Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-18
VOTE ON MARINE POLICY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF u. S. TAKES REFERENDUM
Oppose Government Ship thpsrstfen
ana WoUis Have Craft Sud
ttt Under Restrictions.

III WASHlNGT Jan. 1o.-Proposals
Tor national merchant lrHA me pci.cy
advocated by tie. Chamber OF Com
1erce OF thu United S;aics as re-
suit of q reteren.uc, 5ust completed,
We're placed aafora Crny -ss ;odav.
lie lie retesn ,Sm ro: On, wss ,sSsn sn.3ne
mercial organisa:' ans comprising the
itambes. MEM ,e!siiir
Private ownership Of vessels and OF
ShipbuildinE yards, with Gha teyer
government aid may ~ necessary IL
private operation of shios arc included
in the chief suggestions pr, forward.
To secure Il wide distIi ou:iCn Of hc
vessels now in the hands o: ;hc gov
eminent !, is PROPOSED that tae gov
erninent invite the formation OF quasi
public regional aSSocia .ouS 10 act in
an intermediary capacity in n!ocin.;
Shipping in the hands II corporations
and indiviuals.
Vote ON Nine Propesah.
The mem bcrship OF The chamber
voted on nine proposals rs advanced
bE ITS COMMITTEES on ocean tvons2or.a-
ton. These proposals were made by
.sths committee with view of asccr-
tanning the sentiment OF the countr;-'s
commercial interests with respect to
and their operation. and with regard
10 the future Of shipbiuidine in the
united states. The recommended ions
voted on. with the ballot cas-, for ana
against each. are given - follows:
Sale OF all wooden vessels and of
steel vessels under 5000 tons dead
=
from American or foreign bidders
for, 1,235: against, 2S5.
sale OF other government owned YES
sels TO regional associations for trans
corporations OF the several rrcions
tor Loo -; against. s44 IL.
Absorption by the government OF the
altterence between war cost and pres
Snt value of ships. as "A war losS--for.
l,S94; against. 6l
Freedom from regulation as to routes
Restrict Tran.fer to Forcisner,.
restriction for period OF years
steel vessels over 5000 CONS "1 dead
weight purchased from the Eovern-
me pr. 1897 against, lel.
ers and ms ior American nnderwrit-
market OF the world for insur am, .,
mot not t co., by american underwrit-
man mrs; W; vino intervention by govern
ENCOURAGEMENT OF an America
SHaidssihcation society--tor, l.40S against
"A general declaration by Congress-
9e policy. TO give aid towards main
nn m1neo OF a privately owned and
uoT; l.Sf3; against. 9S
continuance of operation OF the conn
p privnto american Shipbuilding yards on
AMI ~ aceount, both as to the yards
4lS, against forty-tvo.
II op I"nsot Government Operation.
'oPPott Oh lis position that tho
government should NOT own and nncr
n ~. INC country's merchant marine the
COMMITTEES declared that under gov
aInnent ownership and operation Il is
uiInost inevitable that The considcr,.-
lions entirely apart from economic rca
sons would constantly interrupt tho
natural courses of management Of ships
and trades. r'
The man ascment or cargo carrying
nn,rs' says the report. 's one OF the
most complicated businesses in the
"oriu' and "A successful merchant
marine depends on the development of
large class OF energetic, resourceeul
s"npplnE men and animated by
spirit that would not be expected or
government employees. Government
o"rershp and operation OF .;hips
would be destructive Of the initiative
and feNibility In ship management that
arc essential 10 the success of the bust
ownership and operation.
Again the uncertainties created by
varying congressional action would
result dctrimcntally to any attcmpt
government officials might make to es-