New-York tribune., 1919-05-24
All Factions Agree
i. S. Needs Great
Merchant Marine
Diverse Interests at Shipping
Conference Differ Only on
Government Ownership
and Control of Craft
Neu' York Tribune
Wash i1,OtOu B,trelu

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May % - Many
points OF view were presented at the
national shipping conference. which
adjourned to-day, but whether the
delegates represented farmers or capt.
talists, labor unions or employers as
soclatlons, the coasts or the middle
regions, and whether they were for or
against government ownership. they
were all for great American merchant
marine. The feeling was that the op-
portunlty that thrust 100000 or
100000 tons of ships upon the coun-
try must not be allowed to pass un-
utilized.
J. H. Rosseter, director of operations
of the Shipping Board, indicated one
OF the chief obstacles to government
operation when he stated that the
complexities arising from operating a
fleet that now numbers 800 ships and
Will eventually number 1000, are too
much for any one organization. Sheer
size was accountable for some of the
mistakes that had ben made in opera
ton, he said
WARNS Against Fatal Mistake
mistake of "promiscuous use of this
fleet under any random sale or charter
with consequent failure to build up
regular lines If this were done he
feared call our efforts will have gone
for naught'
P. A. S. Franklin, president of the
International Mercantile Marine Com
pany, strongly supported Chairman
Hurleys suggestion that when the ships
are sold there should be an equitable
distribution of the profits among diff
terent parts of the country.
Mr.. Franklin proposed that all the
wooden ships and steel steamers OF
less than 5000 tons be disposed of and
that comprehensive policy o. dis
posing of the larger steel ships should
be adopted and put into effect at once.
The ships should be sold on basis
OF % per cent down, the government
taking mortgage for the balance He
was opposed to any governmental re-
strlction. including rate fixing.
Wants Trade with Tropics
President W. H. Jardine of the Kan
sas Agricultural College declared
against government ownership and
operation, but said the people wanted
to be sure the fleet would be used to
develop trade in the right direction.
j. B. Smull, of the New York Cham
Der of Commerce, opposed government
ownership on the ground that govern
ment ships could not get business be-
cause shippers would be afraid they
could not libel government ship.
j. w. Steele of the American Ex-
porters' Association, advocated the sale
of the ships to established companies
according to the laws of supply and
demand, the prompt return of comman-
deered vessels, completion of the build
ing programme, no transfers to foreign
flags without government permission,
no REIMBURSEMENT of ships requis-
toned while building, the government
to put on regular lines of ships now
but government ownership not to be
continued.
Would Build Up Routes
W. Fl. Douglass, of the American
Exprters and Importers Association,
said the ships should not be sold with
out reservation, but the government
should keep part Of them for time
while building up trade routes during
a period of FIVE TO ten years, letting
companies take them over later.
A. NJ. Lewis. of the National Grange.
having membership of 10000 farm
ers, said that majority of them op-
posed government ownership and also
subsidies.
J. B. Magill, of the Harris Magil
Company, New York, favored govern
ment ownership. Foreigners, he said,
would do their best to put the new
American feet out of business, but if
they knew that Uncle Sam was behind
the fleet they would be slow about re-
sorting to desperate measures.
John L. Hamilton, of the American
Bankers Association, recommended
that the Shipping Board should be re-
lated to shipping as the Federal Re-
serve System is to banks and the Farm
Loan Board to the farmers.