New-York tribune., 1920-09-07
Shipping Board
/ Rule to Glass
Ships Opposed
.,:nulation of the American
Bureau TO Classify All
Vessels Built Under Tax
Exemption Objected To
|r,ouble Expense Seen
Said to Regard the
Boards Action as Tyimg"a a
String to Private Ships

...,on taken by the Shipping
,...a looking toward the classifica-
with the American Bureau Of
":.,;ng M of all vessels constructed
.;,h exempted e.cess profits, as pro-
...a by the Merchant Marine act,
=, aroused discussion in shipping
.,.,ss While there is nothing to
IVA sfipowners who desire to have
,,.,r vessels classed by Lloyd's
3p.eisser Of shipping doing so, these
8xrsrs point out that the step taken
!, the board will impose double ex-
,.nss for classification upon them.
The boards action supplements that
.,keu last spring in requiring that
all government-owned vessels should
b. elassed by the American Bureau.
ashipowners Perturbed''
Commenting on the situation yes
srdsy John r. Gordon, traffic man
.,sr Of the Union Sulphur Company,
stated:
American shipoy are very
useh perturbed by the United States
Shipping Board Circular No. So,
auder date of August 27, 1920, in
yaieh they state that the board has
dseidsd that all vessels shall be con-
trueted 80 as to meet the classifica-
ion requirements of the American
Bureau Of Shipping as q condition of
Its approval required by the pro-
sisions Of Section %, Merchant Ma
fas act of 1920, thus making classifi-
kstion Of all new pri~sAely owned ves-
ssls with that society compulsory if
tha prospective owners desire to avail
themselves Of the relief from taxa
ton permitted under this section Of
the act
Il is understood that this decision
was arrived at as a result of sug-
esstion made to the board bv Vice
President C. A. McAllister, of the
America Bureau Of Shipping, in spite
Of the fact that the president of that
society has publicly disclaimed any
desire on the part of his bureau to
force their classification on private
y owned tonnage.
Steamship Mems Views
sin a resolution adopted by the
American Steamship Owners Associa-
ton IN March of this year it is stated
hat:
Whereas, it is to the interest of
sprivately owned American merchant
marine that there should be com
plete freedom on the part of the pri
vate owners thereof in this country,
as in the countries of our competi
tors, to enter their vessels in any
classification society that they pre-
Ter, and that nothing should be en-
bodied in legislation which should
In any manner interfere with such
freedom Of choice in the matter of
easslhcatlon societies; now, there
fore, 1t Is resolved that it is the
sense o. this meeting that any form
Of restrictive legislation providing
ior the compulsory classification Of
privately owned American registered
tonnage in any particular classical
non society will prove detrimental to
the best interests of our merchant
marine.
Further, that the chairman Of
the Senate Committee on Commerce
be requested to see that the interes st
OF the members of this association be
safeguarded in this respect and that
no bill or mbination Of bills should
be approved by his committed
whereby classification of privately
owned vessels with any particular
society might be made compulsory.
American Bureau Quoted
I'm q letter to the secretary Of the
american Steamship Owners Associa-
ION IN regard to this resolution Steven
Ion Taylor, president of the American
bureau, writes:
In conclusion allow me to state
saat this bureau does not desire ahy
recognition Of owners of merchant
demand
ahs arguments against compulsory
s.ssAheation s..aon IN any form haze fire.
S.sntiy been threshed out in the pub
~ press and the possibilities of ar
aaary action by a classification So
.sissy under conditions of compulsory
ssssslneat'on are fully appreciated by
Ia the face Of this and Of the ad-
Ia y" oaered to the Shipping Board by
80 s recent committee on classification
ss ssa rating Of vessels in which they
ss..s s,sssa that they appreciated the ad-
s1sses OF competition in classifica-
suh, s.a, an attempt is being made to at
s;a ssn another string to our new
Hass,s.seiy a,.iy owned tonnage.
3. oadsr the wording of Section % Of
% 90 merchant marine act it would ap-
sas nst the board has considerable
.ssoon OF action in this respect, in
..asa as the new vessels coming un.
~ ~ ms section are to be of a type
~ , :, klnd approved by the board and
=. = 'ss Of the fact that American own
~s ,,.s a more than Is per cent of the
ssse rna tonnage contracted for in this
sai..y since the signing of the
si.'ee have seen ft/to avail them
go: 60: for business reasons, of other
sa..s.'heafions, - J. it might be questioned
IL H. " =. whether the board is not acting
S .s!os OF the American Bureau Of
5S;SSlng rather than in favor of the
SS"hlng interests in this country"
votes of Foreign Shipping