Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-30
america FIRST"
SHIP BILL POLICY
Development Of Merchant
Marine Provided in Senate
q Committees Measure.

establishment Of an America first
policy for the development or the
American merchant marine rs pro
vided in bill drafted as substitute
for the House merchant marine Dill
by the Senate commerce subcommit-
tee and made public by Chairman Jones'
Coastwise shipping. the Pill pro,
.vides, must be entirely American
Sbwned while IS per cent of the stock
of corporations engaged in foreign
trade must he held by American citi-
zens Sale of American ships to for
eign interests would be prohibited Dy
the bill without the approval of the
Shipping Board, which the act creates.
Would Limit Preferential Rates.
The bill also would prohibit the In
terstate Commerce Commission from
1 exercising authority already eNstins
to grant preferential rail and water
freight rates on exports or imports,
as well as passenger rates. unless
American-owned vessels were used.
Upon the boards recommendations.
hwhere American owned ocean trans
'portation facilities are inadequate
the commission would be authorized
by the bill, however, to suspend this
section. In order to permit this ms
elimination the bill directs the Presi-
dent within ninety days from its
passage. to terminate treaties re-
stricting the right of the United
States TO impose discriminating du-
ties of tonnage due on foreign i'm
This simply unshackles the United
States commercially so far as its mer-
chant marine is concerned and will en-
able it to pass such laws as it may de-
sire to pass for the encouragement of
the merchant MARINE" Senator Jones
said today. In providing for the prefer
entail rates he declared the bill only
proposed policy similar to that under
which Germany. Japan and other coun-
tries have built up their export trade
and maintained their shining.
Puts Fleet Under board.
, As already announced. the bill would
place the present government owned
merchant fleet under the direction of
shipping board composed of seven men,
bers, which would be authorized to ope-
rate the ships under charter or other
wise and develop the foreign trade OF
this country through the establishment
of new trade routes by means of pri-
vate enterprise if possible or through
government operation if necessary.
The bill defines the policy to be fol-
lowed by the board. and directs atten-
ton to the fact that the national de-
Tense and the proper growth of
American commerce require mer-
chant marine-ef the best type of ships
sufficient for the greater portion of
, commerce. ultimately to be owned and
operated by private American citi-
zens. 1t specifies that the board must
do what may be necessary to accom-
plish this purpose.
Directs Sale OF Ships.
The House bill directed the board to
sell the government-owned merchant
1 ships as soon as practicable, but the
Senate bill provides that they shall
be disposed of las soon as practicable,
consistent with good business methods
and the objects and purposes to be
attained by this act
Ships of foreign owners who are
guilty Of giving preferences or re-
bates or discriminating against
Americans in violation of existing
statutes would be barred from Ameri-
can ports.
Amendments to the La Toilette sea-
mans act also are appended to the
measure, designed to carry out recent
Supreme Court decisions and bring
foreign seamen up to American stand
ards