Evening star., 1920-02-22
nv WILL p. KENNEDY.

big lessons toward efficient
and economic commerce that
have come to the United States out of
the world war.
Realization that transportation is
the single factor of greatest impor-
tance in international commerce
prompted the United States Shipping
Board and the Department Of Com
merce to cooperate in dividing the
. world into major commercial divi-
sions and trade regions for statistical
study or ship operations.
Carrying this idea still further,
Congress, and particularly the com
mittee on merchant marine and fish
cries. is now studying how ship
routes can be laid out to correct me
slipshod practices that have resulted
heretofore in duplication and over
tapping service. which was an teco-
nomic waste. The big idea is TO have
ocean routes served by big and fast
steamers, with feeders between trans
or consuming regions, in much the
same way as the great railway sys-
TENS of this country are operated.
The tremendous needs for Shipping g
during the war, coupled with Ger
many's relentless submarine warfare.
emphasized the need for making the
best use of what ships were avail
ahle and the wartime Transports
tion problems awakened the CONNER
ciaI interests so that plans for more
efficient and economic systems oi
shippinR are now being worked out =
All Waters Included.
Such a reconstruction and readjust-
ment program for shipping would in
clude all the navigable waters OF the
globe. Routes on the Pacific as well
as the Atlantic. through the MedlteI-
ranean, and down both coasts OF Sou.n
America are now under earnest STUDY
by Congress. commercial and SNIP
ming interests. All of these routes
are considered in relation to some
transfer point to which goods can Dc
brought in small ships from the pro
ducing areas and full cargoes can De
water route. Heretofore big ships
have gone from port to port coHect-
ing a cargo or distributing IT, with
the costs Of operation piling'up dur
ing these delays and with only part
cargo to paw the excessive costs.
Because the South American mar
kets offer a very attractive field for
the surplus products of the United
States: because the balance or traoe
in South America is against the
United States and millions OF doilars
worth of gold is being shipped TO
those sister republics each month in
nayment and because South Amer
lea has had very poor steamship serv-
ice, a bill is now under considera-
tion by the merchant marine commit
tee proposing four ocean mai lines 10
South America. ..
Representative George w. Edmonds
who, during the indisposftion of
Chairman Greene of the merchant
marine committee. has been acting
chairman, is the author of the bill.
which would give South America. both
east and west coast. the finest pas
senger and package service in the
world.
Esur Routes Proposed.
1t proposes four co-ordinated routes:
First line-A monthly service start
ing at Boston and stopping at New
York. linking in the Virgin, Islands
and stopping at all the principal ports
on the east coast of South America as
far south as Buenos. Aires.
Also a monthly service starting at
Philadelphia and stopping at Charles
in South America, the purpose be-
ing to establish sailing dates two
weeks apart, SO that there would be
continuous service every fifteen days
from the Atlantic seaboard and stop
ping at the Virgin Islands.
Second line-This would start from
Boston, stop at New York and proceed
through the Panama canal to Coronel.
Chile. stopping at the principal ports
on the west coast Of South America
There would also be a monthly service
starting at Philadelphia and stopping
at Charleston, s. c., to the same
ports on the west coast, the sailing
dates being SO arranged that there
would be service every fifteen days
from the Atlantic seaboard to Nhe
|, west coast.
Third hne-A service every fifteen
days running around the Gulf of
Mexico. stopping at all the principal
gulf ports. and at the Virgin Islands
and Colon, Panama.
Fourth iine-A service every nfteen
days connecting the principal ports on
the Pacific coast of the United States
with Balboa. Panama.
Colon and Balboa. on the Panama
canal. and the Virgin Islands would
. be transfer points for any goods to be
picked up by steamers on the other
routes. In this way freight could be
shipped TO any port in South America
every fifteen days from any port In
the United States. on the Atlantic,
Pacific or gulf coasts
sale to Private Interests Planned.
The purposs is to have the Shipping
Board establish and operate these
routes and after they have been sue
cessfully established sell them to pri-
vate interests. 1t is the intention that
these should be passenger and pack
age lines, not for cargoes of heavy or
bulk freight.
In order to assist these lines the
Shipping Board is ordered to prepare
transfer places and make no charge
for the transfer of freight, SO that this
is virtually a little subsidy given 10
these proposed steamship lines. The
EdnoBds Dill also arrangeS Tor the
payment of the post Office subsidy to
these lines in accordance with the act
of March 3. 1891. 1t also arranSes to
turn over all the boats of the Panama
steamship lines to these co-ordinated
lines. and that all government trans
portation and supplies are to be given
TO these lines at current rates.
The Fdmonds bill also requires the
Shipping Board. in connection with
the State Department. to endeavor to
obtain mail subventions for these
boats from South American coun-
tries
Careful directions are written into
the bill regarding the method Of sale.
1t says the Shipping Board shall at
any time entertain proposals from
private parties or corporations for
taking over and operating any of
these lines II the application is
approved by the board they would
orator requiring him to submit his books
and agreements for inspection by the
board
The amount of operating capital is
fn be agreed upon ana not increased
''ithou: consent of the Shipping
Board All salaries of operating of
iicers Ar" tn be not more than paid
commercially for similar service.
VIII Place Valuation ON ships.
The board is to make valuation
of the vessels necessary for success
full operation of the line based on
their market value at the time OF
contract. and subject to revision
every three months until ship values
have returned to normal. In return
for the use of the shirs the Shipping