Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-03
From Other Viewpoints
Acquire tho "Ship Habit"
ny JUDGE III BARTON PAYNE.

II the Nm"rican people arc TO maintain their
lrgrox:malely their present position in iina.ce
fo y sTAl i"ar TU5 annual .Nmd S"5r eanno mu DO 9 5S,a SOLD S;, in In
out ships-.sfips owned and controlled by
oort Of iho WON" Wosfd. inc american mas into every
The purpose OF the shipping Board is to es-
ana private capi taI:'n snp % q Rrivf bH tha rTai9
Wiley. ana the Wess anu The N%ort MhSss5t:'r By
% , GS''H EAST fFS smd W Gl Inc aS sGu IN a Sy 'n nsoa %ioHrs
labor and capital OF our great manufacturins
op Ms nov n9ye ,.aG9 S]aipping Board vessels,
w VII be DG iatss,g BY i, the .s end Of {, sssc tnis sS%esr
to Americans are beng. Tg"n made i. but sa the s ea ahi ae
not Keep pace with the new iaunchinEs,
msss1ah H'Op "aHins s' r ss'a"!s'' foS s 8 nasma"f ~
4 4g Of government ownership is Involved.
"w n NW! Ds'wgen American and foreign
@,?iae; 10Y j. s Ma1, b q" o Ssiasl'f Is ies ~e im e
TAM; We dcsirs that every ship now govern
owned and orsrated BY Americans . for Mmeriyy
fhhn: G IN , anai M is 10 ee ersa, later 4 msr Sow :, the CHEF
ships atone will not do this. Indeed, Unless
ra,Rer 'I iTnn an s as may become a Liability
How, then may 4 merchant marine he es,ab-
i hs Gan. ! ~ el inr i, hf done IN a day. II cannot
habit; srewih and individual capacity. ini,ia-
90 lHis X rsaacins lie Priee 'D q sSip n0a and can IN.
o our slips s"'p WIFI be '"S Sought M1i' By spT nrfvA up a and al
and presto! q merchant marine is 81 fact
rms is a serious error. y substantial reduc-
tion in price would undoubtedly sell some S0o
OF our best ships, but this would not touch tho
problem. ships cannot hc sold in large Num-
hers until the country is prepared 10 buy them.
II is not now prepared. "
We nave only a few successful shippinc COM
'ranics: they. however. insist that we reduce
our prices ana we would thereby be able TO sell
the ships. That this is "a failacy is of easy
demonstration. as is also their claim, that tScrc
Is a world market price for ships.
There is no such market price. No o.bo,
country has ships ready Tor Immediate del;yerv
hence there can he no world market price. Tho
demand for ships for present use cannot he
met by building ships for future delivery: the
need for tonnage IS instant and pressing and
is now greater than ever before. and cargo
rates are higher.
Our prices are based on "a fair estimat. OF
cost. and 4 regular schedule OF prices and terms
IS maintained. the same 10 all persons.
when can We bald ships cheaper? Ccrtain,v
there is no indication hero or abroad that Ianoy
and materials are getting cheaper. How, then,
can ships be cheaper?
Ensiand's costs are rising and She has no
buy ships. 1t is asked. then, why don't wo
own people for use under orr own nag, and our
country has not yet begun TO think in terms
OF ships.
Wo have not acquired the shin habit. who
loans money on ships: Who could he narncd
om-hand that would buy n ship mortEaKeP Aro
our neighbors sending their boys to sea? These
things must como TO pass bcforc VIC arc a
maritime nation, prepared TO buy more than
ZOO h!ps.-Copyr!:ht 1920. ~