The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-02-06
BOARD SHOULD
SELL u. S. SHIPS
N. Sumner Myrick Would Allow
Twenty Years to Pay for
Government Vessels.
HELP START NEW LINES.
Tells Senate Committee Board of APP
praisers Is Necessary to Assure
Adequate PricesFavors Rowe
Bill for American Seamen.

MISUNDERSTANDING up his testi-
mony before the Senate Committee on
Commerce, N. 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
to Americans as promptly as possible;
Second, the appointment of a Board
of Appraisers to set valuation on gov
eminent ships, not taking 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 in 20
years, at Az per cent interest, with the
government holding a mortgage on the
vessels until completion of payment
Fourth, after IS 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 he
| was confident there is plenty of capital
| in America for investment in ships and
| that it would come forward If only
| Congress would declare a general pol
| icy of support of a merchant marine.
| In answer to direct question as to
whether it would be good plan to sell
off the small ships and use the money
| in building larger ones, Mr. Myrick
said the objection to that was that 1t
would tend to keep the government in
the shipbuilding business when he felt
it should get out of it. He preferred
using the money for the development
| of new lines.
Senator Jones suggested that the
| government might not be able to get
bids on improbable lines Mr.. Myrick
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 up
new lines. He repeated that capital
does not know what is in the mind of
Congress and that 1t is hesitant about
| Tic SillppiuS hOilu II
does know what policy is to be adopted.
Reverting to discussion of his plan
for regional associations to assist in
raising capital for the purchase of
ships, Mr.. Myrick said he anticipated
opposition to this from big ship op-
erators-frst, because of lack of vision,
and, second, because they might fear
that such associations would prevent
the big operators from getting as good
bargains as they might otherwise get.
Senators Jones and Nelson both ex-
pressed the opinion that something
would have to be done to prevent all
the good ships falling into the hands
of the big operators. Senator Nelson
indicated fear that they might make
an agreement not to overbid each 9TH
er. 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 lines
from them.
Mr.. Myrick said he felt it would be
difficult to avoid political influence as
long as the government stayed In the
shipping business, and Senator Jones
cited the Panama Steamship Line and
the Wheat Corporation as two govern
ment institutions that were being well
run without political influence.
In answer to questions from Senator
Colt, Mr.. Myrick described how Ger
many had built up her merchant ma
rine by the help of consular and other
agents all over the world and said
America should follow her example.
Discussing the seaman's act Mr. Ny
rick said he wished to urge strongly
the passage of the Rowe bill, which
will enable American boys to become
able seamen with nine months service
on deck after graduation from a train
| ing school.