The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-02-11
Semitic tho Board, Not the Ships.

Washington. Feb SIT will be
great misfortune il the exposures
charges and denials growing out OF the
chipping investigation shall result IN
diminished public interest in the devel'
opment and perm anent maintenance Oh
an adequate American merchant ma
rine," declares the Republican fuo-
licity Association. through its president
Johnathan Bourne, Jr. IF there mas
been gross waste, the responsibility
should be fixed; If there has been ais
honesty, the offense should be exposed
and nunished; but these are mere INCL
dents compared with the vital prooiem
of establishing feet of marine snips
that shall traverse every sea and carry
the American flag into every port
"Out of the disclosures OF the snip
ming Investigation ono fact seems 70
stand convincingly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
.nccess in the maintenance OF mer'
chant fleet cannot be hoped for through
government ownership or operation
Even though the government may nave
the assistance of able and experienced
shipping men-men experienced In snip
building or ship operation-yet tne
limitations and defects OF TRANSACTION
of government business are sucn tna'
successful competition with privsteiv
owned ships is impossible. Inc reu
tape in conducting negotiations ana
concluding agreements, the lack OF
efficiency among subordinate employ
ees the absence of the stimulus OF nope
of gain, are handicaps which MAKE IL
inevitable that the privately owned
feet will be able to operate at the
smaller expense and the greater &C.
complishment of results. 81 ~ - - = rv
"In it's earlier efforts, the Shipping
Board was unfortunate in having
personnel, that could not reach an
agreement upon course to be pursued
and inaction was the outstanding fea
ture of the record. Later there wers
on the board some men OF ability ane
experience in the handling of larg'
business affairs-men of capacity an'
recognized integrity. 1t is unfortunate
that the entire membership OF TIT
Board, from first to last, was not o
that character Partisan politics playet
too important part in the selection o
some of the members to permit tn
appointment of men of training in tn
handling of large undertakings. Ihi
discloses one more apparently insur
mountable defect in government op
GRAFTON of any enterprise that can b
left to private ownership and manage
ment.
just at present the situation Il
ocean shipping seems to be reaction
IN harmony with the depression Int
which many other industries hav
fallen. and the future Is as uncertai
IS the present was year ago. B'
cause the future is in doubt, an
because it is vitality important tins
America shall maintain nerchar
marine to carry ithe greater portion
her incoming and outgoing commerce
It is highly important that exposul
and discussion of past mistakes shall
accompanied by determined effort
, succeed in the future.
%, However great the losses due
war costs and war wastes, dissatisfa
ton must, pot ,dipinish interest in q
development era merchant fleet tn
will be in esntinnsus operation. scare
ing out new markets for Americs
s. goods, paying transportation tolls in
z,t the pockets r6f American investors. al
"a, standing always ready to fly to the q
Of the American navy in case OF war