New Britain herald., 1921-10-05
LASKER SPEAKS ON
MERCHANT Marine
Economic Stability Depends Upon
Project, He Tells Audience

ent upon the eSta bliShment of a ma
tional merchant marine, there, can
never be an American merchant mar
inc. Chairman Lasker of the shipping
board declared today in an address be-
fore the Associated Advertising clubs
OF tho world
Reviewing tho work of the present
board during it's existence of 16 weeks,
he asked the patience and indulgence
OF tho country" declaring that If
these were not given Americas eco
nomic life on the seas, for the next
generation, is dark indeed
Until the farmer in Kansas, the in
dustrial worker in Indiana, the miner
in Arizona realize said Mr.. LaSker,
that the regularity and volume of
their daily wage is in measure, as de-
pendent on the establishment of an
American merchant marine as is the
continuity of employment and the
wage Of the dock worker in Baltimore
or San Francisco, there can be no as
sured hope that the flag of the United
States will be maintained as it should
be on the seven seas. Sound econo-
mics accept as fundamental that ma
tional prosperity is based on contin-
uity of employment at wages conson-
ant with American standards of iv-
ing.
when SURPRISES accumulate, prices
are demora1ized and employment ends
until the excess has been consumed.
Generally speaking, the last ten
per cent. of production makes the mar
ket and it is this last ten per cent.
that we must insure disposal. of to GUS
toners in foreign lands. Except with
a merchant marine under our own
control there can be no assurance of
these essential markets"
The 16 weeks of work by the pres
ent board, he said, have accomplished
only a mere beginning but real be-
ginning of the foundation upon which
a substantial structure of accomplish
ment, we hope, may, in good time be
erected.
after 16 weeks we find ourselves
with the framework of our human or
ganization accounting. operating, fl
nancial, legal and 1iquidation) prac-
tically completed the chairman ex-
planned.
Financial reports are beginning to
come in. On September % we had our
cash statement as of August 81, the
been possible for the new board to
have since it took office. On the same
date our operating account for the
month of August was presented and
three weeks ago the result of the in
ventory of all of the shipping board s
materials and supplies (not including
plants. ships or accounts) was avail
able for the. consideration of the board
and for tsp~topt.cne pert5 Tor
liquidation"
The American nation today is pos
sessed of 1,450 oceangoing steel ships
of about 100000 tons lightweight,
the speaker said, adding that he had
considered only steel bottoms since
"eradication" of all concrete and
wooden hulls had been determined
upon. He estimated the cost Of the
available fleet at $500, 100000 which,
he said, could be entirely written of,
as one Of the major factors in the VIC
tory over Germany without owing one
penny to the American people"
ut was because of this fleet Mr..
Lasker asserted, that we were able
to move the enormous volume of Am
erican manufacture and raw materials
at time when there was a shortage
of world tonnage. 1t was because of
these ships that our factories, farms
and mines were able to operate at top
speed when the boys returning from
the front were seeking employment
The speaker predicted that the ship
ping fleet would no longer be a bur
den to the American taxpayer" Losse:
had been checked, he said, and not
more than 100000 a month would
be required from now until the end o.
the fiscal year.
1.-THE liquidation of the three and
one-half billion dollars of the corpo
ration's assets will, at any time, realize
but fraction of the original cost, be
Cause the fleet was built with under
standab1e waste and high expense dur
ing war pressure" Mr. Lasker con
coded. The money loss in Hquida
ton need not be considered, since 1
has already been written Off in tn
cost of the war and. as here outlined
served function in full value.
What remains, though, are thu
ships-potentially one Of the creates
assets America has to insure its eco
nomic future, which means to insur'
the pursuit of happiness by its PEG
pie"
The shipping of all nations, he said
has suffered Al a result of the decrease
in trade and the increase Of construc
ton since May. 1920, which has hat
the result of placing IAN excess o
20,0o0,000 tons of shipping" in TIL
ocean carrying market. Half the ton
mage now laid up is under foreign
flags, he added.
Mr. Lasker said the Jones Ship bill
had been framed with the evident pur
pose of removing disabilities suffered
by American vessels as a result of tn
higher cost of construction and highe
standards of maintenance in this coun
try.
Declaring that there are many VIII
do NOT wish the status quo changed.
the speaker demanded that these hos
tile forces from within and without
sowing seeds of discord and distrust
be met and vanquished.
Health Is Woman's Greatest Asse
Contrast the cheerful happy woma
with head erect, the glow of heaIt