New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-03
C,onferees Vote
For Ships Sale
To Foreig gners
Merchant Marine Measure,
as Agreed Upon. Gives
Preference to Shipping
Interests of America
Charters to US. Concerns
gill Provides IS Per Cent Of
Companies in Coastwisc
Trade Be Owned Here

WASHINGTON. June 2.-While Civ
,,r American shipping interests prefer
no in the acquisition of government
.mrsd tonnage. merchant marine legis-
,..;on. as agreed on to-day by Senate
}, y House conferees, would authorize
.hs Shipping BOARD to sell vessels to
.,rsicn interests. should "diligent eff
forts to dispose Of the craft in this
country fail.
Sales to foreign concerns, however,
,.ould be made only on vote of five
- .be seven members of the Shipping
Board.
The legislation would direct the sale
= the government owned vessels Gas
soon as practicable with good bust
ness Methods but no time limit for
.,e sale is fixed. Pending sale of the
sbins. the board could charter them to
American concerns.
The conference report will be taken
=, in the House tomorrow and, follow
mo its expected adoption, will be
called up in the Senate in an effort to
nrocure final action before Saturday.
As approved, the bill would require
* ner cent of the stock in companies
operating ships in coastwise trade to
he American owned. with Americans
holding the controlling interest in ship
companies engaged in foreign trade.
s25.000.000 for Construction
The bill would empower the board
10 set aside annually for FIVE years
s95.000,000 to be used as construction
the building Of new vessels on lines
dyed this amount at S50,0O0000. Pro
visions authorizing the board during
the fve-year period to construct new
vessels on its own account were elimi-
mated.
The bill would authorize the board
and the Postmaster General, ain aid
Of the development of merchant
marine" to determine from "time to
time the just and reasonable rate OF
compensation to be paid for carrying
American mails"
The bill would authorize the Presi-
dent to notify foreign governments
within ninety days of the abrogation
Of treaties which restrict discrimina-
ion in favor of American ships.
The conferees eliminated Senate pro
posals 10 limit the sale TO foreign in
.erests Of ships more than ten years
old and not exceeding 5000 deadweigh,
tons. Both the House and Senate pro
visions were amended so as to place
additional limitations around the boarc
II the sale O. ships to foreigners.
Empowered to Charter Vessels
House conferees receded from THEN
opposition to Senate amendments defin-
ing the policy OF the board as one Of
developing and maintaining a merchant
marine capable OF carrying the greater
portion of the nations commerce ant
Of serving as naval and military auxil-
iaries in time of war.
Other provisions authorizing the
board TO investigate and determine as
soon as possible what steamship lines
should De established and put in op
Grafton between ports in the United
States and insular possessions. as vel
as abroad, also were retained. Pend.
ing the sale OF the American merchant
ships, the board would have authority
TO charter vessels to Americans for the
purpose Of establishing such routes.
Americans in the sale Of ships would
be given fifteen years in which to pay
but foreigners would be allowed only
Ten years, at not less than 5 per cent
interest. The interest to be paid by
American purchasers would be fixed BY
the board
Appointment shipping board of sever
members IS provided for, two eacf
from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts
and one each from the Gulf, Great
axes and Central West regions. No
more than four could be members Of
me same party.
Control Former German Piers
Senate provisions that no sale could
oe made At a price below the cost o.
obstruction at the time Of making
me sale, with proper reduction foi
cepreclatlon, were eliminated
The bill would authorize the board
70 take over control Of the former
serman piers at Hoboken after Jan
uary l. but the President would have
authority % transfer control of other
Eets and terminal facilities to tht
My War or other government de
2ar'msrt1
The bill also would give the Presi
cent authority to extend the coast
size shipping laws SO az to include
re Philippines Provisions authoriz
As The board % provide water trans
F9rtation between the United State.
ara Alaska we're stricken out
Provisions relating TO exemptions O
mp owners from excess profit take.
shoer certain conditions were re
aimed