The Washington times., 1920-06-03
M|OD|F|ED5SH|P.
B|LLUPTODAY
Fight on Senate Floor Against
"Un-American" Amend
b. ments Expected.
BARS DOWN ON ALIEN SALES
Merchant Marine Friends Also
Oppose Autocratic Power
|. Given to Board

|, Given TO boarq
- "
The Senate is expected to consider
late today, the conference report OF
the Jones shipping bill, which pro-
vides for disposal Of Government
built merchant ships to private
interests.
Vigorous opposition is likely.
Senator's who consider the confer
ence amendments un-American are
expected to attack those provisions
which give the Shipping Board au-
tocratic control over ship sales and
those which reduce the percentages
of American interest necessary TO
purchase of ships. .-...
J Virtually AL Bans Removed.
Instead of modifying the drastic
and up-American provisions OF the
leRislatioH, as claimed by the con-
ferees, an examination Of the changes
made in conference reveals that vir-
,tually every restriction on the sale or
the ], 800 ships built at a cost to the
people of more than three and one
half billion dollars has been lifted.
The measure ~ IL now stands, not
only @nuthorises snd directs" the saie
of all vessels built. or required ~
the shipDinG Board, which ineiuAes
the tvventy-nine fermer German liners
but permits the sale OF nay OF the
vessels, to foreign interests. ..' a.,
Would Gust Present Board.
II both Houses adopt the confer
ence report and the President signs
the BILL making II law. 1t will be
up to the Americanism OF the Ship
ping Board members to save the ma.
tons merchant fleet. Members Of
the Senate and House interested in
protecting the ships place little hope
in this direction. 49, b
The bill abolishes the present board
and creates an entirely new one. Sen
ators point out, therefore, that the
President could fill the board this
summer with recess appointees VINO
will have power to sell the ships, and
Congress would have no power to
pass on their appointments before
next December under the present
plan for adjournment next Saturday.
President Favors Sale.
In this connection 1t L. known that
President Wilson strsnSly fHvorv the
disposal Of the SAsppinxt Beard ves-
sels.. HIS appOiAAees naturally weuAa
Ss men who would carry est bis
policy. i
TRs President made his position on
this question clear when he indorsed
the platform adopted by the Virginia
Democratic convention. which con-
tains a plank declaring for the sale
nj uAaaAlA to
private interests.
While the conferees wrote into the
bill a lot Of words about the board
basing its work on the possible action
"of a prudent business man" and that
4 "dilieent effort" should be made to
md American purchasers, the whole
policy of disposing of the 1.SOO ships,
either to Americans or foreigners, is
left entirely with the Shipping Board.
About the snfy safeguards In the
bill ~ IL passed the senate-restYsct-
ing sales to aliens Of vessels OF less
than 6,OOO tons and not less than ten
years old-were stricken out In con-
ference.
Private Sale Permitted.
A motion to prohibit the sales to
foreigners Of any passenger vessels
less than twenty years old was re-
5ected by the conferees.
, The conferees also struck out the
Senate provision requiring that no
sale could be made at a price less
than the cost of constructing vessels
of similar types in private yards In
the United States.
Further paving the way for sacrf-
nee sales to the Shipping trust. the
conferees provided that the Shipping
Board may dispose Of the ships at
public or private competing sale"
Still further blows at the future OF
the American merchant marine were
the modification Of the requirements
.sf American ownership in coastwise
compabies and companies operating
American ships in foreign trade.
Reduced American Percentage.
The bill as it passed the Senate re-
quired 100 per cent ownership of
Goa stwise companies and IS per cent
of companies operating American ves-
sells in foreign trade. The cenferees
reduced the Requirements Of American
ownership In coastwlse conpanies to
gS Der cent md provided that only
the controlling interest In companies
engaged In foreign trade shall be held
by Americans. -
The conferees attempted to mini
mize the fears or great dangers to
lhe future of the American merchant
marine as seen in the proposed law
by pointing out that Ave out Of the
seven members OF the Shipping Board
must agree to sales to aliens.
The opportunity for recess appoint
ments of men favorable to the dis
possl of the vessels and the plan OF
the present board to turn over the
former German liners to the Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine. whose ships
ny the British nag. which was block cd