Evening journal., 1919-03-13

MERCHANT MARINE LEGISLATION FALLS TO G. o. y.
rrNHE Republican Publicity Association, through its
L President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr, has given out
the following statement from It's Washington head
quarters
"The greatest opportunity the Democrats have had
in recent years to add TO the prestige Of their party has
been thrown away. We refer to their negligence in
enacling legislation for the disposition Of vast
chant neet in the creation Of which hundreds Of
millions Of dollars Of the TAXPAYERS money have been in
vesed-an Investment that daily is increasing by leapi
and bounds It has been three months since th :
war practically came to an end yet an entire session f
Congress closed on March . without single deter
mined effort having been made by the party in power
10 work out comprehensive merchant marine policy that
viii retain for the American nation the commanding PCS
sltlon in world commerce that she how holds.
"The business Of formulating such a policy is a
legacy which the Republican Congress has succeeded
now that has taken up the rens Of national legislation
To The Republican party viii fo the duty Of making good
where the Democrats have dcfaulted. Huge is the
problem it is no greater than the regulation Of our
enormous railroad system which in previous admin
stotions has been conducted with signal success under
Republican auspices. In many respects successful
shipping policy should be analogous to proper railroad
management.
shps should be treated as public utilities Like the
shipper Of merchandise a railroad, the consignor Of
freight whether IN great small quantities. should be
furnished with facilities for transportation upon
which he can TO depend he does now upon the
railroads. In that light the operation Of our merchant
marine should be considered an end In itsef
but rather as means to end, namely the upbuildns
OF our international commerce. II is fundamental TO
success that 80 be so conducted to inspire the con-
ndehce no. only OF shippers the United States but Of
he consumers Of their goods abroad Regular schedules
OF ships ports TO foreign trade centers must be
maintained and widely adyeriscd; the cooperation Of
our railroads bringing freight TO the docks for prompt
and efficient loading must be secured ocean rates must
be wen known and dependable; and unnecessary com
petition between different lines to the same ports should
be eliminated
nAdherng firmly TO their policy Of opposition to
government ownership and operation Of our merchant
marine as Of other utilities, the Republicans viii realize
that Federal supervision 20 certain extent as Id the
case of the railroads viii be necessary to complete sue
cess Government action viii be required to coordinate
land and water transportation at our seapor TO secure
the maintenance Of regular salngs. though it may
necessilate financial loss for tme to supervise and
fix equitable ocean rates perhaps through rates from
inland shipping points to foreign porls and to prevent
,yaste of effort in destructive competition Our ships
should be sold to private long-term payments
and in their allocaon not only should established COM
panes be encouraged TO maintain present routes but
new cohcerns may need TO be organized with Federal
assistance TO go into fields Of trade
The solution OF our shipping problem new to the
present generation Of Americans, needs only courage
energy and a faith in American enterprise to put it
through successfully The attributes the Republican
Marty possesses to degree and the country con
ndently anticipate the early development Of merchant
marine policy that viii make OF the United States
dominating natioh in the commerce of the world"
pelaSareans have a direct and acute interest in
tle maintenance OF an adequate American merchant
marine They should array themselves now with the
Bepublcah party and assist It in formulating sensi-
BILE and business-ke plan to merchant fleet
for all time.