New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-09
psvublican Report Regards
Government Retirement
as Keynote of Policy for
,he u. S. Merchant Marine
gnuular Interest Keen
Nseessitv of Great Trade
Fleet Recognized; More
Large Ships Are Required

af1iH
,,s,s ship owning and operating. and
=. consequent development CT the
s,s,;ean merchant marine under pri-
..,s enterprise, it is stated in review
a 10 shipping situation published in
-. INST issued Republican Campaign
r.,thook. This review is based on re-
- made to the Republican National
csmmittee by the Advisory Committee
:. Policies and Platform.
One Of the problems with which the
.,,sr;ean trade feet is confronted, it is
listed out, is the larger proportion Of
.,,,, vessels in the American than in
-. British merchant marine and the
.,..tsr percentage of slower vessels in
This eountry's shipping.
urhe war has brought about q COM
,I.te reversal of the prevailing Ameri-
au attitude toward merchant ma
~;,sn says the report. "Where there
v.s formerly either Indifference or
.,nosition. there is now interest and
support. During the war The vital i'm
variance of shipping was impressed
u.on the popular mind. The shipbuild-
inc program was the subject Of an
extraordinarily successful publicity
eampsign. AS q general result, our
shipping industry has enlisted the
sabting spirit Of the nation. The peo-
,le insist that merchant marine shall
he permanently established under the
United States nag"
Marine Development Favored
Present arguments in favor of the
DEVELOPMENT of our merchant shipping,
h is stated. vary widely. "Patriotic
pr;de." for instance, INSISTS that the
aae having been raised over our ships.
shall not be hauled down." 1t is also
areued that an American merchant ma
Yine is necessary as provision against
the exiyencies of recurrent war, fur
nishine a substantial number of fast
passenger and cargo vessels for posi-
ble use as naval auxiliaries or army
transports, and other vessels to keep
the essential trade moving. Another
argument is that the establishment of
a large merchant marine is essential to
the successful peace-time development
Of the nations export business.
ut is claimed" says the report,
shat shipping companies of rival flags
discriminate in service and rates in
favor of traders of their own national
ity, and at times divulge information
regarding goods and customers which
competing traders can use to unfair
advantage; and that the only safe
Suard against this is overseas trans
portation of American goods in Ameri-
can bottoms. The arguments vary
widely, but the conclusion is the same;
a large merchant marine must be per-
maAently established under the United
States flag"
At the same time, it is stated, it is
generally recognized that mere ships
do not constitute merchant marine,
and that a great industrial organiza-
ton on q sound economic basis must
be established.
g. State Ownership Opposed
On the question of government pol
ley, the report says that only among
a small body Of American voters is
there any desire for continued govern
/ ment ownership of American shipping.
"The few who favor government
ownership" it is stated, "do 80 through
fear Of the large financial interests
in the country and the great shipping
combinations abroad. This fear is not
shared by the great majority. Speak
ing generally, there is an overwheln
ing demand for the return of merchant
shipping to private ownership and
operation. It is felt that ship opera
tisn calls for fiexibility of plan and
fesourcefulness of execution which
cannot be expected Of public organi-
cations.
ut is contended that the govern
uatlve machinery, its division Of re-
!sponsloility, its system of checks and
balances, its restrictions upon the Sc
lection Of personnel and its relatively
low compensation to high officials, cam
aot possibly expect to compete eco
aomieally with alert and venturesome
private management. Private enterprise
universally accepted as the best
means Of conducting the shipping in
dpstfy. For the present, at least, no
program will command common ap-
p,oVal which does not provide for the
uit'mate return Of the governments
present merchant feet to private own
efsnip and operation"
Government Sales Slow
Commenting upon the slowness with
snlen the governments ships have
ZEE SOLD, the report points out that,
ssspise the Shipping Boards persistent
ssaosts, ships have been delivered to
sne government much more rapidly
man they have been sold.
:. wood shipbuilding presents a for
s .Sra picture" continues the report.
...he bitter wrangle which enveloped
~ early days has been followed by one
a as.s.ertane after another. Excessive
s.s n kept the vessels from
sn ing cneaply built and green hands
~.a green timber kept them from being
ths IN enilt. When finally delivered
ny proved Of doubtful value, even
Lss asf fas stress Of war. They may
as'. $50 served TO convince the enemy Of
~ ~. determination 70 build ships at
h,s. s. !. cost and Of whatever material.
.s ;;hey did not serve TO carry goods.
a. ..hee the signing Of the arnistice
ms~s 80 saips have been a drug upon tho
$50 $50 sho have been sold only by re-
sssah the price to not more than two.
ss..a Of their cost. No one aenuain Ted
sa~ shipp'ng Or shipbuilding counsels
wood LOWS attempt to maintain the
sonn. ~, snsipeuilding industry of this