Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-28
GIVES PLAN FOR
MERCHANT SHIPS
Hurley Proposes Sale of Gov
ernment Vessels at Mar
ket Prices

New York, March 2S.-Private
ownership of the great merchant
marine which has been built by
America under the stimulus of war,
with such governmental regulation
as would prevent watered stock and
assure the use of the vessels on
trade routes promoting the general
welfare of the nation, was put for
ward here last night by Chairman
Hurley, of the Shipping Board, as
his plan for the peace-time- opera
ton of the government-built fleet.
He was speaking before the National
Marine League.
Enunciating the most important
reconstruction decision so far
reached by any government depart
ment, Mr.. Hurley said he would
have the government sell the new
ships at market prices, so the op-
orators could compete with foreign
tonnage, and would have the bot
toms insured jointly by the govern
ment and American companies until
the latter developed sufficiently to
carry alone the enormous risk on
more than one billion dollars worth
of property.
Would Bar Aliens
No alien would be permitted to
own any stock in any American ves-
sci, and the transfer of vessels to
foreign flags would be permitted
only by express consent of the gov
ernment. American ships for AM
erican trade" is the central thought
of the plan, which will be submit
ted to Congress as basis for legis-
lation.
I'VE want the initiative and skill
Of American ship operators, but we
want no watered stock" said Mr..
Hurley. I'VE want to avoid the
stagnation that sometimes comes
from red tape and bureaucracy,
but we want no profiteering or eX-
ploitating.
1--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
commerce, not merely for the de-
Eelopment of the private fortunes of
ship operators"
A Big Fleet
Comparing the problem OF water
transportation with the still-un-
solved question of railroad manage
ment, Mr.. Hurley made a plea for
public attention to the details pro-
posed for operating a fleet which
next year will aggregate 16,732,7OO
deadweight tons of steel ships, 20
per cent. owned by the government.
The present fleet includes 555 ocean
going steel cargo vessels of 1885,
475 deadweght tons and contracts
have been let for 1885 similar Ves-
sells of 9,275,006 deadweight tons.
while the war was on, the re-
cital of shipbuilding achievement
found n quick and ready response
from an enthusiastic public, MI
Hurley said. There is less glamour
in tho work of evolving
n policy which will keep these ships
under the American flag and de-
velop our commerce, but this work
touches the life of the nation almost
as closely as the emergency snip
building program.
Upon the development of our
foreign commerce will depend IN
large measure, the prosperity OF all
the American people, the employ
ment and happiness of labor and the
respect of the nations when COM
pete with us"
Several plans were discussed as
possible for the operation OF the
fleet, varying from government own
ership and government operation 10
private ownership and operation. Mr.
Hurley announced flat opposition TO
the former, which would entail per-
manent establishment of a govern
offices and agencies in every part OF
the world, and he also opposed IN
termediate plans such as govern
ment ownership and private opera
tion or ownership by single private
corporation with the government
guaranteeing a fixed return on the
stock. He outlined the two great
arguments in favor of goVern@klt
ownership, that governmencHft
ships should be the servants or Ue
nation and that in times of emer-
gency a government-owned fleet
could be more readily converted to
the national defense. :.
"The chief argument in favor OF
private ownership and operation,
he continued, ''is that a successful
merchant marine depends not so
much on ships, or money, or govern
ment aid. as it does on the existence
of a large class of alert, resource
full and energetic men engaged IN
the shipping business. Mere me-
chanical efficiency of ship and shore
DIant. added to sound financial back
ing, is not enough. The man who
,nters the shipping business enters
q battle against the wits OF the
world. He must have genius FOR
shipping. Fortunately the men now
engaged in the shipping business in
the United States are of that charac-
ter. But there are not enough of
them. We need many more. And
it is clear that the number of such
men can be greatly increased only
under conditions of private initia-
tive"
CONTINUE MAYO CASE
New York, March 2S.-Taking of