New-York tribune., 1921-01-10
House Action
Menaces PlantO
Aid Shipping
Refusal to Vote Funds for
Construction Ties Up the
Project to Provide for
Adequate Liner Services
Vessels Nearly Finished
Greatly Needed to Balance
u. S. Merchant Fleet and
Develop Trade Routes

,rovide funds for the completion of
ne Shipping Boards construction pro-
,rais will seriously interfere with the
Development Of American shipping.
While the American merchant
1asrine, as at present constituted, has
m ample supply Of cargo steamers,
here Is still marked shortage Of
large passenger ships, which are
urgently needed to balance the trade
.,eet.
The appropriation Of se5, 900 900
ought by the Shipping Board in the
rgent deficiency bill Is REQUIRED FOR
ne continuance up to June 80 of this
ear OF the construction of tonnage
fontracted for by the board and for
,arlous activities of the board during
ne remainder Of the current fiscal
ear.
More than half of this amount is re-
.ulred for the completion Of the large
passenger vessels 1the 5O2s. 522s and
'3os). These are all SO per cent and
more completed, it Is reported.
Valuable in Peace and War
The vessels of this type, which have
zen quilt oy some of the leading ship
Iras OF TINS country, including the
Eew York Shipbuilding Corporation
ne Newport News Dry Dock and Ship
9uiidlng Company and the Bethlehem
steel Corporation, were designed as
transports and naval aaxiliaries. They
ave passenger accomm odations and
most of them have been allotted to
ranspacific, transatlantic, Indian and
.atln-American trade routes. Some of
.nem are already in service and are
'elng operated effectively.
Inese snips are intended to supplv
Segular, rapid and comfortable passen-
ser, mail and fast freight TRANSPORTS
ion on all the great trade routes Tbev
IRE TO the cargo feet already built
Snat railroad passenger and express
rams are in comparison with freight
rams Such lines, shipping men point
)ut, are indispensable to competitive
eommerce in peace and in war are
svaiiahle for use as the large trans
'orts and naval auxiiiaries, the lack
II which vas so apparent when this
'ountry entered the recent war and
Fhich compelled the use of foreign
'nIpping for the carriage of American
roops and supplies
False Economy Seen
Stoppage of construction on thexe
Fessels at time when thet are near
ng completion, shipping men say.
would be false economy. The ships
you!d remain useless for any purpose.
,ied up, they would be subject to rapid
Incorporation. Thousands of workmen
would be thrown out of employment.
md the cost OF resuming constructors
1t later date would probably necessi-
ate greater expenditure than at pres
INT, because of the difficulty OF reas-
iembiing shipyard organization on an
extensive scale.
Failure by the House Appropriations
committee to include and by Congress
0 authorize the appropriation sought
5nrough the urgent efficiency bill. it is
pointed out, would kill the entire pas
5enger tonnage program of the United
states, excepting the few liners which
ave been completed and are entering
.ervice.
AS the government laid down these
5n!ps and the merchant marine act OF
s20 provided for their utilization in
ne establishment of those regular
mes without which no country's Ship
Nng can succeed, private American
companies are having practically no
passenger tonnage built. Their ex-
lectation has been that the tonnage
hey needed in this respect would be
obtained from the government.
Passenger Ships Needed
II work on these liners is stopped Tho
3nlted States will be without the fac
or most greatly needed in the up
luiidlng Of its commercial feet. Of
ne American documente seagoing ves-
els OF 1000 gross tons and over in
ervice at present, including both gov
srnment and privately owned ships,
ess than 10 per cent is composed OF
'a:senger vessels. The total OF these
only slightly over 100000 gross
ons, in comparison with more than
10000 gross tons OF cargo steamers
'na about 1,7000 tons Of other types.
While the House Committee on Ao-
,roprlasions has now voted to allow
ne Emergency Fleet Corporation co
ise not more than $55 900, 600 from it's
ncome, this sum is for the next fiscal
'eaf and does not apply to the present
construction needs of the corporation
As matters stand, therefore, the sit
iation faceo is that of inability on the
,hipping Boards part to 90 on with
me Construction OF the passenger liners :,
1eeause no funds have been provided
or the purpose. Shipping men, how
.ysf, are hopeful that when the actual
7onaitions are laid before the Senate
euef will be obtained.