that he is op-
posed to any steps at this time that
remotely approach direct financial as
sistance to shipping ventures, which
are involved in the majority plan, and
would lay more emphasis at first on
the building up of operating companies
starting with the chartering of govern
ment vessels, than he would on sales;
though he, too, is opposed to con-
tinued government ownership.
The chief features of the Shipping
Boards policy, which its advocates say
probably will make the United States
the premier maritime nation of the
world, and the means by which it i,
to be realized, are set forth as follows
"The Shipping Board recommends
private ownership and operation as 6
fundamental policy for commercial
shipping. The government should
therefore, contemplate retirement from
commercial ship building, ship owning
and ship operating activities at the
earliest date which may be convenient
and practical, in order:
"(a) To give our overseas trade
the full benefit Of competitive ser.
vice, and
"(b) TO leave steamship operators
free to render this competitive SER
vice, and
"(c) To impart to. present and pro-
spectlve steamship operators that
confidence which they must feel be-
lore they can be expected to invest
their money in existing ships. and
to place the orders for new shins
without which the outlook for the
American 'shipbuilding industry will
not be encouraging.
I'm order to carry ont +h5s no1;..,
va SOsSAiiiieiiC SnOuld construct no
more ships, other than those now in
inc programme except such new ves-
sells as may be needed to balance tho
iieet and for the construction of which
FUNDS may be provided as specified
hereafter. ~'''N'
1T should adopt and rigidly adhere
TO definite plan for selling it's ships
obviously it will be impossible to sell
the whole fleet at once; but DURING
the period in which the ships are being
sold it is essential that the govern.
ment handle the unsold ships in a
manner which {"
"(a) Will not permit their opera-
ton to react unfavorably upon tho
operation Of the ships which have
been sold, and
"(b) Will definitely tend to stimu-
late the purchase of more ships bv
private operators"
The report gives a resume Of tho
Legislation needed for the pronosed
policy and its realization. CONGRESS-
must give the President an extension
OF time of the postwar six months,
INIT or as long as may be necessary
20 carry out the proposed >policv He
must be authorized to sell shins tn
American citizens on the ten-vear
plan, % per cent down. Legislation
should provide for the creation of
merchant marine development fund bv