Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-28
CHAIRMAN HURLEY OF SHIPPING BOARD
IN NEW YORK SPEECH, URGES PRIVATE
OWNERSHIP OF u S. MERCHANT MARINE

New York, March 27-Private
ownership of the great merchant
marine which has been built by
America under the stimulus OF
war, with such governmental reg
ulations as would prevent watered
stock and assure the use of the
vessels on trade routes promoting
the general welfare of the nation,
was put forward here last night
by Chairman Hurley of the ship
ping board, as his plan for the
peace-time operation of the gov
eminent built fleet He was speak
ing 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 for
eign tonnage, and would have the
bottoms insured jointly by the gov
eminent and American companies
until the latter developed sufici-
emily to carry alone the enormous
risk on more than one billion dol
lars worth of property.
No alien would be permitted to
own any stock in any American
vessel, and the transfer of vessels
to foreign flags would be permit
ted only by express consent of the
government American ships for
American trade" is the central
thought of the plan, which will be
submitted to congress as a basis
for legislation.
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-
plotting.
I'VE want the new fleet used for
the benefit of the people of the
United States and not against their
larger interests. We want it used
for the development of the ma
tons commerce, not merely for
the development of the private for
tunes of ship operators.
Gives Operation Plans.
Comparing the problem of wa
ter transportation with the still
unsolved question of railroad man
agement. Mr.. Hurley made a plea
for public attention to the details
proposed for operating a feet
which next year will aggregate
1912, 700 lightweight tons of steel
ships, 20 per cent owned by the
government The present fleet in
cludes 555 ocean-going steel cargo
vessels of 3.3S5,475 lightweight
tons and contracts. have been let
for 1886 similar vessels of $685.
006 lightweight tons.
while the war was on. the re-
cital of shipbuilding achievement
found a quick r1d ready response
from an enthusiastic public" Mr..
Hurley said There is less CLAM
our and glory in the work of evolv-
ing a policy which will keep these
ships under the American flag and
develop our commerce, but this
work touches the life of the ma
ton almost as closely as the
shipbuilding program.
Upon the development of our
foreign commerce will depend in
A large measure, the prosperity of
all the American people, the en-
pIoyment and happiness of labor
and the respect of the nations
which compete with US"
FavOrS Private Control.
Several plans were discussed as
possible for the operation of the
x,,,t
ownership and government opera
ton to private ownership and op-
Grafton. Mr.. Hurley announced
fiat opposition to the former. which
would entail permanent establish
ment of a government operating
force with branch offices and
agencies in every port of the
world. and he also opposed inter
mediate plans such as government