New-York tribune., 1921-06-12
Charter Ships.
Foreign Trade
Council Urges
Part of Government Fleet
for Which There Is No
Demand Should Be Laid
Up Now, 1t Is Stated
To Eliminate Large Loss
Discrimination Against
Our Boats Must Be Pre-
vented'';~ Ask for Service

Suggestions toward the establishment
Of American shipping policies are con
tanned in a statement issued hv fha
National Foreign Trade Council. Of
which James A. Farrell president of
the United States Steel Corporation. is
chairman.
Congress has declared in favor of
private ownership of our merchant ma
rine as soon as practicable" says the
statement but under present condi-
tons it is impracticable to dispose Of
any considerable proportion of our
merchant marine TO private owners at
fair prices.
so much of the feet as can not be
chartered on bare boat basis or time
charter to private operators should be
laid up pending the revival of world
commerce; meanwhile the fleet will
serve our national security as a naval
auxiliary, in case of necessity.
0yertonnaging Condemned
'fThe plan should be abandoned of
sliocating ships to load at ports and
for trade routes, irrespective of the
tonnage of cargo offering or of the
losses to the government attendant on
this policy.
while it is obvious that the ulti-
mste sale price will be measured by the
world market for similar ships, such
parity Of price and successful opera
ton can be obtained only if the oper-
ating costs are approximately equal to
those of our foreign competitors.
Present shipping laws requiring
larger crews subject American vessels
TO g disadvantage estimated at per
cent on the capital investment, while
the compulsory advance of half wages
in any foreign port of call adds fur
ther burden of cost by involving ex-
cessive delays.
"As continued maintenance of the
American Merchant Marine is of vital
interest to American producers, ex-
porters and importers they should re
ouire the employment of American ves-
sells in the carrying of their shipment
Of exports and imports to such extent
as they are able to exercise preference
or control, and in any case they should
prevent discrimination against Amer
lean ships in such transportation.
at is believed that the adoption Of
these recon lamentations will save the
government its present large loss in
carrying ON the existing plan of oper-
alton and will insure ultimately the re-
tirement of the government from the
shipping business through the sale to
private owners of the feet at reason
able prices.
Between the United States and its
possessions and foreign ports rapid,
regular combined passenger and freight
service should be maintained for the
prompt and regular carriage of the
mails, express, freight and merchan-
disc.
"The state and Federal governments
are urged to remove those disabilities
caused by non-uniformity of state laws
and excessive taxation which place
American insurance at a disadvantage
with the foreign insurance market in
which they must compete. We urge
the enactment of the marine insurance
measure now pending in Congress, a
model upon which uniform state legis-
lation may be based.
To Maintain Foreign Trade
american export business has been
injured in the past by lack of persist
ent effort to hold markets already
gained American producers are urged
not to abandon or lose interest in their
foreign trade because it shows no
profit for the moment and to remember
that in many cases it will cost much
more to regain in the future q busi-
ness lost now through lack of courage
and foresight.
''The vast market which the United
States offers TO other nations on a
basis of equality, and the supplies of
American raw material exported with
out taxation or discrimination, entitle
the American export and import trade
to equality of treatment in all foreign
markets.
ITO insure such equality of treat
ment the American tariff. whatever its
underlying principle, should provide
for additional duties on imports from
nations discriminating by tariffs or
administrative practices against the
trade Of the United States"