Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-06-05
URDER SHIP BUAKU
TO SELL ALL LINES
Reorganized Shipping Bill Pro-
vides Clean Sweep of Mer-
chant Marine.
FLAG Is SAFEGUARDED.
Aliens May Purchase Only When
There Is No Domestic Market
Board ls Raised to Seven
Members.
FLAG Is SAFEGUARDED.

Washington.-All vessels In the gov
ernment's merchant marine are au-
thorized to be sold, under the reorgan-
lied shipping bill as it has been agreed
by the senate and house conferees.
Some differences are required to be
adjusted between the two houses. The
policy as to sale Is to be that of "a
prudent business man in the sale of
similar vessels or property which he is
not forced to SELL"
To this end the board Is authorized
and directed" to sell as soon as posi-
Bile, consistent with good business
methods and the objects and purposes
of the act, at public or private COM
petitive sale, after appraisement and
due advertisement, to persons citizens
of the United States, all vessels own
ed or acquired by the board. The
board may fix conditions, except that
fifteen years interest rates to be fixed
in the boards discretion.
The Shipping Board is raised from
five to seven members, salaries are in
creased from $500 to $4,000, and it
Is required that the board shall be BIZ
partisan. The members shall be two
from Atlantic and two from Pacific
states, one each from gulf, lake and
interior states.
Provision Is made for creation Of
fund from ship sales or operations
through which the board may make
loans to companies or individuals to
help them establish shipping lines and
routes to the advantage of American
trade. The Shipping Board made 1t
clear that the United States Mail
Steamship Company, organized to re-
condition and operate the former Ger
man ships in Atlantic passenger serv-
ice, Is 100 per cent American. The
identity of the stockholders. or even
the officers Of the company, will not be
made public by the Shipping Board.
Additional facts. 1t was officially stated
at the boards offices. will have to come
from the company or Its officers in New
York.
The provision OF the bill as II, passed
the senate, prohibiting the sale Of the
bottoms Eat o less price than the cost
at the time of making such sale of con-
structing vessels of similaE types
minus depreciation" was stricken out
by the conferees.
The sale OF, vessels to aliens can be
ordered by the board only after, five Of
the seven members have agreed that
they cannot be disposed of to advan-
tage in the domestic market. The
senate. provision limiting the sale to
aliens of vessels not exceeding 5000
tons and not less than ten years old
was stricken out by the conferees.
The perfected bill provides that IS
per cent of the stock of vessels operat-
ing in the coast trade and the majority
Of the stock Of vessels operating in
the foreign trade shall be held by
American citizens.
The senate bill provides fund of
$30,00O,O0O a year instead of $25,OOO,-
600 for this purpose and gave the Ship
ping Board power to construct the
ships in private ship yards for the
creation of new routes if private con-
Germs were not willing to establish lines
deemed necessary by the board. The
revolving fund will operate for five
years.
The former German piers at Ho-
boken are to be turned - the
Shipping Board January next, while
other property acquired during the
war, except the former German liners
be turned over at the discretion Of the