The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-28
Chairman Hurley Gives Plan
For New Merchant Marine

address deliver d by Edward N.
Hurley, Chairman United States Ship
ping Board, before the National Ma,
rine League, Commodore Hotel, New
York, Thursday evening, March q,
1919
Tin this address, Mr.. Hurley, for the
first time, gives an outline OF his pro.
posed plan for the ownership and OPP
Grafton OF the vessels built for the
government by the United States
Shipping Board)
When ] last addressed you, it was
my privilege TO outline to you tn :
American shipbuiIding program. To
night desire to present for consider
alton an American ship-operating pro.
gram. The operation of a fleet rep.
resenting 10000 900 tons of ships, 70
per cent of which is owned by the
Government, is q problem that should
be carefully considered from every
angle, and i'll presenting this plan for
your best thought | feel | should say
that the government, without unnec-
essary delay, must take prompt and
definite step in giving legislative form
to this, or some other policy which
Will meet with the approval of the
country.
While the war was on, the recital
'of shipbuilding achievement found a
quick and ready response from an en-
thusiastic public. There is less CLAM.
our and glory in the work of evolving
a policy which will keep these ships
under the American flag, and develop
our commerce, but this work touches
the life Of the nation as closely as the
emergency shipbuilding program.
Opposed to Government Ownership
Except as a Last Resort.
l am personally opposed to govern.
ment ownership, except as a last re.
sort. During the war, it was neces.
sary for the government to build a
merchant fleet. Private capital new
er could have accomplished this CO.
lossal task, involving the creation of
many new shipyards, and the training
OF a large army of workmen.
Government ownership of this large
fleet resulted automatically. If we
are to return to private ownership,
the transition must be made under
such conditions as will completely
safeguard the interest of the public.
II this fleet, built at government ex.
pense, were to be used now merely
for the advantage of groups of ship
operators, with sufficient capital to
purchase the ships from the govern.
ment, l would unhesitatingly advo.
cate the retention of the whole fleet
by the government.
The problem is complex as that Of
the railroad problem. Its solution is
vital to the welfare and prosperity of
the nation. Private ownership un-
questionably offers an inducement to
American energy and skill, but one
of the phases of unrestricted private
control, which caused me consider.
able concern, was the possibility that
under such control. ships would be
overcapitalized as were many of the
railroads. We want the initiative
and skill of American ship-operators,
but we want no watered stock. We
want to avoid the stagnation that
sometimes comes from red-tape and
bureaucracy, but we want no prot.
teering nor exploiting.
New Fleet Must Be Used for the
People and Nation
We want the new fleet used for the
benefit of the people of the United
States and not against their larger
interest. We want it used for the de-
velopment of the nations commerce,
and not merely for the development
Of the private fortunes of ship-opera.
tors.
Z, No one will deny that our foreign
trade, or the operation of American
ships will decline unless there is q
/ profit for the men who invest their
I money. But whatever assistance the
government is willing to render,
should be reciproeated by those who
!; are benefited Therefore, the nations
shipping policy should certainly pro-
vide for such governmental represen.
tation as will guarantee square deal
to the public.
II think the whole nation is agreed
that there must be no more scandals
of overcapitalization in any part of
American industrial or commercial
life. The ships built by the nation
should never be made the basis for
tas. ID -. FF-N