New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Plan Revision
OF Navigation
Laws Shortly
Committees of Senate and
House to Hold Hearings;
Shipping Board Engaged
i i'm Work of Codiaicasion
Marine Conference Urged
Senator Ransdell Fayors
Calling One Following
Inauguration of Harding

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Steps toward thorough revision
Of the existing navigation laws are ex-
pected TO be taken as the next session
Of Congress, with view to lessening
sonse of the handicaps under which the
American merchant marine is strug-
Cling in competition with foreign ship
ping.
While the present session of Com
gress is doing little more than mark
timo IN regard to maritime affairs,
shipping men say, the inauguration of
Prss:Gent-elect Harding is expected to
be followed almost Immediately by the
adoption of constructive measures to
aid American shipping.
Senator Joseph E, RansdelI, of
Louisiana, president of the National
Merchant Marine Association, which
has urged full and faithful enforce
ment Of the Jones bill, announces that
he will ask the incoming administra-
tion to call marine conference shortly
after March a. This conference, he
proposes, should be participated in by
representatives Of the government,
steamship interests and trade organi-
zations to formulate program for
the development of American trade
and shipping in all parts Of the world
as means OF overcoming the present
depression in industry. 1t is proposed
to make employment Of the large mum
Der of idle government ships one Of
the principal topics of discussion.
To Take Up Navigation Laws
With the beginning of the new sas-
sion of Congress enc Of the first sub
jects which it is expected the House
Committee on Merchant Marine ane
Fisheries and the Senate Committee ei
Commerce will take up is the revisit
of the navigation laws. Hearings
to be held by both bodies.
Considerable progress has airca
been made in this direction. AT the
quest of the Shipping Board consia
tee of representatives Of the Amerie
ship owners. ship operators and marin
workers held hearings in this city i&at
year extending over period Of abo1e
six months. p. A. S. Franklin, presi-
dent Of the international Mercantile
Marine Company, was chairman of the
committee, and Captain G.. A. McAllis-
ter, vice-pTesidept of the American Bu-
reau of Shipping, was secretary The
other members included a. G. Smith
and D. r. Worden, representing the
shipping interests, and Andrew Furu-
seth, head of the Seanen's Union; Will
lam s. Brown, Of the Marine Engineers
Association, and Captain "A. n. McGray,
Of the Neptune Association Of Ii-
censed Deck Officers,
a ran0rf senvarinr y1raCtirailv all tn G
phases of the navigation laws was made
by this committee and is now in the
hands of the Shipping Board, which is
codifying the laws with view TO the
incorporation Of the recommendations
made by the committee.
Shipping Board at Work
Ace riding to the merchant shipping
act of 1916 .the Shipping Board is re-
CURED to investigate the navigation
laws with a view to ascerta1ning what
changes are necessary therein. This is
being done with the committees report
as a basis.
One poiat which the committee is
Understood to have cleared up is the
discrepancy which it is claimed exists
between the tonnage measurement sys-
TENS of this and other countries. Il
mas been asserted, for instance, that
although British and American vessels
might be Of exactly similar size the
measurement system Discriminate
against the American vessels IN tht
rnatter OF tonnage dues. The commit
tee. however. is reported to have foune
that there is no discrepancy, ana tina
therefore the American vessels are no'
penaIized.
one of the most important to h'
dealt with from the ship owners, view
point is the effect Of the La Foltett'
seamen's law in requiring larger crew
on American vessels than on those O
any other nation, with the result o
increasing the wage different a
against the American ship. ANY eifor
10 amend this feature Of the laws i
expected to meet with strong eppcsI
ton from labor interests.
Change in Wage Plan Sought
Another point on which relief ]
sought is the provision Tor tne pay
ment of wages to crews every ilv'
DAYS while American vessels ara u
foreign ports. The effect of this ha
been to cause delays in sailing Of yes
sells and o marked decrease IN tn
efficiency of the men. which has beaI
adding to the operating costs, alread.
above those of ether countries.
As the laws a.t present stand, no loaS
line is prescribed for American yes
q sItB, DQt ~ lS 9NiiSFSu eAtrse e'@tt' :,
be remedied soon by Congress. Th'
House already has passed a load-lin'
bill, but opposition has arisen on thu
part Of owners and operators of coast
wise shipping. These claim that thei
vessels are not subject to the sam'
dangers as deep-seagolng shlps ant
that the carrying capacity would there
fore be unnecessarily reduced.
The bill is still pending IN the Sen
ate Commerce Committee, and il i
understood that hearing will be heis
on it this week. tt is considered like
". that a compromise will sbe reaches
whereby the measure win be made. Il
apply only to vessels engaged IN for
eign trade. Secretary of Comnerc'
alexander ID understood to nave recon
nnended that coastwise shipping be ex
empted from the provisions OF the bill
Tor the present.
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