New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
Want Men of
II. S. Marinein
Naval Reserve
House Committee to Hold
Hearings OH Butler Bill
Providing Extra Pay for
the Officers and Seamen
Ship Inspection Opposed
Maritime Interests View
Power Given Secretary
of Navy as Undesirable

Legislation intended to make the Of
6cers and men of the American mer-
chant marine members of the naval re-
serve will be taken up at series of
hearings soon to be held in Washing
ION BY the House Committee on Naval
Affairs. Shipping men have been inter
ested in report that steps would be
taken to devise a means of offsetting
the diFerential in labor costs between
the ships Of this and other countries.
The hearings will be on q bill intro
duced in Congress by Representative
Butler Of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the Committee on Naval Affairs.
This measure provides that all Of
fcers and men in the American mer-
chant service who are citizens of the
United States shall be enrolled in the
naval auxiliary reserve, and by so en-
rolling shall obligate themselves to
serve in the navy in time Of war. All
members Of the crew are required to
serve two months annually on a United
States naval vessel for training
purposes.
Compensation Rates Fixed
In regard to compensation it is pro-
vided that officers shall receive one
months base pay of the corresponding
rank in the navy. The men, after en-
rolment shall be compensated at the
rate of $3.50 per year. In addition the
pay for the two months yearly in which
the men will be absent from the mer-
chant service will be made UP at the
regular rates of ships pay by the navy.
On completion of twenty years
service in the naval auxiliary reserve
and the service required by the act il
is provided that the reservists shah be
retired with cash gratuity equal to
the total amount OF their retainer pay
during the last term Of enrolment.
1t is also stipulated by the bill that
all sea-going vessels flying the United
States ensign shall be subject to such
inspection as may be prescribed by tho
Secretary of the Navy. who is au-
thori.ed to decide which are and which
are not sea-going vessels.
Shipping men who have studied the
bill fail TO see wherein it will tend to
bring the cost OF labor on American
ships to a level with that on foreign
vessels.
No Deduction Provided
No provision is made for any deduc-
ton from the mems pay in the mer-
chant service of the $3.50 peryear extra
payment in connection with the enrol
ment pay in the Naval Auxiliary Re-
serve, they say, and point out that such
provision would go far toward elimi-
mating the differential in labor costs.
AS matters stand, however. they
state, the effect is merely to give the
men higher pay without aiding the
merchant marine, although the govern
men. would gain large body Of naval
reserves available for service in the
event Of war. This feature has been in
force with many European governments.
and at the outbreak Of the late war
many thousands of seamen and officers
were brough. into the service Of the
belligerents in this way.
The features Of the bill giving the
Secretary Of the Navy authority to in
spect the vessels Of the merchant marine
desirable by shipping men, in that il
might result in calling vessels off their
run and holding them out Of service
Tor indefinite periods at the will Of
the government, thus seriously impair
ing the earning power Of the ships.
Shipping Men May Be Heard
At the public hearings before the
committee these points will probably
be brought out by represent natives Of
The private American shipping inter.
ests. In principle the bill is regarded
b. shipping men as a good measure
and they believe that It can be so
amended as not only TO aid the govern
ment, but to assist in the development
OF the merchant marine to meet foreign
competition.
Further statements from Washington
that the enforcement OF prohibition may
be applied TO all vessels flying the
American Aag, TO matter whether they
are at home or abroad, are regarded IS a
severe blow to the extension OF liner
services with Americn vessels. NO
Official notice has been served on ship
ping companies here.
Tie practice since prohibition went
INFO eTec. mas been 20 sell liquors on
American passenger vessels when out
side the tnree-mile limit; but TO close
the bars when reaching that point on
nearing az American port and to Keep
tielA c.casc until al t'r eAi!-c PN''N
after departing. Foreign ships have
followed me same custom in American
ports.
Effect of Prohibition
To enforce the point would affect
the Shipping Boards vessels az well as
privately owned American ships.
!. viii give to foreign liners marked
advantage over American vessels, so
marked mat in the opinion Of many
shipping men It will be disastrous, es-
2eeiaily 70 the new companies winch
are jes. building up 4 passenger trade
and some Of wnich have ordered NUN
Der Of liners
x suca al opinion as that expressed
by the Solicitor General we're permitted
70 becorne effective American sreamshlp
Companies nigh. az well 70 out OF
ossness,' says Frank c. Munson, presl-
Lz..