The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1920-02-05
BOARD SHOULD
SELL U. S. SHIPS
N. Sumner MyriCk Would Allow
Twenty Years to Pay for
Government Vessels.
HELP START NEW LINES.
TelIs Senate Committee Board Of Ap-
praisers Is Necessary to Assure
Adequate Prices-Favors Rowe
Bill for American Seamen.

Notwithstanding up his testi-
mony before the Senate Committee on
Commerce, y. Sumner Myrick of the
United States Chamber Of Commerce
made substantially the following rec
concentrations for a merchant marine
policy:
First, the sale Of government vessels
10 Americans as promptly a possible: {:
Second, the appointment of n Board
OF Appraisers to set valuation on gov
ernment ships, not t~king into account
war costs;
Third, the sale Of as many ships as
possible for cash and the rest for -
per cent cash and the remainder i'm 20
years, at Az per cent interest. with the
government holding n mortgage on the
vessels until completion of payment;
Fourth, after 5 many as possible are
sold, the odds and ends, such as small
steel vessels and wooden vessels. To be
sold for what they will bring. without
restriction as To transfer of flag. the
money derived from these sales to be
used In encouraging the establishment
of new lines.
Mr. Myrick told the committee no
was confident there is plenty of capital
in America for investment i'm sbips and
that it would come forward if ONLY
congress would declare general pol
Icy OF support of a merchant marine.
In answer TO a direct question as 70
whether 1t would be a good plan To sell
of the small ships and use the money
In building larger ones. Mr. NIvrick
said the objection TO that was thar #
would tend 10 keep the government I'm
the Shipbuilding business when ne felt
1t should get out of it, He preferred
using the money for the developme1t
OF new lines.
Senator Jones suggested that the
government might not be able 10 get
bids on Improbable lines. Mr. NIvrick
replied that if the government really
intended TO have an American mer-
Chant marine it would have to render
help in some fashion in building nm
new lines He repeated that conitol
does not know what is i'm the mind Of
Congress and that it is hesitant ahout
entering the shipping world until it
uoeS Know what policy is 10 be adopted.
Reverting TO discussion of his plan
Tor regional associations TO assist in
raising capital for the purchase Of
ships. Mr.. Myrlck said ne anticinoted
opposition to this from big shin ON.
erators-frst, because of lack of vision
and second, because they might fear
that such associations would Dreven+
the big operators from getting as good
bargains as they might otherwise get
Senators Jones and Nelson both OK
pressed the opinion that something
would have to be done TO prevent all
the good ships falling into the hands
or the big operators Senator Nelson
indicated fear that they might make
an agreement not TO overbid eocb 9th
or. Mr.. Myrick urged that the regional
association should be provided for by
specific legislation
Mr. Myrick cautioned the committee
against appeals that were sure to come
from small ports, through local pride
TO have the government operate limos
from them.
Mr.. Myrick said he felt n would be
difficult 10 avoid political influence as
long as the government STAYED I'm tba
shipping business. and Senator Toros
cited the Panama Steamship Line and
the Wheat Corporation as two govern.
ment institutions thar were being well
run without political influence.
In answer 20 questions from Senator
Colt Mr.. Myrlck described how Cor.
many had built Up her merchant no.
rine by the help of consular and other
agents all over the world ana said
America should follow her cxample
Discussing the seaman. net. Nf- Ne.
rick said he wished 90 urge str,ryf,
the passage of the Rowe bHL which
viii enable American hog- to bar.r,
able seamen with nine months service
ON deck after graduation from IA train.
ing school